According to the TZ article of 2014...
Quite possibly the world's first aviator's watch >>>A fascinating watch from Vacheron's extensive collection of historic timepieces, this is one of the very first watches used by aviators. It dates to 1903 - the same year Wilber and Orville Wright built and successfully flew their first powered airplane, the "Wright Flyer I"...
According to the 2005 book, "Secrets of Vacheron Constantin" by Franco Cologni, the design was conceived by the Wright Brothers to be worn on the thigh during flight.
According to Vacheron's Alex Ghotbi, the chronometer movement and dial were believed to be purchased by a Dayton, Ohio-based watchmaker who custom made its steel case for fitting a large strap to be worn around the thigh.
Since the Wright Brothers were based in Dayton, Ohio during this time, the likelihood this watch was made for them is quite high.
https://forums.timezone.com/index.ph...=0#msg_6729879
Orville Wright took off on the 17th December 1903.
From what have I gathered the watch first appeared at the Vacheron Constantin Singapore exhibition of 2011 and according to the SJX tour the movement is 19 lignes (42.8mm) so it must have been a big watch around 52mm.
A Tour of “Treasures of Vacheron Constantin”, An Exhibition Covering The History Of The Geneva Watchmaking (just after half-way down)
https://watchesbysjx.com/2011/06/a-t...tchmaking.html
Below a pocket watch of similar size:
Vacheron & Constantin military chronometer (19 ligne mov. 52mm case)
https://www.adamvintage.com/store/p3...onometer.html#
The case is totally unlike anything around at the time. Look at the solid lugs whereas everything else had soldered-on wire lugs (for at least another 20 years). Look at the drilled lugs, implying solid-bars. And look at the grooved screw-down bezel. Unfortunately I haven't mananged to find any pics of the back or side views. I'd love to see the lug/case/bezel interphase.
Left drilled lug hole
Right drilled lug hole
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas – Part 1, the Origins, the 222 and the Evolution of an Icon
https://monochrome-watches.com/video...on-of-an-icon/
The grooves on the bezel of the 1903 look quite similar to the grooves of the Vacheron Constantin 222 which was designed by Jorg Hysek in 1977. This is quite extraordinary. Did Jorg Hysek take note of the 1903... or is there something else afoot?
Do you see a 1903 watch?