Vacheron Constantin - availability

[ManfredvonRichthofen]

Hi All

I am vaguely looking at a VC Overseas which retails at £19,700.

A brief look at chrono 24 suggests that pricing in the grey market is much higher (around £34k). Which in turn suggests the same issues currently around Rolexes.

I was just wondering if anyone had any first hand info on the current VC buying “process”, availability and wait times etc.

Thanks v much

[simong800]

ManfredvonRichthofen said:

Hi All

I am vaguely looking at a VC Overseas which retails at £19,700.

A brief look at chrono 24 suggests that pricing in the grey market is much higher (around £34k). Which in turn suggests the same issues currently around Rolexes.

I was just wondering if anyone had any first hand info on the current VC buying “process”, availability and wait times etc.

Thanks v much

We must have similar taste, this was something I explored a couple of months ago as I looked at various options before finding the JLC I posted in the other thread!

Presumably you are looking at the 3 hander, blue dial? I was looking at the silver which commands less of a premium, but still too much of one for me to seriously consider at current prices (£26k ish).

I got as far as calling a VC boutique, who said I'd need to visit them to discuss availability, interest etc and put my name down, and they were unable to give me any indication of timescale (said they couldn't tell me on the phone and wouldn't be able to tell me in person).

I binned the idea off, as didn't fancy traipsing around dealers to get no information, and didn't fancy paying a premium either.

From looking at another forum I think 6-12 months on the silver dial may have been realistic, however the silver (despite being the one I think looks the nicest) is the least popular so both black and blue would be longer I think (in that order).

One of the things that made it hard to stomach the idea of a premium or dicking about with AD's too much for a VCO is that historically these have been the least popular of the "holy trinity" s/s sports watches (compared to a Nautilus or Royal Oak). Pre market bubble they sold at significant discount to retail, and many pre 2020 forum posts about VCO's is about the fact they tank hard from new and to buy at the right price. Whilst my interest in this model wasn't for investment purposes at all, I still found the idea of paying 30% overs for something that until recently was gettable at quite a chunk under RRP quite galling.

In the JLC Master Control Chronograph Calendar (which I know you are considering too from your other post) I found something which I personally find more visually interesting given the complications, just as versatile given the interchangeable bracelet/leather strap, and from a brand with just as much heritage despite JLC not being one of the "holy trinity". Plus I could actually buy one!

Good luck on your search

[Mosdef]

Like most manufacturers, VC give very obscure indications of delivery times, albeit their team in Old Bond Street (and Harrods for that matter) are pleasant to deal with and do not smirk or make you wonder why you bothered going to see them.

I put my name down for a blue Overseas Chrono last summer and took delivery in March, knowing that prices were coming under pressure. I remember in December 2020, I could have bought the same watch (lightly used) on C24 for around £18k but it wasn't quite the right time for me.

I don't know about the rest of the Overseas range but blue faced chronos are only available through their boutiques and I know the waiting list for the chrono is still a few years, or at least, it was in March. Whether that applies to the three hander and the dual time is unknown to me.

PP and AP are probably worse on the delivery time front, if they'll even accept your request to register interest whereas VC seem much more straightforward. In a weaker market, I agree that VC might fall further but I think their brand has improved a lot, even in the last couple of years, so some models are bound to hold up more than others.

Good luck in your search, Si800's new JLC looks nothing short of stunning, and I suspect the watchmaking is every bit as good as the Holy Trinity.

[Insurancejon]

Got a call from Berrys in York this week, to see if wanted the silver face overseas with a silver face…..but would require a 20k additional spend in the shop…..told them to jog on

[EX51GE R]

Insurancejon said:

Got a call from Berrys in York this week, to see if wanted the silver face overseas with a silver face…..but would require a 20k additional spend in the shop…..told them to jog on

Good on you! What terrible behaviour on their part.

[CrgT16]

Sounds worse than buying a Porsche!!

Can’t you just place an order and wait or doesn’t it work like that?

[Mosdef]

The boutique is far easier to deal with by the sounds of it. Easy to deal with, didn’t take themselves too seriously and they seem to accept expressions of interest without imposing ridiculous conditions.

[ManfredvonRichthofen]

Thanks for all the replies gents.
Yes - seems like this has also gone ridiculous. Agree with everything you say si and frankly - from a logical point of view - your jlc is a hell of a lot more watch than this.

I have no interest in playing this game and may just hang back for a couple of years. It does sound that VC themselves may be less dhead than the dealers though.

Anyway, I suspect this will pass and these will be back on the grey market at a discount in the not too distant future.

I’d actually like to try one on but not sure if I can be arsed for something you can’t actually buy and I really hate the concept of someone expecting me to feel lucky that they are considering taking my money….

I have a feeling it may be too big (unimaginatively it is the three hander blue face overseas I was looking at primarily - 41mm). I don’t really get this modern bent for massive watches...

Si - get some on wrist photos if your JLC up. That one is definitely a winner.

Hopefully the madness ends soon

[simong800]

ManfredvonRichthofen said:

Si - get some on wrist photos if your JLC up. That one is definitely a winner.

Here you go, couple of real life pics - excuse the quality, not sure what I am doing wrong with my new iPhone!.

I’m still waiting on the steel bracelet to arrive which was ordered separately, but enjoying it on leather for now. It has a quick change system so it's literally a 30 second job to change straps...

Edited by si800 on Monday 19th September 09:23

Edited by si800 on Monday 19th September 09:24

[ManfredvonRichthofen]

That’s really lovely si. I like that a lot. Is that a darker brown strap you have in the first photo? It looks good

[simong800]

ManfredvonRichthofen said:

That’s really lovely si. I like that a lot. Is that a darker brown strap you have in the first photo? It looks good

Sorry just seen this.

Yes, it's the one JLC refer to as grey on their website but definitely a browny grey!

https://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/gb-en/straps/calf...

Will post a pic when the bracelet lands, hopefully only a week or so off.

[The Stiglet]

I put my name down in a boutique in February this year for an Overseas with silver face, the 4500V not chronometer. I was offered one in July even though he said it would probably take 12 months. Weirdly, I was offered a Rolex Explorer II on the same day so I went with that after seeing the resale values come down on the Vacheron. It's one hell of an outlay for a daily watch, which is what I wanted it for, and I can't see them holding up given the economic climate we are heading into and their historical valuations.

I'd also never tried one on...!

That JLC is gorgeous

[AJAYE2015]

Insurancejon said:

Got a call from Berrys in York this week, to see if wanted the silver face overseas with a silver face…..but would require a 20k additional spend in the shop…..told them to jog on

Where I come from they call that blackmail haha

[AJAYE2015]

Insurancejon said:

Got a call from Berrys in York this week, to see if wanted the silver face overseas with a silver face…..but would require a 20k additional spend in the shop…..told them to jog on

Where I come from they call that blackmail haha

[simong800]

Hi Manfred, not sure if still considering the JLC but finally got around to getting the bracelet sized and uploading a pic accordingly. Gives it a completely different look and makes me like it even more! Cheers