A rare steel/18k yellowgold Vacheron Constantin 222 Jumbo (37mm) , Ref. 44018-411 from 1981, serial 536xxx, movement number 685xxx. Overall very good condition with minimal scratches and wear – no dents, edges are well preserved. The watch appears be be unpolished or slightly once. The case is in very good condition. Very
A rare steel/18k yellowgold Vacheron Constantin 222 Jumbo (37mm) , Ref. 44018-411 from 1981, serial 536xxx, movement number 685xxx. Overall very good condition with minimal scratches and wear – no dents, edges are well preserved. The watch appears be be unpolished or slightly once. The case is in very good condition. Very good proportions, wonderful edges and a beautiful finish are convincing right away. The Maltese cross is completely intact and has not been downpolished. The bracelet links are tight with some slight patina visible, with a minimum of stretch. A few light scratches around the edges of the bezel, which is quite common for this watch, as the bezel needs to me removed to get to the movement for a service.
A bit on the history of the 222….The Vacheron Constantin 222 is one of the classic 1970s integrated bracelet sports watches. It’s called the 222 because it was launched in 1977 on the 222nd anniversary of VC and often incorrectly credited as a Gerald Genta design, in fact the 222 was designed by Jörg Hysek who was just 24 years old at the time. The 222 was produced in 3 variations, steel, gold/steel and all yellow gold and in 3 case sizes – 37mm (automatic cal. 1121, date without seconds), 34mm (automatic cal. 1124, date and central seconds) and 25mm (quartz cal. 1009, without date or seconds).
The 222 was discontinued in 1984 after 7 short years and less than 500 pieces were made in steel, around 150 in yellow gold and less than 100 in steel/yellow gold. Once you’re comparing production numbers with other sportswatches from that time, as PP Nautilus 3700 (overall versions more than 6000 made) and AP Royal Oak 5402 (around 6000 made ) you’ll find out, that any 222 is a very rare bird out there.
On the movement side the 222 housed what many consider as one of the best and most reliable slim automatic calibres: cal. 1121 developed by Jaeger LeCoultre as the base caliber 920 in 1967 for exclusive joint use by Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. Also Patek Philippe used the JLC base caliber 920 for it’s iconic 3700 in the beginning, before they switched to the caliber 335 in the 80’s.
Movement has been recently revised by a VC specialist and is running as it should and an extract of archives is requested though VC.
Margin-taxation according to §25A UStG.