In honor of releasing two new Overseas Limited Edition Everest timepieces, Vacheron Constantin welcomes American explorer and photographer Cory Richards to the family as the face of its One of Not Many communications campaign.
Overseas Dual Time Everest Limited Edition by Vacheron Constantin worn by adventurer Cory Richards
"Wearing an Overseas Everest, I’m reminded of everything from my childhood and everything that brought me to this moment in time,” says American explorer and photographer Cory Richards. “I’m actually emotional when I stop and contemplate what this watch actually says… about my life and what it can mean to others who wear it. To share such an enormous piece of me condensed into something so refined and beautiful is a humbling honor beyond the words I have. I’ve always loved watches, but this is much more than that.” With over 36 expeditions expanding over all seven continents—ranging from scaling the mountains of southern Antarctica to trekking across the Franz Josef Land of the Russian Arctic—Richards is no stranger to adventure, and next on his list is becoming the face of Vacheron Constantin’s One of Not Many communications campaign that spotlights the two new Overseas 150-piece limited-edition Everest timepieces.
Reaching for new heights, the timepieces pay homage to the prototype developed by Vacheron Constantin in 2019 that was worn by Richards on his third ascent of Mount Everest or, as it is known, the “roof of the world.” Synonymous with the explorer, the Overseas collection symbolizes discovery and openness to the world.
In its natural element, the Overseas Chronograph Everest Limited Edition by Vacheron Constantin
Branded with the famous six-sided bezel evoking the Maltese cross, the two new models are fitted with a skillfful combination of materials,, intertwining titanium and steel throughout the piece. The case, bezel, pushers and pusher guards are all crafted from titanium—a light, corrosion-resistant metal ready for any adventure. In contrast to the shimmering gleam of the stainless-steel bezel ring, the anthracite gray tones cool down the timepiece, while the dial emphasizes an elegant grain finish with complementary bright orange accents that match the stitching on the Cordura strap with nubuck calfskin lining.
An inside look at the Overseas Chronograph Everest’s mechanical, self-winding movement with 22K pink gold Overseas oscillating weight with Everest engraving
An inside look at the Overseas Chronograph Everest’s mechanical, self-winding movement with 22K pink gold Overseas oscillating weight with Everest engraving
An inside look at the Overseas Chronograph Everest’s mechanical, self-winding movement with 22K pink gold Overseas oscillating weight with Everest engraving
For versatility and performance, both models are equipped with the Overseas collection’s self-interchangeable strap system, which allows tool-free swaps between the Cordura and rubber straps supplied with the watches. “For me, these watches are an expression of years of refinement and effort. They are the manifestation of the reduction of the superfluous in the pursuit of the essential... and the essence of craft smanship,” says Richards.
Built for those on the move, the Overseas Chronograph Everest boasts a 42.5 mm case and unique dial composition that showcases optimal legibility of the chronograph indications with its bold orange central chronograph hand. Going beyond the exterior, the timepiece is home to a self-winding Calibre 5200/2 with twin-barrel in-house movement that features column wheels that orchestrate the chronograph function’s start, stop and reset operations. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and sports connoisseurs, this behind-the-scenes precision is matched with effortless aesthetics, complete with a blend of anthracite gray shades to a 22K pink gold oscillating weight finished with an homage to a photograph of Mount Everest taken by Richards.
For a more technical read, the Overseas dual-time Everest opts for the in-house self-winding 5110 DT/2 movement, which showcases two time zones simultaneously. In addition to the classic local-time indicators, this timepiece also includes an arrow-tipped fourth hand that displays the original (home) time, which works hand in hand with a matching orange-colored day and night indicator. For the finishing touch, the timepiece is complete with a sapphire crystal caseback, an anthracite gray NAC treatment on the baseplate and the signature Mount Everest engraving.
“Much like a timepiece, we are greater than the sum of our parts,” tells Richards. “Each of us is made of our own collection of movements and gearing, the machinations of the lives we’ve lived... and the outward expression of that is unique. I see this collaboration as a continued expression of that concept. The movements in me are echoed in the craft smanship I look to countless times every day, leading me further into an exploration of self, art and the planet. For that, I can’t be more humbled and grateful.”
From now until November, Vacheron Constantin’s New York flagship is spotlighting Richards’ art exhibition, Exploring the Space Between. Alongside 14 photographs from Richards’ excursions and explorations spanning the past 20 years across the globe, the brand has curated a rare assortment of heritage pocket and sports watches from its private collection—including the 1912 18K gold chronometer pocket watch, 222 and Overseas sport watches—on display.
