Vacheron Constantin continues its extraordinary horological journey with the groundbreaking Overseas Grand Complication Openface—the first Overseas model to incorporate a minute repeater.
This audacious creation follows the brand’s recent haute horlogerie triumphs, including the Traditionnelle Openface collection and the record-breaking Solaria Ultra Grand Complication La Première, yet somehow manages to push boundaries even further.
Rugged Meets Refined
The fusion of the Overseas—traditionally conceived as a resilient integrated bracelet sports watch—with the delicate artistry of a minute repeater initially seems counterintuitive. While the Overseas line has previously ventured into luxurious territory with editions like the golden tourbillo
Remarkably, Vacheron Constantin has maintained the sporty DNA of the Overseas through thoughtful engineering. The 44.5mm case is crafted from lightweight grade 5 titanium, mitigating the substantial dimensions necessitated by the complex movement. Despite incorporating a minute repeater slide at 8 o’clock, the watch still achieves a 30-meter water resistance rating—modest by sports watch standards but impressive for a timepiece of such mechanical intricacy.
The open-worked design reveals the magnificent Calibre 2755QP, a manual-winding movement comprising over 600 components that harmoniously integrates a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and tourbillon—the holy trinity that defines a true Grand Complication. Despite the power demands of these mechanisms, particularly the continuously rotating tourbillon that serves as the seconds indicator, the movement delivers a remarkable 58-hour power reserve.
Versatility in Complexity
The visual presentation of the Overseas Grand Complication Openface masterfully balances transparency with legibility. Blue display counters provide clear readings of the perpetual calendar functions—day, month, date, and leap year—while the power reserve indicator ensures the wearer never unexpectedly exhausts the movement’s energy. 18K white gold hour markers and hands, enhanced with blue Super-LumiNova, maintain readability in various lighting conditions.
True to the Overseas collection’s emphasis on versatility, the Grand Complication comes equipped with Vacheron Constantin’s quick-change strap system. The primary titanium bracelet features a comfort-adjustment system, complemented by additional blue alligator leather and rubber straps that allow the watch to transition seamlessly between formal and casual settings.
The price remains undisclosed—firmly in the “price on request” territory that characterizes watches of this caliber—and production will be extremely limited, ensuring exclusivity commensurate with the timepiece’s technical sophistication. For collectors who have longed to hear their Overseas chime the time, this extraordinary creation fulfills that desire while exemplifying Vacheron Constantin’s unparalleled mastery of both traditional complications and contemporary sports watch design.
Beyond its technical achievements, the Overseas Grand Complication Openface represents a philosophical statement about luxury in the modern era—that the boundary between tool watches and high complications need not be impermeable.
By housing some of horology’s most revered mechanisms within the architecture of a sports watch, Vacheron Constantin has created a timepiece that defies easy categorization while expanding our understanding of what a truly versatile luxury watch can be in 2025.
