The 4200H/222J is the yellow-gold reissue of the 222, introduced in 2022 in the Historiques line. The original 222 appeared in 1977, to mark Vacheron Constantin's 222nd anniversary, and was designed by Jörg Hysek.
It was a sports watch with an integrated bracelet, and it is regarded as a forerunner of the later Overseas.
The reissue stays true to the original: a 37 mm case, a bracelet that flows seamlessly into the case and a restrained dial with date. Inside is the self-winding in-house calibre 2455/2. Anyone wearing the 222 wears a watch that stays close to the 1977 design in size and proportions.
A yellow-gold bracelet shows signs of wear quickly, and polishing removes material more readily from gold than from steel. On a pre-owned example we therefore look above all at the edges of the case and bezel, the crispness of the links and stretch in the bracelet.
We check the movement and the date, and state whether box and certificate are included.
Anyone weighing up an Overseas can compare the 222 with the 4500V/110A; more about a complete set can be found in our guide to box and papers.