Vacheron Constantin Builds Watch Prototype for Mt. Everest Climb

Just as Omega has built a Grade 5 titanium watch capable of diving to the deepest point on Earth — the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench — Vacheron Constantin has taken timepiece technology in the other direction, to reach the highest point on our planet: Mount Everest.

Professional photographer and alpinist Cory Richards recently embarked on a treacherous journey to the summit of Mount Everest for the third time, and accompanying him was a prototype built by Vacheron Constantin. The Swiss luxury watchmakers took its Overseas Dual Time model and mountain-proofed it with an array of high-caliber upgrades. The 41mm casing is constructed with lightweight titanium and reinforced with tantalum, one of the world’s hardest metals, with the same materials used to create the crown and protection. This incredibly tough case then houses an in-house automatic featuring a 22k gold oscillating weight, holding a power reserve of 60 hours, and engraved with a design inspired by one of Richards’ photographs of Mount Everest. It also features a second timezone with day and night indication and a date display at 6 o’clock. Tying the high-performance timepiece together is a Ventile strap constructed from a technical waterproof fabric.

To learn more about the watch and Cory Richards’ expedition along with some of his photos, head over to Vacheron Constantin’s site now.

And for more watch news, Nissan and Grand Seiko has teamed up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Nissan Skyline GT-R.