These days, if you happen to see someone wearing a watch, there’s a good chance that it’s a digital smartwatch. With a few taps, (s)he can not only check the time but also his/her heart rate, sleep quality, blood oxygen level, and credit score (not really) — all while hands-free-driving on the highway. But back in the Roaring Twenties, watches and cars required much more engagement and effort. Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin addressed that with the American 1921, a watch that made it easy to tell the time while driving.
1919 Vacheron Constantin American 1921 (Photo courtesy of Hodinkee)
The American 1921 story actually starts in 1919, when Vacheron Constantin started a production run of watches that featured a dial offset by 45 degrees, seconds subdial at 6 o’clock, and crown on the right side of the cushion-shaped case. According to watch enthusiast site Hodinkee, Vacheron Constantin only made 12 of these timepieces.
American 1921 Pièce unique and vintage American 1921 (Photo courtesy of Vacheron Contantin)
Two years later, it followed up with a model for the U.S. market, which eventually became known as the American 1921. This model had the crown on the left and a white enamel dial with painted Arabic numerals and matching black hands. But its most distinctive — and useful — feature was the rotated dial that showed 12 o’clock at the top when the watch’s owner was driving. As Vacheron Constantin puts it, “The initial versions produced were notably appreciated by driving enthusiasts who could thus read the time at a glance without having to take their hands from the steering wheel.”
American 1921 (Photo courtesy of Vacheron Contantin)
Over the last 100-plus years, Vacheron Constantin has updated the American 1921. “The modern 40 mm version was introduced in 2008 and added to the permanent collection. The 36.5 mm edition was unveiled in 2017 and in 2021, the centennial of the American 1921 brought new variations in both sizes, as well as a model faithfully recreated as if in 1921,” aka the American 1921 Pièce unique.
American 1921 with 40mm pink gold case (Photo courtesy of Vacheron Contantin)
The current Vacheron Constantin American 1921, which features the seconds subdial at 3 o’clock, is available with a 36.5mm or 40mm case in pink or white gold. Prices start at $37,200 and go up to $45,000.
The 1937 Cord 812 came much later than the American 1921, but those two would make a great pair. Which other cars would go well with this unusual watch? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
