The iconic American 1921 watch

Exceptional timepieces

The iconic American 1921
watch faithfully reborn

To mark the 100th anniversary of the American 1921 watch, Vacheron Constantin delved into its archives and its horological expertise to offer a faithful reproduction of the timepiece emblematic of an era.

A bridge between the past
and future of the Maison

This exceptional one-of-a-kind creation mobilised the remarkable expertise of the Maison’s Restoration workshop and the Heritage department for an entire year.

This approach might be a first in the watch industry, reflecting Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to the conservation, transmission and continuous enrichment of its heritage and of traditional skills.

Two watches with gold, square frames and dark leather straps

Rebirth of a vintage
movement

Only 24 pieces of the reference dated 1921 were originally manufactured. And in 2021, just one unique piece was presented, offering a journey into the creativity of the Roaring Twenties and reviving the beauty of artisanal skills as practiced a century ago.

The result of this remarkable stylistic exercise is an exceptional collector's item symbolising Vacheron Constantin's unwavering commitment to the transmission, enhancement and continuous enrichment of its production skills.

The hand that precisely sets the hands at Vacheron Constantin's watch

The Heritage and Restoration
departments: committed to perpetuating the art of Haute Horlogerie

Months of research in the Manufacture's archives, weeks of thoughtful observation, as well as numerous experiments, failed attempts and ultimately successfully trials were required to achieve the final result.

Hands are assembling the golden watch case

Antique machines
and tools

In order to reproduce the manual operations operations performed back in the day, artisans had to work with historical tools from Vacheron Constantin’s Heritage. 

These vintage machines were complemented by tools specially made for this project, such as bespoke milling-cutters and riveting tools in line with those of the early 20th century, enabling the artisans to work in a manner attuned to that period and closely reproducing the operations and development techniques of the time. 

Hands polish the case of a gold watch