Vacheron Constantin SA is a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer founded in 1755.[1] Since 1996, it has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group. Vacheron Constantin is the oldest continuously operating watch manufacturer in the world with an uninterrupted watchmaking history since its foundation in 1755.[2] It employs around 1,200 people worldwide as of 2018, most of whom are based in the company's manufacturing plants in the Canton of Geneva and Vallée de Joux in Switzerland.[3]
Vacheron Constantin is a highly regarded watchmaker and part of the Holy Trinity (alongside Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet).[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The Vacheron Constantin pocket watch No. 402833 (1929), which was owned by King Fuad I of Egypt, ranks as one of the most expensive watches ever sold at auction, fetching US$2.77 million (3,306,250 CHF) in Geneva on April 3, 2005.[10] In 2015, Vacheron Constantin introduced the pocket watch Reference 57260, which currently holds the title of the most complicated mechanical watch ever made, with 57 horological complications.[11] In 2024, Vacheron Constantin unveiled Les Cabinotiers - The Berkley Grand Complication, a pocket watch featuring 63 complications, surpassing the previous record set by Reference 57260 with 57 complications. This model includes the very first Chinese perpetual calendar.[12][13]
History
Early history
The business was founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, an independent watchmaker in Geneva, Switzerland.[2][14] He was a close friend of leading Enlightenment philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire due to their common interests in philosophy, science and watchmaking.[15][16][17] In 1770, Vacheron's company created the world's first horological complication, and nine years later he designed the first engine-turned dials. The son of Jean-Marc Vacheron, Abraham Vacheron took over the family business in 1785.
Motto and slogan
The company motto of Vacheron Constantin is "Faire mieux si possible, ce qui est toujours possible (Do better if possible, and that is always possible)".[19][37] The motto first appeared in a François Constantin's letter to Jacques-Barthélémy, and the letter was dated July 5, 1819.[19][37]
Watch manufacturing
Notable inventions and patents
The following are some of the notable achievements of Vacheron Constantin in watch manufacturing.
- In 1790, created the world's first watch complication.[2]
- In 1824, created a jumping-hour watch.[2]
- In 1885, created the first nonmagnetic timepiece which included a complete lever assortment made of materials able to withstand magnetic fields. Its construction included a balance wheel, balance spring and lever shaft that were made of palladium, the lever arms—in bronze and the escape wheel was in gold.
- In 1901, received the first Geneva Seal (Hallmark of Geneva) for its timepieces.[2]
Notable models
Most expensive pieces
- In 1979, Vacheron Constantin made Kallista, one of the most expensive wristwatches in the world. Its initial price was $5 million, but in 2016 the watch was valued at about $11 million.[40] Kallista had 118 emerald-cut diamonds. It took about 6,000 hours for the watch masters to make this watch and about 20 months for jewelers to enrich the watch.[41]
- On April 3, 2005, the Vacheron Constantin pocket watch Ref. 402833 (1929), which was owned by King Fuad I of Egypt, fetched a final price of 2.77 million US dollars (3,306,250 CHF) in Antiquorum's Geneva auction.[10][42]
See also
- List of watch manufacturers
- Manufacture d'horlogerie
- The Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260
- Tour de I'lle
External links
References
- Company Overview of Vacheron & Constantin SA www.bloomberg.com, retrieved 2019-02-01^
- Birth of the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie - Vacheron Constantin heritage.vacheron-constantin.com, retrieved 2018-12-13^
- Victoria Gomelsky. Brand Awareness is the Goal at Vacheron Constantin