The Holy Trinity of watch brands: Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin.

Generally less understood than either of its respected compatriots, Vacheron Constantin has a legacy of producing some of the very finest high horology complications in history — and some of the loveliest.

Sports watches came later to VC, as pressure from the new ‘Luxury Sports Watch’ category introduced in the early 1970s forced the storied brand to evolve — but historically, classically styled dress pieces is where Vacheron cut their teeth.

This particular ladies’ dress watch is from the Phidias range, a collection released in 1989 that took its name from that of the famed Greek sculptures of classical antiquity, renowned for his work that graced the Parthenon. Housed in a 24mm 18K yellow gold case with a sapphire crystal and a signed crown, it features a white linen ‘sigma’ dial with applied yellow gold indices and a matching yellow gold handset.

Elegant and restrained with its 18K yellow gold integrated bracelet hidden deployant clasp, this quartz-powered beauty from the 1990s is a value-packed sleeper hit, stemming as it does from one of the world’s best watchmakers. 

Snag it before someone else has the same idea!