Vacheron Constantin

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Vacheron Constantin logo

Vacheron Constantin is a Swiss manufacturer of prestige watches and a brand of the Richemont group. It currently employs around 400 people worldwide, most of whom are based in the manufacturing plant - a modern design and audacious building - in Geneva. The brand is established in almost 80 countries around the world, distributed through 15 exclusive boutiques as well as a network of over 500 carefully selected points of sale.

[edit] History

François Constantin and Jean-Marc Vacheron

Vacheron Constantin was founded in Geneva,Switzerland in 1755 and is the oldest watch manufacturer in the world with an uninterrupted history - over 250 years. It continues to represent founders of the very spirit of technical and precious Haute Horlogerie in modern times. The men and women of Vacheron Constantin design, develop, and produce an array of timepieces that remain unwaveringly faithful to the three brand fundamentals: fully mastered technique, harmonious and inspired aesthetics, and exquisite finishing.

Originally from Geneva, Jean-Marc Vacheron opened his workshop in 1755. He started the watchmaking business at the age of 24. Besides being a young businessman, he was also a talented craftsman. In 1770 his company created the first complication. Nine years later Vacheron designed the first engine-turned dials.

The son of Jean-Marc Vacheron, Abraham, took over the family business in 1785. During this period the company was able to survive the French Revolution (1789–1799). Later, in 1810, the head of the company becomes the grandson of the founder Jacques-Barthélemy. He was the first to initiate the company's exports to France and Italy.

Vacheron Constantin watches

Later, Jacques-Barthélemy realized that he was not able to handle his business alone. In order to travel overseas and sell the company's products, he needed a partner. Consequently, in 1819 Francois Constantin became the associate of Vacheron. The company continued its activity under the name "Vacheron & Constantin".

Francois Constantin traveled around the world and marketed watches. Thus he helped the company to open new markets. The main market was North America. The company's logo (which remains today), "Do better if possible and that is always possible", first appeared in Constantin's letter to Jaques-Barthélémy. The letter was dated July 5th, 1819.

In 1839 Vacheron & Constantin hired Georges-Auguste Leschot. His job was to supervise the manufacturing operations. Leschot was an inventor and his creations turned out to be successful for the company. His inventions had a great impact on the watchmaking industry in general. He was the first person to standardize movements into Calibers.

In 1844 Georges-Auguste Leschot was awarded with a gold medal. The Arts Society of Geneva highly appreciated his pantographic device, a device that was able to mechanically generate specific watch parts. This invention pushed Vacheron & Constantin forward much further than other watchmakers.

Later, after Constantin's death in 1854, and Vacheron's death in 1863, the company was taken over by a series of heirs. At one point, the company was headed by two women.

In 1862 Vacheron Constantin became a member of the Association for Research into non-magnetic materials. Later in 1885, the company 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 1877 "Vacheron & Constantin, Fabricants, Geneve" became the official name of the company. In this year Vacheron & Constantin started using its symbol, which is kept till nowadays, the Maltese cross. The latter was inspired by a component of the barrel. The part had a cross-shape and it was used for limiting the tension within the mainspring.

Advertising from 1896 promoting their observatory trial results

In 1887, was reorganized into a stock company. For the remarkable achievements of the company it was awarded with a gold medal at Swiss National Exhibition. The event took place in Geneva in 1887.

The first boutique in Geneva was opened by Vacheron Constantin in 1906. This store can be seen today on Quai de l’Ile. During the Great Depression Vacheron & Constantin found itself in a difficult situation and the only one to bring hope was Charles Constantin. He became the head of the company in 1936 and it was the first time since 1850s that a representative of the Constantin family received the position of Vacheron & Constantin's president.

When the World War II occurred the company's sales considerably decreased. However, Vacheron & Constantin was able to come back on the watch market due to Georges Ketter.

After 200 years in the watch-making industry Vacheron & Constantin proved that it is still among the leaders in creating innovations. To outline the beginning of the 3rd century of its watchmaking the company created Patrimony - the world's thinnest watch which had only 5.25mm thickness.

In 1970 the "&" was dropped from Vacheron & Constantin.

Vacheron Constantin is the company that some watch enthusiasts consider to be the creator of one of the most expensive wristwatches, which was entitled Kallista. It was made in 1979 and its initial price was $5 million. Today, however, the watch is valued at about $11 million. 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 the best jewelers in the world to enrich the watch.

When Georges Ketter passed away in 1987, Vacheron Constantin changed hands. However its sales improved and today the company produces about 20,000 timepieces per year. In 1996 the entire share capital of the company was bought by Richemont Group.

The beginning of the 21st century market Vacheron Constantin's new sports line called Overseas, which was introduced in 2003. In 2005 a new collection from Vacheron & Constantin was launched. The name of the collection is Egérie and it is the first one to include watches for women.

The Richemont Group named, in October 2005, Juan Carlos Torres as the Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss watchmaking company. Vacheron Constantin is considered to be company that was able to create one of the most complicated wristwatches in the world entitled Tour de I'lle. It was created in 2005 to mark the anniversary of 250 years of Vacheron Constantin. The watch includes 834 parts and 16 horological complications. It was only available through the Vacheron Constantin boutique in Geneva, Switzerland and sold for more than $1 million.

In 2006 Vacheron Constantin opened its new headquarters and Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva.