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Vacheron Constantin

Coordinates:46°09′57″N6°06′02″E/ 46.16597°N 6.10054°E/46.16597; 6.10054
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Vacheron Constantin SA
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryLuxurywatchmaking
Founded1755
1819 (became Vacheron & Constantin)
1970 (became Vacheron Constantin)
FounderJean-Marc Vacheron
HeadquartersPlan-les-Ouates,Canton of Geneva,Switzerland
46°09′57″N6°06′02″E/ 46.16597°N 6.10054°E/46.16597; 6.10054
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Louis Ferla (CEO)
ProductsMechanical watches,clocks
Production output
Around 20,000 (2018)
Number of employees
Around 1,200 (2018)
ParentRichemont(since 1996)
Websitevacheron-constantin.com

Vacheron Constantin SA(French pronunciation:[vaʃəʁɔ̃kɔ̃stɑ̃tɛ̃]) is aSwissluxurywatchandclockmanufacturerfounded in 1755.[1][2]Since 1996, it has been asubsidiaryof the SwissRichemont Group.[3]Vacheron Constantin is one of the oldestwatchmanufacturers in the world with an uninterrupted watchmaking history since its foundation in 1755.[1]It employs around 1,200 people worldwide as of 2018, most of whom are based in the company's manufacturing plants in theCanton of GenevaandVallée de Jouxin Switzerland.[4]

Vacheron Constantin is a highly regardedwatchmanufacturer.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]The Vacheron Constantinpocket watchNo. 402833 (1929), which was owned byKing Fuad I of Egypt,ranks as one of themost expensive watches ever sold at auction,fetching US$2.77 million (3,306,250CHF) inGenevaon April 3, 2005.[11]In 2015, Vacheron Constantin introduced the pocket watchReference 57260,which currently holds the title of the most complicatedmechanical watchever made, with 57 horologicalcomplications.[12]

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

François Constantin

The business was founded in 1755 byJean-Marc Vacheron,an independentwatchmakerin Geneva, Switzerland.[1][13][14]He was a close friend of leadingEnlightenmentphilosophersJean-Jacques RousseauandVoltairedue to their common interests in philosophy, science and watchmaking.[15][16][17]In 1770, Vacheron's company created the world's first horologicalcomplication,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.[14]In 1810, Jacques-Barthélemy Vacheron, the grandson of the founder, became the head of the company.[1][18]He was the first to initiate the company's exports toFranceandItaly. Later, Jacques-Barthélemy realized that he was not able to handle the business alone. In order to travel overseas and sell the company's products, he needed a partner. Consequently, in 1819, François Constantin became an associate of Vacheron.[1]The company continued its activities under the new nameVacheron & Constantin.The company's motto (which remains today), "Faire mieux si possible, ce qui est toujours possible (Do better if possible and that is always possible)", first appeared in Constantin's letter to Jacques-Barthélémy.[19]The letter was dated July 5, 1819.[18]

François Constantin traveled around the world and marketed watches. The main market at the time wasNorth America.[1]In 1833, Vacheron and Constantin hired Georges-Auguste Leschot, whose job was to supervise the manufacturing operations. In particular, Leschot was an inventor and his creations turned out to be a success for the company. His inventions had significant impact on the watchmaking industry in general, and he was the first person to standardize watch movements intoCalibers.In 1844, Georges-Auguste Leschot was awarded with agold medalfrom the Arts Society of Geneva, which highly appreciated Leschot'spantographicdevice - a device that was able to mechanically engrave small watch parts and dials.[19]

Re-organization[edit]

Advertisement from 1896 promoting their observatory trial results

After François Constantin's death in 1854 and Jacques-Barthélemy 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.

In 1877,Vacheron & Constantin, Fabricants, Genevebecame the official name of the company.[20]In 1880, the company started using theMaltese crossas its symbol until today.[1]This was inspired by a component of the barrel, which had a cross-shape and was used for limiting the tension within themainspring.

