Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 in Steel (Ref. 4200H/222A-B934): The Return of an Icon
Some watches you wait a long time for, and the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 is one of them. Vacheron has finally put the 222 back in steel, reference 4200H/222A-B934, with a blue dial, and it is the one people keep asking us about. We got hands-on with one, and here is what stands out.
Watch the full unboxing
Table of Contents
1. The 222 Is Back in Steel
Vacheron first made the 222 in 1977, for the brand's 222nd anniversary. It came from a young designer named Jorg Hysek, and it arrived in the same 1970s run that gave us the Royal Oak in 1972 and the Nautilus in 1976. Then Vacheron set it aside for years. The Historiques line exists to bring pieces like this back, and after the gold reissue in 2022, the steel version people kept asking about finally landed, almost 50 years after the 222 first appeared.
The steel 222 keeps the tonneau case and notched bezel that defined the 1977 original.
2. Dial, Case, and That Notched Bezel
Vacheron kept this close to the 1977 original. The blue dial is clean: applied baton hour markers, a date at 3 o'clock, the Maltese cross up top under the Vacheron Constantin Geneve signature, and Automatic printed above six. Nothing extra, and it works.
Applied baton markers, a date at 3 o'clock, and the Maltese cross under the signature.
The case is the star. It has that tonneau shape with a notched bezel and sharp, angular brushing broken up by polished edges. The finishing is superb up close. Down at 5 o'clock there is a gold-toned Maltese cross set into the case, a detail carried straight over from the original 222 and one of the fastest ways to spot one.
The gold-toned Maltese cross at 5 o'clock is a signature detail from the original.
The Maltese cross shows up again, engraved into the bracelet clasp.
3. The Movement: Caliber 2455/2
The 222 runs on Vacheron's self-winding Caliber 2455/2. It beats at 4 Hz and carries the Hallmark of Geneva, so the finishing and regulation are held to Geneva's standard. You get the full view through the display caseback, including the gold rotor stamped with the 222 signature. Water resistance is 50 meters, engraved right into the caseback.
Caliber 2455/2 through the display back, with the gold rotor stamped 222.
One honest note: the power reserve is 40 hours, which is on the shorter side for a watch at this level, and we will not pretend otherwise. It is the one spec that does not quite match the price. Everything else about how this piece is built and finished holds up.
| Reference | 4200H/222A-B934 |
| Case | 37mm stainless steel, about 7.95mm thick |
| Dial | Blue, applied baton markers, date at 3 |
| Movement | Self-winding Caliber 2455/2, Hallmark of Geneva |
| Power reserve | 40 hours |
| Water resistance | 50 meters |
| Retail (2025) | $32,000 |
4. 37mm, Slim, and That Bracelet
The 222 comes in at 37mm, the same size as the original, and it wears thin at just under 8mm. The slim case is a big part of the charm and makes it easy to wear. Everything about it is slim, except the bracelet.
From the side you can see how thin the case actually is.
The bracelet is the counterpoint. It is a substantial integrated steel bracelet with tapering links, and it has enough heft that it almost feels like it came off a different, heavier watch. On the wrist the thin case and the chunky bracelet play off each other, and the whole thing sits well at 37mm.
The integrated steel bracelet tapers into the case and carries real weight.
People ask us for an integrated steel sports watch almost every week, and the request is nearly always a Royal Oak or a Nautilus. The 222 almost never comes up, even though it sits right alongside them. It reads a little dressier than either of those, so it slots in nicely under a suit, and now that it is in steel you can knock it around a bit more than the gold version.
The blue dial reads dressier than most steel sports watches its size.
5. Price and Availability
Getting one at retail is tough right now. Vacheron launched the steel 222 in January 2025, the first of its 270th-anniversary releases, at $32,000, and it has traded well above that since. As of June 2026, WatchCharts puts the market price around $58,000. We are not financial advisors, and this is just what we see day to day, but demand for the steel 222 has held up and we do not expect it to slip under retail anytime soon. It comes with the box and papers, which is what you want on a piece like this.
The steel 222 shown with its Vacheron Constantin box.
If you would rather skip the boutique waitlist, we have the blue-dial steel 222 available now.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 in steel?
It launched in January 2025 at $32,000 retail and trades well above that on the secondary market. As of June 2026, WatchCharts puts the market price around $58,000. Getting one at retail from a boutique is difficult right now, so most examples change hands above sticker.
What size is the steel 222?
The case is 37mm across and about 7.95mm thick, the same size as the 1977 original. It wears slim and works well on a range of wrist sizes. The integrated steel bracelet adds real weight, so the watch feels more substantial than the thin case alone suggests.
What movement does the 222 use?
It runs the self-winding Vacheron Caliber 2455/2, which beats at 4 Hz and carries the Hallmark of Geneva. You can see it through the display caseback, including the gold rotor stamped with the 222 signature. The power reserve is 40 hours, and water resistance is 50 meters.
Is the steel 222 rare?
The original 222 was discontinued for decades before Vacheron reissued it, first in gold in 2022 and then in steel in January 2025. We see far fewer of them than Royal Oaks or Nautiluses, and steady demand has kept prices above retail since launch.
Sources: retail and market pricing per Vacheron Constantin and WatchCharts (as of June 2026). Specifications confirmed against the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 steel reference 4200H/222A-B934.