Introducing 5 things you need to know about the prestigious Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin is a watch brand with a very long history. Its founder, Jean-Marc Vacheron, hired his first craftsmen for his workshop in 1755, marking the founding of the brand.

From its founding to the present day, the transmission and respect of watchmaking knowledge and precious craftsmanship have played an important role in the brand. Vacheron Constantin is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and for nearly 100 years, the Quai de l'Ile, located on an island in the Rhône River, was the headquarters of Vacheron Constantin. Since 2004, the Geneva suburb of Plan-les-Ouates has been the base of production and international headquarters.
This time, we will introduce five key points about Vacheron Constantin.

1. Reference 57260: One of the most complicated watches ever made

　In 2015, Vacheron Constantin celebrated its 260th anniversary with the introduction of the reference 57260, a pocket watch featuring a total of 57 complications, including a Hebrew perpetual calendar, an astronomical display, a world time display for 24 cities, and a double retrograde split-seconds chronograph.

　なお、搭載されている複雑機構の内訳を述べると、6個の計時機能、7個のパーペチュアルカレンダー機能、8個のユダヤ暦カレンダー機能、9個の天体カレンダー機能、1個のムーンフェイズ機能、1個の宗教暦カレンダー機能、4個のトリプル・コラムホイール・クロノグラフ機能、7個のアラーム機能、8個のウエストミンスター・チャイム機能、そして秘密の仕掛けを含む6個のその他の機能となっている。

2. Different blue dials for each collection

　Luxury brands like Vacheron Constantin are known for their attention to detail, setting them apart from other watchmakers. For many years, Vacheron Constantin has produced watches with beautiful dials, with different shades of blue dials for each collection.

The blue of the Overseas collection is achieved by combining a galvanic blue with lacquer. The blue dial of the Patrimony collection, which Vacheron Constantin calls "Majestic Blue," is also galvanic. And the petrol blue of the Fiftysix is ​​a PVD treatment.

3. The "American" with a tilted dial

　In 1921, Vacheron Constantin created a special wristwatch called the "American 1921." The dial was tilted at a 45-degree angle, and the 12 o'clock hour marker was placed on the corner of the case where the crown was located. 24 models were produced in the United States, and there were two variations.

　One has the crown and 12 o'clock index located in the upper left (between 10 and 11 o'clock on a regular watch), and the other has them located in the upper right (between 1 and 2 o'clock on a regular watch).

　In 2008, Vacheron Constantin reissued this model, equipped with the in-house caliber 4400. In 21, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the American 1921, a unique piece was produced that faithfully reproduced the original model.

4. Watches with Retrograde Displays

　Vacheron Constantin is well versed in all complications, especially retrograde movements. Around 1930, the company, then called Vacheron & Constantin, produced a pocket watch called "bras-en-l'air" ("arms in the air"), with two hands displaying the hours and minutes retrogradely.

　A distinctive feature of retrograde displays is that when the pointer reaches the end of the display, it returns to its starting point and resumes measuring from there. In the 1990s, Vacheron Constantin attracted attention with a watch that paid homage to the cartographer and geographer Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594). The dial features a map drawn using the Mercator projection system, and two long hands that indicate the hours and minutes.

5. Craftsmanship

　Craftsmanship, known in French as "métiers d'art," plays a major role at Vacheron Constantin. Engraving, guilloching, gem-setting, and enameling are key techniques for the brand. These techniques, which require a great deal of experience and skill, are all performed in the brand's Geneva workshops, where many employees have been with the brand for many years. Each year, Vacheron Constantin releases watches that combine multiple of these techniques.

　A recent model is the "Métiers d'Art - Homage to Great Civilizations." Created as part of a partnership between Vacheron Constantin and the Louvre that began in 2019, it features four rare models, each limited to five pieces. The themes chosen are the Lion of Darius, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Bust of Augustus, and the Great Sphinx of Tanis. The center of the dial is adorned with intricate engravings characteristic of each period. The Lion of Darius features cuneiform inscriptions, the Winged Victory of Samothrace in Greek inscriptions, the Bust of Augustus in Latin inscriptions, and the Great Sphinx of Tanis in hieroglyphics.

　The hour, minute, date, and day of the week displays are located at 2, 4, 8, and 10 o'clock on the dial, and are powered by the in-house caliber 2460 G4/2. These models are exclusive to Vacheron Constantin boutiques and have an estimated price of 2200 million yen.