This post was significantly updated on 2026-04-11.
Preamble: We can see tremendous value in the historical relevant early Vacheron Constantin-automatics, which currently trade at a significant discount to their siblings, the early corresponding Audemars-calibers. Obviously both share the majority of their characteristics and this is shown below. The low valuation becomes even more frappant when compared to the corresponding early Patek Philippe-Automat, the ref2526 powered by the cal12-600AT which was done in not less numbers than the Vacherons & Audemars.
Yes, Vacheron used Quartz-Movements since the late 1970s until the 1990s -- the cal1009 & cal1010 -- when there was basically no way around them. But VC was not part of the C.E.H., the Swiss joint-venture of strong brands to develop a first quartz-movement, the Beta21 (1970-Apr). That is a bit surprising because not only almost every other relevant brand was contributing to this project but also because VC was much more innovative & willing to take risks when another movement-technology was introduced approx two decades before: the early automatics of the 1950s.
Top Left: Since 1950 Vacheron used the so called bumper- / hammer-automatic to offer automatic-movements to its customers, although the use of full 360°-rotor-automatics was impossible due to tight Rolex-patents (Rolex Perpetual). So VC used a JLC-ebauche employing a 260°-moving hammer that bumped into springs at the end of it move -- the Vacheron cal477. And even though it is quite an inefficient winding-mechanism, the charme of that feeling on the wrist and the romantic noise it makes, is something that is often searched but almost never found in modern mechanical watches.
Top Right: The 2nd generation of VC-automatics was the cal498 / cal499 (*1954ff, small- / central-second). Also based on a JLC-movement it was Vacherons 1st rotor-automatic. And while AP in their cal2499 (which is based on the same JLC-ebauche) used a beautiful decorated 18K-gold weight, Vacheron focused a bit rustic on the pure functionality. However, both the AP & the VC variant of the cal499 used a simple steel-steel-bearing: simple but frictional.
Middle Left: The 3rd generation (1958ff) is probably the most iconic and characteristic automatic ever used by VC & Audemars Piguet: the cal1071 / cal1072 or cal2071 / cal2072 as AP calls them. The Guilloche-decoration is now something very common and applied by AP & VC, as well. And next to this there are four ruby-rolls visible around the center of the winding-mass: the bearing of this rotor and less frictional and much more beautiful than the earlier cal499.
Middle Right: We can see here the 4th generation of the AP- & VC-automatic movements -- again based on a Jaeger-ebauche, the JLC cal920: the VC cal1020 and the AP cal2020 introduced in 1967. Running on a center bearing with support by ruby on rails at the perimeter of the rotor -- which create the characteristic sound -- it was a super-thin beautiful automatic that made its large footprints in horology (AP Royal Oak ref5402, PP Nautilus ref3700 and many more) and became a classic. But instead of "form follows function" the motto was the other way around: efficiency had to take a back-seat to thiness. The steel-bearing in the center plus the friction generated by the noisy outer-rim rubies made it a rather inefficient beauty.
Addendum 2026-04-11, Bottom: The first automat with the rotor sitting on a ball-bearing used by Vacheron Constantin was the cal1096 (1973, based on the JLC cal906). Their "Chronometre Royal" and probably the perfect automatic-movement, technically superior -- not taking the strange date quick-setting into account: seconds-hacking, Chronometer-grading, big and heavy and efficient rotor. Interestingly AP never used this caliber and about the reasons for this one can just speculate. One reason might have been the different view on the future of horology. While VC never used an electronic movement until their early 1980s cal1009 & cal1010, Audemars was seriously engaged via a joint-venture with Omega in the development of the MegaQuartz cal2510 (1974). And so it could be argued that the first mentioned needed a superior and excellent automatic while the latter decided to go the electro-route. A topic for another day.
So, in short: When the Rolex-patent for the rotor ran-out in 1953 the relevant improvements in automatics were made in just approx 20y. In 1968 Eternas patent for the ball-bearing (Eterna-Matic) expired and opened the way for the JLC cal906 / VC cal1096. Sure, we see some minor changes from there but the 1967 cal1020 (AP cal2020, respectively) was kept in the portfolio for more than five decades, while the bastion against electronics "Chronometre Royal" was Vacherons / Jaeger-LeCoultres last vintage chronometer and that alone, says a lot.