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. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Compagnie Financière Richemont SA is a Swiss luxury goods company that was founded in 1988 by the South African billionaire businessman, Anton Rupert. ...

History

Vacheron Constantin was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron. This makes it the oldest watch manufacturer in the world with an uninterrupted history. Besides being a young businessman, Vacheron was also a talented craftsman. In 1770 his company created the first complication, and nine years later he designed the first engine-turned dials. Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German:   //, Italian: Ginevra //, Romansh: Genevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ... 1755 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about portable clocks. ... Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi-manufactures. ... A businessman (sometimes businesswoman, female; or businessperson, gender neutral) is a generic term for a wide range of people engaged in profit-oriented enterprises, generally the management of a company. ... For the village in Queensland, see 1770, Queensland. ... In horology terms, a complication in a mechanical timepiece is any feature beyond that of a simple hours, minutes, and seconds movement. ...

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 Jaques-Barthélemy. He was the first to initiate the company's exports to France and Italy. 1785 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... Year 1789 (MDCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1799 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Later, Jaques-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 François Constantin became the associate of Vacheron. The company continued its activity under the name "Vacheron & Constantin". In economics, a business is a legally-recognized organizational entity existing within an economically free country designed to sell goods and/or services to consumers, usually in an effort to generate profit. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

François 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 motto (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. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

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. 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... “Calibre” redirects here. ...

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. Jan. ... Gold Medal is an album by American band The Donnas, released in 2004. ...

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. 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

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. This article is about 1862 . ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Anti-magnetic (non-magnetic) watches are those that are able to run with minimal deviation when exposed to a certain magnetic field. ... Magnetic field lines shown by iron filings Magnetostatics Electrodynamics Electrical Network Tensors in Relativity This box:      In physics, the magnetic field is a field that permeates space and which exerts a magnetic force on moving electric charges and magnetic dipoles. ... Balance wheel in a cheap 1950s alarm clock, the Apollo, by Lux Mfg. ... The balance spring is a scientific device invented by Robert Hooke. ... For other uses, see Palladium (disambiguation). ... This article is about the metal alloy. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ...

In 1877 "Vacheron & Constantin, Fabricants, Geneve" became the official name of the company. In 1880, 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. 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the symbol. ...

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. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 481 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (735 × 915 pixel, file size: 141 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A scan of an ad created before 1920 and therefore in public domain This image is in the public domain in the United... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 481 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (735 × 915 pixel, file size: 141 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A scan of an ad created before 1920 and therefore in public domain This image is in the public domain in the United... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ...

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. 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... // Production of steel revolutionized by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Railroads begin to supplant canals in the United States as a primary means of transporting goods. ...

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. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

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. 1. ...

In 1970 the "&" was dropped from Vacheron & Constantin. Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. This page is about timekeeping devices. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...

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. Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

The beginning of the 21st century market Vacheron Constantin's new sports line called Overseas, which was introduced in 2003. In 2003 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. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Richemont Group named, in October 2005, Santiago Galindo 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. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2004 Vacheron Constantin opened its new headquarters and Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Plan-les-Ouates is a municipality of the canton of Geneva in Switzerland. ...

Collections

• Malte
• Overseas
• Patrimony
• Les Historiques
• Les Cabinotiers
• Les Metiers D'Art
• 1972
• Egérie

External links

• Official Website
• Official Vacheron Constantin Discussion Forum
• independent Vacheron Constantin discussion forum
• Vacheron Constantin - The Oldest Watchmaking Company? - Disputing the fact that Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watchmaker
• Kallista - The Most Wonderful Legend - Information about the most expensive watch in the world
• Vacheron Constantin - Facts of Life - Other facts from the life of the manufactory