Vacheron Constantin Lugs That Move | Vacheron Constantin Historiques 1912 Limited Tonneau Watch | Watch Only, Serviced Ref.37001R

The watch we present today is a tonneau-shaped wristwatch from Vacheron Constantin’s Les Historiques 1912 limited re-edition series. The caseback is engraved with the prominent “1912” inscription and its individual limited number, a clear tribute to a pivotal year in the Maison’s history.

Why 1912? It was a particularly significant moment in time. Wristwatches were only just beginning to establish themselves as everyday objects worn on the wrist, while European aesthetics—under the influence of the Art Nouveau movement—were increasingly drawn to flowing lines and organic curves. It was against this backdrop that Vacheron Constantin began to explore alternatives to the traditional round case, turning its attention to the more sculptural tonneau form. Remarkably, this experiment would endure for an entire century, quietly establishing the tonneau shape as a lasting design language within the brand’s oeuvre. As such, Vacheron Constantin formally records 1912 as the beginning of its tonneau-shaped watch tradition.

The Les Historiques 1912 collection is a deliberate look back to this origin—an homage that revives the design spirit and watchmaking philosophy of that formative era.

Perhaps the most distinctly “vintage” feature of this watch lies in its articulated lugs. This thoughtful detail pays direct homage to the early days when everything was still being figured out. Today, with the benefit of mature ergonomic studies, tonneau-shaped watches naturally conform to the wrist. In 1912, however, non-round cases were still a novelty, often resulting in awkward fit or protruding corners. To address this, watchmakers of the time devised an elegant mechanical solution: lugs that could move. Through a hinged construction, the lugs are able to pivot freely with the motion of the wrist, improving comfort while introducing a subtle sense of mechanical liveliness to the overall design.

The dial is rendered in a softly textured opaline finish. Slender, elongated leaf-shaped hands convey time with understated elegance, reflecting the era’s restrained understanding of refinement. The Arabic numerals, executed in a handwritten style, are deliberately stretched and gently curved, visually echoing the contours of the tonneau case. Together, they evoke the graceful calligraphy found in personal correspondence from the early 20th century.

Amid today’s abundance of tonneau-shaped watches, this piece arrives quietly from 1912, carrying with it over a century of horological evolution. Its charm lies in the details: the moving lugs, the elongated handwritten numerals—subtle elements that bring the aesthetics and craftsmanship of a bygone era gently back to the modern wrist.

This Vacheron Constantin Historiques 1912 has been fully serviced by Nicky Sir, with the movement in excellent condition, and is covered by a one-year service warranty from our workshop.