We are, of course, referring to the giant panda, a black and white fluffy bear that lives in the mountains of China and feeds exclusively on bamboo. In watchmaking, when we talk about panda-style dials, we mean chronographs with white or light-colored dials with black counters, the color combination of which resembles the head of a cute mammal. These chronographs exude a retro yet modern aesthetic, are considered particularly elegant and timeless, and are among the first choice of collectors and connoisseurs. Fans of Vacheron Constantin and the Overseas collection will surely remember the impressive steel chronograph produced by the Swiss house a few years ago with an inverted panda-shaped dial, that is, with a black plate and white counters.

Now the grand dame of haute horlogerie is back with her “reversible version” – a steel chronograph with a silver dial – matte finish and sunburst texture – and black counters.

Around the dial is a black beveled bezel with seconds graduation, and on the second light silver ring are minutes. Between 4 and 5, the date is displayed in a special window.

The large rectangular applied hour markers as well as the center markers are made of 18K white gold and coated with Super-LumiNova.^®so that they can be clearly seen in the dark.

Panda type dials first appeared in the 1960s and were used for motorsport-related watches. This two-tone design exudes dynamism and strong temperament. The color contrast of white and black, in addition to aesthetic pleasure, emphasizes the indications of the chronograph and provides greater clarity during its operation.

As Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Heritage at Vacheron Constantin, explains: “Since their introduction at least 20 years ago, Overseas chronographs have always been synonymous with Manufacture research. This versatile timepiece combines Vacheron Constantin’s fine watchmaking spirit with the sporty elegance of a chronograph. In a way, Overseas chronographs have always signaled the Manufacture’s desire for controlled yet somewhat provocative movements, a desire to explore other areas of watchmaking and to experiment with new creative areas.”

The mechanical heart of the watch is the self-produced automatic caliber 5200, equipped with a 22-carat gold rotor adorned with bells, a symbol of travel and exploration. The movement has two drums, equipped with a column-type wheel, which is screwed in by a single screw in the shape of a Maltese cross and is used to control the functions of starting, stopping and restarting the chronograph. It also has a vertical clutch to prevent the hands from jumping when starting the chronograph.

The mechanism is visible thanks to the transparent sapphire crystal that covers the case back.

The chronograph is a “three in one” as it comes with three straps/bracelets, allowing the wearer to change styles in seconds thanks to a simple change system that does not require the use of a special tool. Depending on the purpose and mood, they can be worn either with a brushed steel bracelet with polished links, or with an elegant black leather strap with white stitching, or with a sporty black embossed rubber strap.

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