How did I come to buy the Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 in rose gold? Well, some 18 months ago I decided to find a high-end mechanical watch for my 50th birthday. What would I choose? A Royal Oak, a watch also born in 1972? A Patek Philippe, a Vacheron Constantin, an A. Lange & Söhne, a Breguet, a Blancpain? I made appointments when needed, visited the different boutiques, and tried on many watches.

Until I met the Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955. As I wasn’t particularly interested in chronographs, it wasn’t at all near the top of my list. But I still clearly remember the instant feeling of being, at last, in front of the watch which fulfilled my desires and perfectly suited my tastes.

What blew me away and pleased me so much? The cow horns lugs, of course. So lively, original, yet subtle and delicate: they give the watch a truly unique and dynamic personality. The blue tachymeter scale on the well balanced dial, neither too empty, nor too busy. The blued chronograph hands contrasting with the seconds, minutes and hours hands. The beautiful 1142 manual-winding caliber (an upgraded version of the Lemania 2310), perfectly sized for the 38.5mm case, and full of lovely finishings and details like the Maltese cross column wheel (both the movement and the case meet the Hallmark of Geneva requirements). And rose gold was also a great part of my love of the watch: I also tried the steel version, hoping I would like it as well, as it’s far less expensive; but no, rose gold was definitely the right thing for me, because it gives the watch much more warmth and something timeless.

The Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 is a modern interpretation of the vintage 6087 model from 1955, the first water-resistant chronograph manufactured by Vacheron Constantin. It was introduced in 2015 in a platinum version, which is now discontinued. The rose gold version came one year later in 2016 and, finally, a steel version was released in 2019. The case is a bit larger than the original 35mm one and some other details differ: for example, the two subdials are a little more centered and don’t overlap the minutes scale anymore. But it remains fully faithful to the spirit of the original design combining, like no other perhaps, tradition and imagination, classicism and extravagance, sense and sensibility, lines and curves.

The double alligator dark brown leather strap comes with a beautiful half Maltese cross pin buckle. But, for practical reasons, I decided to buy a double folding clasp with the same Maltese cross design: more secure, easier to use on a daily basis (the first leather loop of the strap being very tight, fixing the strap with the pin buckle is trickier than with the clasp) and reducing the strap wear and tear. Therefore, even if the pin buckle is much more truthful to the 1955 original, I wish Vacheron Constantin would deliver this watch with a folding clasp. And I wouldn’t be against a lighter shade of brown for the strap: the regular one is just a bit too dark for my taste.

The Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 fits my 16cm wrist perfectly, thanks to the limited diameter of the case and to the curvature of the lugs. And it’s a constant pleasure to wind daily and to wear in almost any occasion and attire. It’s a dress watch, of course, with only 30 meters of water-resistance, so sport and swimming are obviously not to be considered. But apart from these sporty circumstances, I’m always happy to have it on my wrist, be it with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans or even shorts, and to take a glimpse at its beauty.