Patrimony Moonphase

The Patrimony Moonphase 41mm is Vacheron's clearest argument that a complication belongs in the collection only when it earns its place on the dial. The moon disc is astronomically accurate to a deviation of one day in 122 years, housed in the thinnest possible Patrimony case, and the whole thing runs on one of the movement industry's most respected ultra-thin automaticas. For a collector who wants a moonphase that doesn't announce itself, this is the benchmark.

What it is

Vacheron launched reference 47105 in 2019 as a 41mm extension of the Patrimony family, which had previously offered the moonphase only in the smaller, manual-wind Traditionnelle line. The caliber 1120 QP is the in-house perpetual-calendar derivative of the 1120 base movement, itself a descendant of the JLC 920 family developed in 1967 and used across AP, Patek, and Vacheron for decades. At 2.45mm thick, the 1120 remains one of the thinnest automatic movements in production.

The 47105/000R-9159 references the standard rose gold configuration with the ivory-toned dial; Vacheron has also offered the reference in platinum and white gold variants, though these are rarer in the secondary market. The 41mm diameter corrected a longstanding complaint that the earlier Patrimony moonphase read small on modern wrists.

Buying notes

The caliber 1120 QP is a delicate movement and service access matters more here than with simpler automaticas; insist on full service records and confirm the last date correction was performed properly, since mishandling the perpetual calendar correctors is a common amateur error that can bend levers. Examine the moon disc under magnification, as the realistic astronomical painting can show wear or fading on pre-owned examples that have been exposed to UV. The rose gold case is relatively soft and the thin lugs scratch easily; inspect the lug edges and case flanks carefully, because polishing removes the original anglage definition and cannot be fully restored.

Confirm the crown and pushers operate without resistance, since the QP module adds more corrector stems than a simple automatic and any stiffness is a service flag. Finally, verify the buckle is original; buckle swaps are common and a non-matching Vacheron deployant knocks value more than buyers expect.

Market read

The 47105 sits at the lower end of Vacheron's perpetual-calendar pricing in the secondary market, typically trading at a modest discount to retail, which makes it one of the more rational entries into a Vacheron complication right now. Rose gold examples in excellent condition with box and papers hold closest to retail; white gold and platinum variants command a premium but trade rarely. Buyers who negotiate on a lightly worn example without papers are buying a genuine opportunity, provided they budget for a service inspection.

This reference does not have the speculative heat of the Overseas or the Overseas perpetual, which works in the buyer's favor if you intend to wear it rather than flip it.

Service expectations

The caliber 1120 QP should be serviced every eight to ten years; Vacheron's manufacture service runs roughly $2,000 to $3,500 USD depending on parts required and whether the perpetual calendar module needs adjustment. Vacheron boutiques and authorized service centers are the correct route, as the QP module requires factory-trained hands to reset without risk to the corrector levers. Independent watchmakers with documented AHCI or Vacheron-certified experience can be acceptable alternatives, but request references before committing the movement to anyone unfamiliar with the 1120 QP specifically.