It is not an easy tasks to collect VC watches as they are are not as widespread and popular comparing to Patek & Rolex. Moreover, there are also much smaller in quantities.
The Vacheron & Constantin Reference 4217 is considered a second-generation descendant of the early Calatrava-style watches from Vacheron Constantin, first introduced in the 1930s. These so called early Calatrava models utilized base movements from Jaeger LeCoultre as Vacheron Constantin began serially producing more modern wrist watches.
The Reference 4217 specifically began production in the early to mid 1940s, featuring the Caliber 454 center-seconds movement. A related Reference 4073 model used the Caliber 453 sub-seconds movement. It was produced in Yellow gold, white gold, platinum and steel.
Examples of the Reference 4217 have been documented from 1944 through the mid-1970s, with the bulk of available models dating to the late 1940s and 1950s. This aligns with the fashions of those decades, as the model seems to have been discontinued in the early to mid 1970s.
The case numbers for the Reference 4217 provide clues to the production timeline - beginning with 277xxx in the 1940s, reaching 37xxxx by the end of the 1950s, and 382xxx in the 1960s. This suggests this particular watch 358xxx likely dates to the late 1950s. I like this watch very much as the earlier 4217 watches from the 1940s only has “Vacheron & Constantin “ on the dial while the late 1950s model has added the VC Maltese Cross on the dial, making it vintage with a modern touch and made the watch more “complete” in my opinion. The ref 4217 from the year 1955 is still without the VC Maltese Cross.
VC 4217 from 1955 without the VC Maltese Cross
These Reference 4217 watches featured 18 jewels and were stamped with hot/cold isochronism and the Geneva Seal indicating their high quality. The dials were typically finished in nitrocellulose varnish.
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Besides this, VC has made special VC 4217 enemal dial as below
