Vacheron Constantin is a long-established Swiss luxury watch brand with a long history of 260 years, and is one of the three major watch brands in the world. Its representative model, the Overseas, is a popular luxury sports watch and is immensely popular among watch lovers.
This time, we will explain the appeal and history of Vacheron Constantin , as well as recommended models . If you are interested in Vacheron Constantin watches or would like to know more about the brand, please refer to this article.
What is Vacheron Constantin?
Founded in 1755, Vacheron Constantin is a long-established luxury watch brand that is said to be the world's oldest manufacture brand. In fact, Blancpain, founded in 1735, is the oldest watch brand, but it fell into financial difficulties due to the quartz crisis in the 1970s and was forced to temporarily close. However, Vacheron Constantin has overcome the quartz crisis and has continued to operate without interruption, which is why it is said to be the "oldest in the world."
Also, when you consider that the other three major world brands, Patek Philippe, were founded in 1839 and Audemars Piguet, were founded in 1875, you can see how long a history it has.
Strict and unique standard "Geneva Seal"
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The Geneva Seal is a special title established to protect the traditional watch-making techniques handed down in the Geneva region of Switzerland. The Geneva Seal specifies in detail not only the processing and decoration techniques for each part of a watch, but also the assembly and adjustment methods, making it extremely difficult to obtain.
For example, famous brands such as Rolex and Omega are chronometer certified, but the Geneva Seal has stricter requirements than the chronometer standards. This also shows the high level of technical expertise of the brands known as the world's three greatest watch brands.
Custom-made watches for the royal family
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Vacheron Constantin has been manufacturing custom-made watches, including those with complicated mechanisms, for a long time. In the past, the main customers were royal families and aristocrats, and they did not consistently make watches for citizens, but continued to make luxury watches. It is no exaggeration to say that this history established the line of luxury watches that exists today.
The History of Vacheron Constantin
From here, we will introduce the history of Vacheron Constantin, which is said to be the oldest brand in the world, over the 260 years since its founding.
Two great men who inspired the brand
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The history of Vacheron Constantin began when Jean-Marc Vacheron, who was already known as a first-class watchmaker at the age of 24, hired an apprentice. The pocket watches made by Vacheron have a beautiful appearance due to the arabesque carvings around the movement escapement. This aesthetic sense was passed down to his son Abraham and grandson Jacques Barthélémy.
Later, when Jacques Barthélémy succeeded in expanding sales channels to Italy, he met François Constantin and, impressed by his business sense, invited him to become a partner in 1819. This is when the name Vacheron Constantin was born. Thanks to Constantin's excellent business skills, the brand further expanded its sales channels to France, the United States, Mexico, Cuba, etc., and became famous as an international brand.
Invention of the pantograph, which established a production system
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Vacheron Constantin, which has grown into an international brand, gained high production capacity thanks to Georges-Auguste Leschot. He developed a pantograph that could replicate movement parts, which improved the efficiency and quality of parts production, which had previously been replicated by hand. This invention is said to have improved the precision and quality of not only Vacheron Constantin, but the entire Swiss watch industry.
The Maltese cross symbolizes Vacheron Constantin
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The symbol of the brand is the Maltese cross. It was adopted in 1880. The Maltese cross is a mark used by the Christian knightly order, the Knights of St. John, and is characterized by eight corners made up of four sectors. These eight corners represent the eight virtues that were the spirit of medieval chivalry. It is said that the Maltese cross was adopted because it was similar to the design of a part that was once attached to the barrel cover, and it is still used on the dial, crown, strap, etc. of current models.
250th Anniversary Watch
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In 2005, Vacheron Constantin celebrated its 250th anniversary. To commemorate this, the company released the monumental collection, the Tour de l'Ile watch, which brought together all of the watchmaking techniques that the company has ever known. This double-faced watch, equipped with 16 complicated mechanisms, won the Grand Prix de Genève Watch Award and the Aiguille d'Or at that year's Grand Prix, creating quite a stir.
The appeal of Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin has established a solid position in the watch industry, but I would like to take a closer look at its appeal.