In 1887, Vacheron & Constantin was reorganized into ajoint-stock company.[21]Notably, in the same year,Fabergé's 1887Third Imperial Eggcontained a Vacheron Constantin Lady's watch as the surprise. For the remarkable achievements of the company, Vacheron & Constantin was awarded a gold medal at the Swiss National Exhibition in Geneva in 1887.[22]The first Vacheron & Constantin boutique in Geneva was opened in 1906.

During theGreat Depression,Vacheron & Constantin found itself in a difficult situation.[19]In 1936, Charles Constantin became the head of the company, the first time since 1850s that a representative from the Constantin family became the president of Vacheron & Constantin. However, in 1940, Georges Ketterer acquired the majority portion of the stock of Vacheron & Constantin from Charles Constantin.[23]

Recent development[edit]

Vacheron Constantin shop in Hanoi, Vietnam.

George Ketterer died in 1969, and his son, Jacques Ketterer, succeeded as the head of Vacheron & Constantin. In 1970, the company officially changed its name toVacheron Constantin.[23]

Vacheron Constantin was affected by thequartz crisisduring 1970s and 1980s.[24]When Jacques Ketterer died in 1987, Vacheron Constantin changed hands.Sheik Ahmed Zaki Yamani,the formerOil Minister of Saudi Arabiaand avid watch collector, became the company's majority shareholder, who then folded Vacheron Constantin into his personal portfolio of holdings.[25]In 1996, the entire share capital of Vacheron Constantin was bought by the SwissRichemont Group.[3][26]

In 2004, Vacheron Constantin opened its new headquarters and manufacture inPlan-les-Ouates,Geneva.[27]The Vacheron Constantin headquarters building in Geneva was designed byBernard Tschumi,and has been noted for its architectural significance.[28][29][30][31]In October 2005, the Richemont Group named Juan Carlos Torres as thechief executive officerof the company.[32]Currently, the company is an active member of theFederation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH,and produces about 20,000 timepieces per year.[33][34][35]

Motto and slogan[edit]

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][36]The motto first appeared in a François Constantin's letter to Jacques-Barthélémy, and the letter was dated July 5, 1819.[19][36]

Watch manufacturing[edit]

A Vacheron Constantin pocket watch inMetropolitan Museum of Art,New York

Notable inventions and patents[edit]

The following are some of the notable achievements of Vacheron Constantin in watch manufacturing.

Environmental rating[edit]

In December 2018,World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF) released a report assigning environmental ratings to 15 major watch manufacturers and jewelers in Switzerland.[39][40]Vacheron Constantin was given an average environmental rating as "Upper Midfield", suggesting that the manufacturer has taken first actions addressing the impact of its manufacturing activities on the environment and climate change.[39]

Notable models[edit]

Most expensive pieces[edit]

A Vacheron Constantin pocket watch inMetropolitan Museum of Art,New York
Main article:List of most expensive watches sold at auction
  • In 1979, Vacheron Constantin madeKallista,one of the most expensivewristwatchesin the world. Its initial price was $5 million, but in 2016 the watch was valued at about $11 million.[41]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.[42]
  • On April 3, 2005, the Vacheron Constantinpocket watchRef. 402833 (1929), which was owned byKing Fuad I of Egypt,fetched a final price of 2.77 million US dollars (3,306,250CHF) inAntiquorum'sGenevaauction.[11][43][37]
  • On April 3, 2005, a Vacheron Constantin mysterious clock was auctioned by Antiquorum for 1.83 million US dollars (2,206,250 CHF) in Geneva.[44]
  • On April 3, 2005, a Vacheron Constantin wristwatchTour de I'llefetched 1.56 million US dollars (1,876,250 CHF) in Antiquorum's Geneva auction.[45][46]
  • On June 15, 2011, a Vacheron Constantinminute repeaterpocket watch (1918), which was owned byJames Ward Packard,was auctioned for 1.76 million US dollars inChristie'sNew Yorkauction.[47]

