This is Vacheron’s 222—but not the one most people picture. The 46004 takes the integrated sports watch formula and flips the script. Out go the soft curves and flowing lines of the original. In their place: sharp geometry, a square case, and bevels that look like they were drawn with a blade. It’s colder, more focused, and unapologetically distinct. Released in the late '80s, it reflects a brand willing to challenge its own legacy rather than repeat it.

Genta may have started the genre, and Hysek helped define it. But the square 222 stands apart. No designer was ever credited. No backstory ever shared. It didn’t follow a trend. It didn’t create one either. Fewer than 300 were likely made. Judging by how rarely they surface, that sounds about right.

This example dates from 1990 and is preserved in like new old stock condition. It may have been worn a handful of times, but it shows almost nothing of it. The case remains untouched—sharp across the lines, with deep, uniform brushing and clearly defined edges. The silver tritium dial is clean and balanced, with applied gold markers and a discreet date window at 3 o’clock—functional, but never in the way.

A comparable example of this reference was recently sold at Phillips for over €55,000. It wasn’t in the same condition, but the result speaks volumes about how the market values this rare variant. Examples in this condition don’t tend to change hands. And when they do, it’s quietly.

This beautiful example comes with its original box and papers. Not essential, but for a watch this rare and well-preserved, it completes the picture.

You’ll wait a long time to see another. You may never see one better.