The oldest manufacture dates back to September 17, 1755, when the 24-year-old Jean-Marc Vacheron opened his workshop in Geneva. The company started manufacturing highly sophisticated and accurate timepieces placed within finely finished expensive watchcases. By the way, in order to start his business, which eventually made Vacheron Constantin the world famous brand watch and the company’s present-day turnover equal tens of millions, the founder had to borrow “1,000 pounds of silver” in a local bank, which was a solid amount at that time.
The competition was high, and he started producing his Vacheron Constantin watches proving he was the best among at least 800 other craftsmen.
In 1755, the watches were pieces of art, signs of wisdom and instruments of knowledge. Presented in limited editions, the Jean-Marc Vacheron watches were very popular among the French and Italian aristocrats. With the lead of Abraham Vacheron, the son and successor of Jean-Marc, the Vacheron timepieces were represented in all major stores of Europe.
Deciding on the Vacheron Constantin’s development strategy, its owner placed his stake on elegancy and style and, thus, in a short time the brand became quite popular both among the French and Italian aristocracy.
The combination of the finest product quality and the boundless energy of the watchmaker, who managed to launch an unusually massive advertising campaign for that time, made the stylized Maltese Cross, which became the company’s symbol in 1880, famous all over the world.
It is not surprising, however. The Vacheron&Constantin company has been always committed to its motto: “Do better when possible, and it is always possible!”
In 1914, the timepieces started to slowly disappear from the waistcoat pockets. Vacheron Constantin presented its first wristwatch, which had one button with three functions: “start-stop-reset“. After a long period of prosperity that lasted for almost twenty years (1950s – 1960s), the Maltese Cross brand withdrew into the shadows for some time. Nonetheless, since the mid 90s Vacheron Constantin has been leading again.
By the year of 1955, Vacheron Constantin had gained a vast popularity, selling its watches in 110 countries worldwide. In 1970, Kallista became the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at that time (5,000,000 dollars).
In 2005, the company celebrated its 250th anniversary. It marked it with a series of five anniversary timepieces: L’Esprit des Cabinotiers (a unique astronomical clock); Jubile 1755 (a wristwatch with guilloche decoration); Metiers d′Art (a wristwatch with a unique mechanism and dial with special corners to replace the hands, enamel and engraving); Saint-Jervais (named after the historical Geneva district, with a Maltese Cross tourbillion); Tour de l′Ile (the most sophisticated wristwatch in the world).
Nowadays, Vacheron Constantin preserves the practices and techniques of ancient artisans. For example, it successfully employs the enamel painting, as well as other techniques of watch creation. It also applies modern technologies.
Over the last few years, the company has presented a new series of timepieces, which combines modern and traditional forms. It boasts such extraordinary model as Assymetrique, the watch that was particularly popular among the travelers in the early 70s. The Malte series is not only a new family of the Vacheron Constantin models, but also a new manual winding caliber of its own production. Vacheron Constantin has celebrated its 250thanniversary being a member of an honorable group of Swiss watch manufacturers working on the mechanisms of their own production (Caliber 1400).