Tap the image to enlarge
Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 40mm White Gold
Ref. 82035
The original American 1921 was made specifically for the United States market, its movement and dial rotated 45 degrees within a cushion case so that a motorist of the early 1920s could read the time without lifting a hand from the steering wheel. This 40mm white gold revival keeps that logic intact: the crown sits at roughly the one-to-two o'clock position, the Arabic numerals face the driver's eye, and the whole thing remains an exercise in deliberate asymmetry rather than mere stylistic eccentricity. At 8.06mm thick, it disappears under a shirt cuff in a way that few dress watches manage and almost no 40mm case does — the proportion feels closer to something much smaller on the wrist. The movement inside carries the Hallmark of Geneva, a certification that demands finishing beyond what any standard manufacture process provides: engine-turned plates, polished sinks, chamfered and bevelled edges throughout. A 65-hour power reserve means a long weekend away without winding. The pin buckle is cast as a half-Maltese cross, which is characteristic rather than decorative — the same form appears across the brand's hardware wherever it can.
- Reference
- 82035
- Brand
- Vacheron Constantin
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 8.06mm
- Case material
- White gold
- Case shape
- Cushion
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Manual
- Calibre
- 4400 AS
- Functions
- Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 65 hours
Learn more about Vacheron Constantin
Jean-Marc Vacheron signed his first apprenticeship contract in Geneva in 1755, an act that begins the longest unbroken run of watchmaking in the industry. The house has produced watches every year since — through the French occupation of Geneva, two world wars, and the quartz crisis that killed most of its contemporaries.
The decisive partnership came in 1819, when François Constantin joined Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron and supplied the motto still carried today: do better if possible, and that is always possible. Constantin travelled Europe selling the watches while Vacheron built them, an arrangement that turned a Geneva workshop into an international house.
In 1839 the company hired Georges-Auguste Leschot, whose pantograph allowed movement components to be made to consistent dimensions. It was among the first serious steps toward interchangeable parts in Swiss watchmaking, and it let the house scale complication work without surrendering hand finishing.
Vacheron is the senior member of the so-called holy trinity alongside Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, and remains the reference for Geneva finishing: hand-applied anglage, the Maltese cross emblem taken from a movement component, and a catalogue running from plain three-handers to the most complicated wristwatches ever assembled. The Overseas, introduced in the 1990s and descended from the 222 of 1977, is the modern volume model.
The house has belonged to Richemont since 1996.
- 1755
- Jean-Marc Vacheron establishes his workshop in Geneva.
- 1819
- François Constantin joins; the firm becomes Vacheron & Constantin.
- 1839
- Georges-Auguste Leschot introduces the pantograph for consistent components.
- 1977
- The 222 launches, ancestor of the Overseas.
- 1996
- Acquired by Richemont.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Leather Strap Watches (896), Back in Stock (820), Silver Dial Watches (619), Dress Watches (433), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (220) and Tonneau & Cushion Watches (164).
What the specifications mean
A slim watch on leather, made for wearing with a shirt.
Strengths
- 40mm suits most wrists
- 8.06mm is unusually slim for a 40mm case
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 82035 | 00620025481 | JLC-E2643 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £30,050 | £21,150 | £21,495 |
| Case size | 40mm | 43mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m | — |
| Movement | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 65 hours | 216 hours | 48 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is hand-wound, so it needs winding every day or two but never a battery.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 65 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb at £30,050, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £30,050 from Mappin & Webb. A pre-owned watch has been worn, and is normally sold under the retailer’s own warranty rather than the manufacturer’s.
You may also like
In stock, and close on style and price
