Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph 47101 – Black Guilloché Dial – Full Set

Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph 47101 – Black Guilloché Dial (Manual Wind)

We are pleased to offer this highly desirable Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph ref. 47101/000J-4, presented here with the sought-after black guilloché dial. This model is a modern reinterpretation of Vacheron’s mid-20th-century chronographs, combining classical aesthetics with late-20th-century craftsmanship and finishing.

The watch features an elegant 36 mm 18K yellow gold case, refined teardrop lugs and a beautifully balanced bi-compax chronograph layout. Inside ticks the hand-wound calibre 1140, derived from one of the most respected traditional chronograph ébauches. Its smooth operation, precise actuation and fine finishing underscore the technical pedigree of this piece.

This example comes as a full set, making it especially appealing for collectors seeking a complete and historically meaningful Vacheron Constantin chronograph.

Key Specifications

• Case material: 18K yellow gold

• Case diameter: 36 mm

• Dial: Black guilloché with small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, tachymeter scale, applied gold hour markers and Arabic numerals

• Hands: Gold baton hour/minute hands, leaf-style sub-dial hands

• Movement: Manual-wind calibre 1140 (21 jewels, swan-neck regulator, Breguet overcoil, high-grade finishing)

• Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph (central seconds and 30-minute totalizer)

• Style: Elegant dress chronograph with vintage inspiration

• Set: Full set (details can be added if needed)

This reference 47101 blends timeless styling with mechanical refinement—ideal for collectors who appreciate classical proportions, craftsmanship and understated luxury.

When timeless elegance meets understated sophistication

The Vacheron Constantin 47101 Les Historiques Chronograph is a watch that doesn’t need to be loud to make a lasting impression. Its quiet confidence comes from thoughtful design: a deep black guilloché dial, a warm 18K gold case, and a beautifully hand-wound movement.

On the wrist, the 36 mm proportions feel effortlessly balanced. The teardrop lugs add sculptural charm, while the bi-compax layout nods to the golden age of chronographs. Under different light, the guilloché texture comes alive with subtle depth and refined contrast.

For those who prefer craftsmanship over trends and heritage over extravagance, the 47101 represents a pure statement of taste.

A modern tribute to Vacheron Constantin’s chronograph heritage

When Vacheron Constantin revived its chronograph lineage in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Les Historiques collection emerged as a bridge between past and present. Reference 47101 was the centerpiece: a watch inspired by the clean lines and balanced proportions of Vacheron’s celebrated 1940s and 1950s chronographs.

Its 36 mm case, refined lugs and hand-wound calibre 1140 preserve all the character of traditional watchmaking, yet the dial finishing and movement refinement reflect modern precision. Among the different configurations, the black guilloché dial stands out—quietly dramatic, elegant, textured and beautifully legible.

Owning a 47101 is owning a living chapter of Vacheron Constantin’s chronograph history: respectful of tradition, yet fully wearable today.

Powering the 47101 is Vacheron Constantin’s Calibre 1140, a beautifully finished hand-wound chronograph movement based on the legendary Lemania 2310 architecture. Vacheron’s interpretation of this calibre remains faithful to the mechanical purity of the original design, while elevating the finishing and assembly to Geneva Seal standards.

Compared to the version used by Patek Philippe in the same era, Vacheron’s approach is slightly more conservative in terms of modification—but in execution and decorative finishing, both manufacturers achieved an exceptionally high level. Before Patek introduced its own quality seal, both houses met the stringent criteria of the Poinçon de Genève, ensuring impeccable hand-finishing, precise tolerances and traditional chronograph construction.

Vacheron’s Calibre 1141 retains several classic features that collectors appreciate:

• Swan-neck fine regulator: allows precise micro-adjustment of the balance.

• Non-hacking seconds: in keeping with traditional hand-wound chronograph construction.

• 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz): a beautifully slow and traditional beat rate that makes the oscillation of the balance wheel easily visible without the need for slow-motion video.

The combination of its column-wheel architecture, horizontal clutch and low frequency gives the movement a tactile, almost poetic chronograph action: soft engagement, smooth reset and a rhythm that feels authentically old-world. For many collectors, Calibre 1141 represents one of the finest expressions of classical chronograph watchmaking still produced in the late 20th century.

Elegant 36 mm hand-wound chronograph in 18K yellow gold with rare black guilloché dial. The Vacheron Constantin 47101 offers timeless proportions, refined vintage inspiration and high-grade movement finishing—an exceptional choice for discerning collectors.

Discover the Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph 47101—a rare black guilloché-dial chronograph featuring the manual-wind calibre 1140 and a 36 mm gold case. A perfectly balanced, vintage-inspired dress chronograph showcasing understated Swiss luxury.

Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph 47101 – Key Specifications

• Reference: 47101

• Case Material: 18K yellow gold

• Case Diameter: 36 mm

• Dial: Black guilloché; bi-compax layout; small seconds at 9h; 30-minute counter at 3h; tachymeter scale; applied gold markers and Arabic numerals

• Hands: Gold baton hour/minute hands; leaf-style hands for sub-dials

• Movement: Manual-wind calibre 1140 (21 jewels, Breguet overcoil, swan-neck regulator, traditional high-grade finishing)

• Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph (central seconds + 30-minute totalizer), tachymeter scale

• Style: Dress chronograph; vintage-inspired; suitable for formal or refined casual wear

• Set: Full set

CONDITION

The watch has been carefully serviced by our own watchmaker. We opted to not polish the case.

As with all of our pre-owned watches this watch comes with a full 12 month warranty with ourselves that will be invoked from the day of purchase.