Vacheron Constantin  Patrimony  Watches

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony: Minimalist and Elegant Dress Watches

Proof that minimalism can be elegant, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watch does not need to be embellished with jewels or loaded with complications. In fact, the signature look that the world loves about the timepiece is its thinness and simplicity. The watch typically has a dial with minimal accents and just the most important labels – the Vacheron Constantin logo, which is a mark of Swiss authenticity, and the Geneva label that stands for high quality.

While a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watch is refined in terms of style, it is not lackluster when it comes to functionality. Some versions feature complex mechanisms, such as minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, and moon-phase indicators.

Prices at a Glance: The Most Popular Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Watches

How much is a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watch?

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watch is a high-end Swiss dress watch known for its elegant design and sophisticated technology. Its price range is quite steep but buyers get a lot for what they pay for. To explain, below are Vacheron Constantin Patrimony price estimates and top-notch features for the brand’s most sought-after models.

Prices for the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Minute Repeater Watches

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Minute Repeater is a timepiece that amazes enthusiasts because it is slim at 8.1mm yet can chime the passing minutes and run 65 hours per winding cycle. That dimension is made possible by the caliber 1731, a manual movement that has a groundbreaking 3.9mm thinness and is named after the birth year of Vacheron Constantin founder Jean-Marc Vacheron.

The minute repeater watch also features a single sub-dial on its light or dark-toned face. Moreover, the housing is in Platinum 950, an alloy that is best known for its durability against extreme heat and cold temperatures and wide use in high-end jewelry. There is a version in 18K rose gold for buyers who want an alternative hue that is still sleek.

With Vacheron Constantin making the minute repeater function possible while keeping a subtle elegant style on the watch, it is no surprise that the timepiece comes at a premium price. The watch lists for about $200,000 USD. The limited-edition is more expensive, starting at $300,000 USD.

Prices for the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Perpetual Calendar Watches

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Perpetual Calendar watch does not just tell the time. It shows the date and phases of the moon through the three sub-dials and an indicator neatly placed in a diamond formation on the face. The indicator is attractive because of the moving golden moon representation on an embedded blue starry sky background. The complication’s design is one that has been passed down from Vacheron Constantin’s iconic pocket watches of the 1920s.

When it comes to the timepiece’s thinness, it follows the footsteps of the Patrimony Minute Repeater. The watch adopts the Hallmark of Geneva-certified caliber 1120 QP that is only 4.05mm thick yet automatic and rated at 19,800vph.

A Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Perpetual Calendar timepiece is more affordable than the Minute Repeater watches under the same collection. The price for the original version starts at $78,000 USD, while for the limited edition, it goes for $111,000 USD.

Prices for the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Retrograde Day-Date Watches

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Retrograde Day-Date watch is another timepiece from the collection that creatively displays the date. Instead of the typical instant date change window found in common watches, the accessory has moving hands across the arc that points to the day and date of the week. This feature is called the retrograde date, hence the model’s name. The retrograde date was originally integrated by Vacheron Constantin watches of the ‘50s and is now making a comeback.

In terms of the movement, the Patrimony Retrograde Day-Date watch also uses a quality mechanism. Inside it is the caliber 2460 R31R7/2 that also bears the Hallmark of Geneva label. Furthermore, the movement can wind on its own and provide 40 hours of reserve power. 

Price-wise, the timepiece costs about $44,000 USD regardless of the design. Buyers can choose from versions featuring silver, black or blue dials in white or rose gold cases.

Prices for the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date Watches

If the Patrimony Perpetual Calendar and Retrograde Day-Date models were combined, the result will be the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date watch. The timepiece is great for enthusiasts who want the best aspects of the two previously discussed bestsellers in just one watch.

The Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date features the date hand on the upper half of its face, while the beautiful moon-phase indicator is at the lower half. Moreover, the dials are light-toned to keep the markings readable.

As for its housing, the model is sleek with a Platinum 950 or 18K white or rose gold case. The first style variation is a limited edition that goes for about $72,000 USD. The latter two versions are more affordable at $43,000 USD.

Prices for the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Automatic or Manual-Winding Watches

There is a popular fashion belief that says one can never go wrong with the basics. That applies to a classic Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Automatic or Manual-Winding watch. 

Vacheron Constantin describes the design of the timepiece as pure. The look is achieved with a simple dial accentuated by sleek white or rose gold dagger and stick indexes such as that of the iconic and now rare $30,000 USD Patrimony Traditionnelle Self-Winding watch from 2012. Certain models add a small date window, as in the $19,000 USD Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Automatic, or a seconds sub-dial like the $18,000 USD Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding.

