The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Automatic is an iconic timepiece design by Jörg Hysek, the Overseas Automatic is a stainless steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet. Vacheron Constantin is the oldest of the holy trinity of watchmakers along with Audermars Piguet and Patek Philippe, yet Vacheron Constantin is like the poor cousin.

The Overseas Automatic was released in 1977, the reference 222 Overseas Automatic featured a 37 mm tonneau-shaped case and saw blade bezel. The reference 42040 remained at 37 mm and still featured a tonneau-shaped case, integrated bracelet and Maltese cross fluted bezel. The reference 42050 had a 35 mm case with the references 42041 and 42051 receiving calibre upgrades.

The steel sports watch style was inspired by Gérald Genta with the Royal Oak in 1972 and the Nautilus in 1976. Vacheron Constantin, the oldest of the holy trinity of watchmakers turned to Jörg Hysek famous for the Breguet Marine, Tiffany & Co Streamerica and TAG Heuer Kirium. Hysek built a reputation based on the Vacheron Constantin 222, but was really instrumental in more than dozens of designs.

For a long time, the Overseas Automatic was the forgotten steel sports watch from the holy trinity of watchmakers. For my tastes, I really didn’t like the Reference 222, the current models are more my tastes. Whilst the watch collecting community went silly for the Royal Oak, Genta then did again with the Nautilus ensuring Patek Philippe stayed at the top of the watchmakers pedigree. The Overseas was really the forgotten steel sports watch until just recently, the demand from the unattainable Nautilus and Royal Oak pushed Overseas prices up.