A much-anticipated refresh to the original, this Vacheron Constantin 222 Historiques* is a faithful reworking of the classic, with several key updates for a modern audience. Once considered part of the "holy trinity" of luxury sportswatches alongside Patek Philippe's Nautilus and Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, this 222 Historiques reminds us of an exciting period in contemporary watchmaking design.
The Birth of the 222
In the wake of the Quartz Crisis, watchmaking manufactures were under increased pressure to justify their existence, as the very idea of a mechanical watch was under threat.
Against this backdrop, the phenomenon of the luxury steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet was born. Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak in 1972, followed closely by the Patek Philippe Nautilus four years later, both of which were famously penned by Gérald Genta. Since then, these watches have gained a cult status which is difficult to quantify.
One year after the release of the Nautilus, in 1977, Vacheron Constantin put forward their own version of an integrated bracelet sports watch, with the 222. Designed Jörg Hysek, it was released to celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the manufacture. The 222 was produced for a brief eight-year period, between 1977 and 1984.
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