High Artistic Quality
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The first attraction is that they produce one-of-a-kind artistic watches. As mentioned above, Vacheron Constantin has a long history of making custom-made watches for royal families and aristocrats. Over their long history, they have cultivated not only watchmaking techniques but also craft techniques. The founder, Jean-Marc Vacheron, was skilled in engraving techniques, and his son and grandsons were also skilled in watch decorations such as enamel and guilloche. This shows that they are particular about making beautiful watches.
High level of watchmaking skill
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As a brand with a long history, the brand's watchmaking technology is second to none, and it is especially known for its watches with complex mechanisms. A pocket watch made in 1884 is a double-faced watch with dials on both the front and back, one of which is equipped with a perpetual calendar, a complex mechanism. The double-faced watch itself requires advanced technology, and it is no easy feat to add a complex mechanism to it. This pocket watch was a hot topic at the time as a watch that demonstrated the brand's high level of technology.
Lifetime repair warranty
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Most watch brands have a production end date for the parts that make up the movement. In many cases, repair support will end as soon as production of the model ends. Therefore, if an old model watch breaks, the brand will not be able to repair it, and you will have to rely on a private watch repair shop. However, in the case of Vacheron Constantin, the brand promises to provide a lifetime warranty for watches purchased from the brand. Recently, some brands have started offering lifetime warranties, but Vacheron Constantin has always offered a lifetime warranty.
The best thing about luxury watches is that they last a lifetime, and can even be passed down to your children and grandchildren. Only brands with high technical capabilities and reliability can promise a lifetime warranty.
[Vacheron Constantin]'s representative model
Finally, we would like to introduce some representative models.
Overseas
First released in 1996, the Overseas has a wide range of collections, from stainless steel models and chronographs to pink gold models. Its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and the price has risen dramatically. Its most distinctive feature is the Maltese cross designed on the bezel, with the corners of the Maltese cross, the symbol of Vacheron Constantin, subtly arranged on the bezel.
By the way, the Overseas, which was created based on the Vacheron Constantin 222 , released in 1977 to commemorate the brand's 222nd anniversary, is often mistaken for a model designed by Gerald Genta, who also designed the Royal Oak and Nautilus, but it was actually designed by Jorg Hysek. He was a member of the design department at Rolex and was known at the time as a designer on par with Gerald Genta. Breguet's Marine and Tag Heuer's Kirium were also designed by him.
Patrimony
Patrimony is a collection of exquisite dress watches that Vacheron Constantin specializes in, and was released in 2004. While inheriting traditional designs, it has been arranged in a modern way, so it doesn't feel dated. At first glance, the dial is simple, but upon closer inspection, the indexes at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock are wedge-shaped, paying homage to the brand's symbolic mark. Another attractive feature is the diverse lineup, from simple two-hand models to models equipped with complex mechanisms such as minute repeaters and perpetual calendars.
Malta
The Malta was launched in 2000. As the name suggests, it strongly reflects the brand's symbol, the Maltese cross. As a collection that combines traditional and modern styles, it is popular with both men and women of all ages. It comes in tonneau and round cases, and has a wide lineup ranging from simple designs to models with complex mechanisms and ladies' models. In addition, the price increase has not been as large as that of the Overseas, making it an easy-to-obtain model, which is one of its great attractions.
Fiftysix
The new collection "Fifty Six" was released in 2018. Based on the "Ref. 6073", the brand's first model equipped with an automatic movement, it is a fusion of the sportiness of the "Overseas" and the dressiness of the "Patrimony". In addition, it is an attractive model with an affordable price that is also called the entry model among the Vacheron Constantin brand, which is said to be a high-class brand, so it is recommended for those who are trying high-class brands for the first time.
summary
What did you think.
Founded in 1755, Vacheron Constantin is known as the oldest continuously operating watch brand, and is one of the three biggest watch brands in the world thanks to its overwhelming technical capabilities. Due to its long history and high quality, it is also known as a brand above the rest, but it also seems to be very considerate of watch lovers, such as by offering relatively low-priced entry models.
Why not try out a Vacheron Constantin model of this exquisite quality?