With transparent surfaces and complex inner workings, the Overseas Grand Complication Openface signals a groundbreaking timepiece in its luxury sports collection
Vacheron Constantin has unveiled a bold new chapter in the story of the Overseas collection. The Overseas Grand Complication Openface brings a high level of mechanical complexity into a space typically reserved for robust, travel-ready timepieces. It challenges familiar ideas around sport watches by incorporating a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, tourbillon, and power reserve—all housed in a sleek titanium case designed for daily wear.
The inclusion of a minute repeater marks a first for the Overseas line. Traditionally considered too fragile or ornate for sport-luxury formats, such a complication requires careful design, particularly regarding water resistance. Achieving a functional minute repeater in a case measuring 44.5 mm in diameter and 13.1 mm in height, while maintaining water resistance at 30 metres, took a full redesign of the caseback and over a year of development. The result reflects both technical ingenuity and a firm commitment to the aesthetic codes that define the Overseas identity.
A Sporty and Contemporary Aesthetic
With its grade 5 titanium case and integrated bracelet, the Overseas Grand Complication Openface watch remains true to the spirit of the collection. Its sporty, contemporary character is enhanced by the transparency of the sapphire dial, which reveals the beauty and complexity of the movement. Applied to the transparent sapphire, the 18-carat white gold hour-markers appear to be floating in space, amplifying the airy aesthetic.
To enhance legibility and create a dynamic contrast with the grey and silver tones of the movement components, the circles surrounding each of the time and calendar indications are treated with a blue metallised finish. The surface of each metallised circle is then engraved in white with the various indications – dates,
days, months, years and minutes.
Viewed through the sapphire dial, the avant-garde spirit of the watch is highlighted by the contrast between the anthracite grey hue of the NAC galvanic treatment on the bridges and the silvery tone of the rhodium-plated wheels. The mix of finishes on the case and bracelet amplifies the contemporary aesthetic with a visually captivating play of light and reflections.
Sandblasting combines with polishing and satin brushing on the bezel—a new signature for titanium-cased models in the Overseas collection. Like the other pieces in the collection, the model’s titanium bracelet, fitted with a comfort system, is interchangeable without tools, and two additional straps—one in blue alligator and one in blue rubber—are offered with the watch.
Mechanical Transparency
At the heart of the timepiece lies Calibre 2755 QP, a manual-winding movement made up of 602 components. Originally evolved from the architecture of the Tour de l’Île movement presented in 2005, this calibre balances advanced functionality with an emphasis on structure. Sapphire crystal replaces the traditional dial, offering a view into the movement’s layers, where rhodium-plated wheels contrast against an NAC-treated bridge system in dark anthracite tones.
The visual impression is both precise and intricate. Hour markers in 18K white gold appear suspended above the mechanism. Blue metallised rings surrounding the calendar indicators add clarity while reinforcing the contemporary feel. Light plays across the finishing—a mix of polishing, satin brushing, and sandblasting—resulting in an open, modern aesthetic that avoids excess.
Functional Complication Meets Daily Utility
The tourbillon, placed at six o’clock, operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour. Its slower cadence gives the motion a deliberate quality, inviting the eye rather than demanding it. The movement’s finishing, visible through the transparent caseback, includes mirror-polished hammers, Côtes de Genève bridges, and a striking centripetal regulator system for the repeater—a proprietary design that governs the acoustic tempo silently and precisely.
Every element reflects Vacheron Constantin’s focus on traditional watchmaking, applied in a context built around utility. A comfort-adjustable titanium bracelet is paired with additional straps in blue rubber and alligator leather, offering versatility across settings. Despite the presence of highly delicate mechanics, the case design stays true to the principles of the Overseas series—angular lugs, refined surfaces, and integrated components with visual cohesion.
Beyond Boundaries of Classification
Director of Style and Patrimony Christian Selmoni notes the intention behind merging such high complications with the sporty DNA of the Overseas. He said, “The world of horological complications is no longer confined to fragile, museum-quality timepieces… The Overseas also knows how to go beyond those boundaries. Each piece respects the spirit of the collection while adding a new dimension to the world of complications.”
Selmoni also addresses the Openface concept, which dates back to Vacheron Constantin’s Art Deco-era rock crystal watches: “When the dial is openworked, the calibre is visible from the front, so we need to apply galvanic or PVD treatments to give components colour harmony. The very notion of Openface adds an extra level of complexity.”
This model does not attempt to simplify grand complication for everyday use. Instead, it demonstrates that a sports-luxury watch can embody deep technical sophistication while remaining wearable and visually coherent.
Technical Overview: Overseas Grand Complication Openface
- Movement: Calibre 2755 QP, manual-winding, Hallmark of Geneva certified
- Components: 602
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds (tourbillon), minute repeater, perpetual calendar (day, date, month, leap year), power reserve
- Frequency: 2.5 Hz (18,000 vph)
- Power Reserve: Approx. 58 hours
- Case: Titanium grade 5, 44.5 mm diameter, 13.1 mm thick, 30m water resistance
- Dial: Sapphire crystal with blue display counters and white gold markers
- Bracelet: Integrated titanium with tool-free interchangeability; includes additional blue rubber and alligator straps
- Limited Production
The Overseas Grand Complication Openface avoids categorisation. It belongs neither to pure sport nor strictly to classical high horology. Instead, it sits in the intersection of craftsmanship, innovation, a nd functional design—a rare place that few watchmakers reach, and even fewer define.
Things to know:
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Grand Complication Openface watch is the first minute repeater in the Overseas collection and features Calibre 2755 QP, which also includes a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon. It has a water-resistant titanium case and integrated bracelet, with a sapphire crystal dial that reveals the intricate mechanism.
Key features include:
- Grand Complication: Combines a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, tourbillon, and power reserve indicator.
- Calibre 2755 QP: An emblematic movement with 602 components, developed from previous models, known for its slimness and modularity.
- Design: Sporty and contemporary aesthetic with a transparent sapphire dial, titanium case and bracelet, and meticulous hand-finishing of movement components.
- Openface Concept: Showcases the beauty of the complex movement, a tradition for Vacheron Constantin.
- Technical Details: Includes information on the watch’s dimensions, power reserve, water resistance, materials, and indications.
- Vacheron Constantin’s Heritage: Emphasizes the Maison’s 270-year commitment to technical excellence, artistry, and innovation.
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