Overseas wristwatch[edit]

In 1996, Vacheron Constantin formally introduced a new high-end sports line calledOverseas.[48][49]The precursor of Overseas collection, however, was originally introduced in 1977 during thequartz crisis.[49][50]The precursor was the wristwatch Ref. 222, which was designed by a 23-year-old designer named Jorg Hysek.[49][50][51]

The original version of Overseas was revamped in 2004, and was re-invented again in 2016.[52]Some of the Overseas wristwatches also come withcomplicationssuch aschronograph,World Time,tourbillon,moon phase, and so on.[51][52]

Patrimony wristwatch[edit]

A Vacheron Constantin Patrimony wristwatch

The Patrimony wristwatch is a model of Vacheron Constantin. The collection was introduced in 2004, and is known for its simple and elegant design as well as its ultra-thin case.[53]The designer was inspired by some of the company's watch models back in 1950s.[54]

In 2009, Vacheron Constantin decided to integrate theminute repeatingcomplicationinto some of the Patrimony wristwatches, and the end product was the Patrimony Calibre 1731, the world's thinnest minute repeater.[1][55]The current Patrimony collection also includes some other complications such asperpetual calendars,moon phaseindicators, and so on.[53]

Métiers d'Art wristwatch[edit]

In 2007, Vacheron Constantin introduced the Métiers d'Art 'Les Masques' collection of timepieces featuring miniature reproductions of primitive art masks.[56]The company selected 12 masks from a private museum collection and reproduced them on a small scale. The miniaturized masks are featured in the dial centre of every watch from the 'Les Masques' collection.[57]

In 2012, Vacheron Constantin introduced the Métiers d'Art 'Les Univers Infinis' collection of timepieces featuring tessellation, a design of interlocking shapes inspired by the work of the Dutch artistM. C. Escher.

250th anniversary edition[edit]

Main article:Tour de I'lle

In 2005, Vacheron Constantin created the wristwatch "Tour de I'lle"to mark the anniversary of 250 years of Vacheron Constantin.[58]The watch includes 834 parts and 16 horologicalcomplications,includingtourbillon,minute repeater,moon phase as well as moon age, and took over 10,000 hours of research and development.[45][58]

The Tour de l'lle wristwatch is one of the most complicated wristwatches in the world.[45]In total, only seven pieces were manufactured, each of which had a sale price over US$1 million.[59]On April 3, 2005, aTour de I'llewristwatch fetched a final price of 1.56 million US dollars (1,876,250CHF) inAntiquorum'sGenevaauction.[45][46]The auctioned piece has a unique black dial.

A Vacheron Constantin pocket watch (1901)

260th anniversary edition[edit]

Main article:Reference 57260

In 2015, during the manufacturer's 260th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin revealed the world's most complicated mechanical watch, namedReference 57260.The pocket watch took three watchmakers eight years to build the 57-complicationpocket watchat the request of a client. Vacheron Constantin would not disclose the exact price of this watch but did confirm that it was between 8 million and 20 million US dollars.[60]

The Reference 57260 is part of Vacheron Constantin's lineage of tailor-made grand complicated pocket watches sinceJames W. Packard's pocket watch (1918), which was auctioned for US$1.763 million byChristie'sin New York on June 15, 2011.[61][62]In addition, the Vacheron Constantin pocket watch Ref. 402833 (1929), which was tailored forKing Fuad Iof Egypt, ranks as one of themost expensive watches ever sold at auction,fetching US$2.77 million (3,306,250CHF) inGenevaon April 3, 2005.[11][43]In 1946, Vacheron Constantin tailored a complicated pocket watch forKing Farouk of Egypt,the successor of King Fuad I, and in 1948 the company tailored another one for Count Guy de Boisrouvray of France.[63][64]

A Vacheron Constantin pocket watch inMetropolitan Museum of Art,New York
A Vacheron Constantin pocket watch inMetropolitan Museum of Art,New York

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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