Why is the Vacheron Constantin 222 called 222?
There is a simple answer to why the Vacheron Constantin 222 is named the way it is, and it is a sum. The watch was launched in 1977, and Vacheron Constantin dates its founding to 1755. The difference is 222 years, so the watch was made to mark the brand's 222nd anniversary and took that number as its name.
The brand counts 1755 as its birth year, when Jean-Marc Vacheron signed his apprenticeship contract as a watchmaker in Geneva. That is why it is often called the oldest watchmaking company in continuous operation in the world. Many people have believed the 222 was designed by Gérald Genta, but that is not true. The designer was Jörg Hysek, who was 24 when the watch came out. He had worked for a time in Rolex's design department before he set up on his own.
The first version, reference 44018, was 37 mm in diameter and is called the "Jumbo" by collectors. The case was made in one piece, so the movement was inserted from above, and a heavily fluted bezel was screwed on, giving 120 metres of water resistance. The whole case was only 7 mm high.
The thinness comes from the movement. Vacheron Constantin used calibre 1120, a further development of Jaeger-LeCoultre's ultra-thin automatic movement 920, which measures 3.05 mm with date and, according to the brand, was the thinnest automatic movement with a full rotor in the world. The bracelet with large hexagonal centre links and the Maltese cross at five o'clock makes it easy to recognise.
Since 2022 the watch has been available as the reissue Historiques 222, first in yellow gold and from 2025 also in steel. I like that a name that sounds like a model number is really a birthday greeting, and it is a good reminder that the stories behind vintage watches are often more fun than you would think.
Source: Klockfeber
The brand counts 1755 as its birth year, when Jean-Marc Vacheron signed his apprenticeship contract as a watchmaker in Geneva. That is why it is often called the oldest watchmaking company in continuous operation in the world. Many people have believed the 222 was designed by Gérald Genta, but that is not true. The designer was Jörg Hysek, who was 24 when the watch came out. He had worked for a time in Rolex's design department before he set up on his own.
The first version, reference 44018, was 37 mm in diameter and is called the "Jumbo" by collectors. The case was made in one piece, so the movement was inserted from above, and a heavily fluted bezel was screwed on, giving 120 metres of water resistance. The whole case was only 7 mm high.
The thinness comes from the movement. Vacheron Constantin used calibre 1120, a further development of Jaeger-LeCoultre's ultra-thin automatic movement 920, which measures 3.05 mm with date and, according to the brand, was the thinnest automatic movement with a full rotor in the world. The bracelet with large hexagonal centre links and the Maltese cross at five o'clock makes it easy to recognise.
Since 2022 the watch has been available as the reissue Historiques 222, first in yellow gold and from 2025 also in steel. I like that a name that sounds like a model number is really a birthday greeting, and it is a good reminder that the stories behind vintage watches are often more fun than you would think.
Source: Klockfeber
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