Vacheron Constantin Historique Chronograph

About this reference

The Vacheron Constantin Historique Chronograph reference 47101 was produced from approximately 1989 through the late 1990s as a tribute to the mid-century reference 4178. Collectors value this reference for its 37mm case featuring distinctive teardrop lugs and the manual-wind Caliber 1140, which is based on the Lemania 2310 ébauche. The platinum variant is distinguished by its weight and specific dial configurations, often featuring a sand-blasted finish with applied white gold hour markers and a tachymeter scale. Unlike modern iterations, the 47101 utilizes a solid caseback on early examples, though later versions transitioned to the 47111 reference with a sapphire display back. On the secondary market, the platinum 47101 typically trades between $35,000 and $50,000 depending on condition and the presence of original documentation. A notable production detail is the transition from the early "Sigma" dials to standard Swiss-made signatures during the mid-1990s.