Being the most minimalistic out of all models from the collection, a basic Vacheron Constantin Patrimony automatic or manual-winding watch is the best pick when it comes to dress watches that are good to go with a range of clothing styles.

Latest Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Models

While Vacheron Constantin retains its signature watch aesthetics for most of its selections, two of its latest Patrimony models show that the brand is experimenting with fresh styles.

For example, the limited-edition Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date Ref. 4010U/000P-B545 worth $71,500 USD has the moon-phase indicator in a silver hue that blends well with its Platinum 950 face. It is the only Vacheron Constantin Patrimony model until now that has the style. Furthermore, there were only 50 pieces of it made in 2020.

The Patrimony Self-Winding Ref. 85515/000R-B644 worth $37,600 USD, meanwhile, dares to be a bit bolder than the rest of the watches from the collection because of its precious gems. The timepiece has a diamond-encrusted bezel on its 22K gold case.

Are Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Watches Good Investment?

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watches can be good investments with appreciating value as long as they are kept in mint condition. One reason behind that is that the timepieces’ greatest feature is none other than their appearance. The watches are in demand due to their designs that radiate subtle elegance and record-breaking thinness that no other competitor can match.

Another is that Vacheron Constantin supports the marketability of its timepieces that have gone vintage. To elaborate, the watchmaker purchases its discontinued models from auctions, refurbishes them back to a perfect state then sells them again with a two-year guarantee. That shows its clientele that even its old watches can be timelessly profitable.

History Behind the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Collection

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Collection was launched in 2004. The catalog was bannered back then by watches that closely resemble today’s automatic and manual-wound models, style-wise. However, the collection’s design elements and complications originated from the early 1900s.

For instance, the moon-phase indicator and perpetual calendar pairing that the Patrimony watches had since the 2000s was first seen on a 1929 Vacheron Constantin pocket watch. That vintage timepiece was the one that the Egyptians presented to King Fuad I.

As regards the ultrathin and minimalistic round face of a Patrimony wristwatch, that was made possible first in Vacheron Constantin watches of 1955 to 1957. Timepieces back then looked neat with simple dials and sleek indexes and integrated the 1.64mm caliber 1003 that is recognized as the thinnest movement in the market. 

Minute repeater versions being slim, meanwhile, is because of innovation in 1992. Vacheron Constantin’s watches at that time began to use the world’s thinnest minute repeater, the 3.28mm caliber 1755. The Patrimony collection followed suit in 2013.

Vacheron Constantin started pairing the retrograde date with the perpetual calendar in 2002. The first Patrimony watch that adopted the design was the Contemporaine Bi-Retrograde that was launched in 2007. 

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watches continued to stick to their signature subtle appearance and complications in the succeeding years. By 2019, though, there came a few changes to the collection’s designs such as the addition of precious gems on the bezels or the use of midnight blue hue on the dials.

Five Reasons to Buy a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Watch

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watches are often on top of watch enthusiasts’ and collectors’ wish lists. Here are the top five reasons: 

1. The timepieces are from the oldest Swiss watch brand, with Vacheron Constantin operating since 1755 or more than 260 years.

2. The watches are among the slimmest models in the luxury market.

3. The minimalistic designs can match many clothing styles.

4. The calibers used are Hallmark of Geneva-certified because they meet the highest Swiss standards.

5. The materials the watches are made of, such as Platinum 950, and white or rose gold, are premium.

Famous Patrons of the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Watch

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watch is well-loved by popular personalities from the world of sports to Hollywood. Below are some of the big names that have become fans of the timepiece: 

Carmelo Anthony

NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony was seen sporting a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine watch when he attended the GQ Gentlemen’s Ball.

Edgar Ramirez

Golden Globe and Emmy Award Best Actor nominee Edgar Ramirez wore a Patrimony watch during his Hands of Stone movie premiere in the US. Vacheron Constantin posted about it on its official Facebook page.

Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez

Businessman and former US baseball star Alex Rodriguez posted on his Instagram that he was wearing an 18K white gold Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watch. That was when he went to the Oscars with Jennifer Lopez.

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony: Elegant Dress Watches for Serious Watch Enthusiasts 

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony catalog is a gentle giant among world-class Swiss luxury watch collections. Its popularity showcases that minimalistic watches can conquer the market through good brand reputation and marks of quality.