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24-year-old master watchmaker, Jean-Marc Vacheron, signs on his first apprentice, thus founding a business by making clear his intention to hand down his skills. This contract can therefore be regarded as Vacheron Constantin’s birth certificate, making it the oldest watch manufacturer in continuous operation since it was founded.

In 1785, Jean-Marc Vacheron’s son, Abraham (1760-1843), takes over the workshops. He managed to keep the enterprise going despite the troubles following the French Revolution and the occupation of Geneva by the troops of the French Directory. Following the lead given by his father, he taught the watchmaker’s trade to his son, Jacques Barthélémi Vacheron.

A horological complication is an additional function in a watch aside from the indication of the hours and minutes. This quarter repeater watch with enamel dial, guilloché and engraved case back from the Vacheron Constantin collection is representative of the early watchmaking  technical mastering of the Maison.

This watch in yellow gold has a case exquisitely decorated with a map of Italy in blue champlevé enamels. Its two-tone dial features 12 roman numerals ringed by a minutes scale, and small seconds at 6 o'clock.

The attention to detail and exactitude of the workmanship are typical of the Geneva decorative tradition.

The establishment of chronometry competitions in many European countries during the 19th century encouraged watchmakers to improve their performance for prestigious prizes. Pretty early, Vacheron Constantin entered its watches in the chronometry competitions of the Geneva Observatory, winning the distinctions that inaugurated a century of records. Opposite, a round chronometer pocket watch, in 18K yellow gold, small seconds at 6 o'clock, white enamel dial with 11 Roman numerals and external minute track, dated 1869.

This watch is one of the first wristwatches produced for ladies. Its advent caused quite a stir, because until the early 20th century the pocket-watch had no rivals.

The watch is held by a delicately engraved and finely worked mounting on a magnificent bracelet featuring two winged goddesses, while the dial is encircled with a setting of diamonds. Because a winding crown would intrude on the balanced design, the company developed an ingenious device to set the time by turning the bezel.

During 1914 and 1915, the company creates a tiny oblong movement called “le tuyau” — the pipe. Only 26mm long and 6.5mm wide, it was the forbear of the baguette movement, which was notably used in a curved version made in 1916 for this lady’s bracelet a unique piece acquired by the Maharaja of Patiala, Sir Bhupinder Singh. Made of gold and diamonds, it is noted for the ingenious workmanship of its openworked, chased and engraved case. Its baguette movement on a curved rectangular baseplate allows the time to be viewed in profile. Twelve Arabic numerals adorn a dial of frosted silver.

This avant-garde wristwatch in a cushion case was produced in secret for the American market during the roaring twenties. The crown at 1 o'clock, and the position of the white enamel dial with its 11 arabic numerals, minutes scale and small seconds, showed the time at a glance.

This remarkable watch, in keeping with the adventurous mood of the 1920s, reflects Vacheron Constantin’s skills and creative spirit. This emblematic model was reincarnated in 2008 with the launch of the «Historiques American 21» watch.

The famous American actor Marlon Brando received this watch ref. 4877 with handmade guilloché dial as a gift from Zsa Zsa Gabor on the 24th June 1954, to celebrate his Oscar as Best Actor. Today, this unique timepiece engraved on the back with the dedication from Zsa Zsa Gabor is in the Heritage Private Collection of Vacheron Constantin Maison.

Featuring magnificent horned lugs, this anti-magnetic and water-resistant case in yellow gold protects a column-wheel chronograph movement with an elapsed-time counter. A shield of soft iron protects the movement from magnetic fields. The dial displays a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and small seconds at 9 o'clock. The evolved styling of this watch makes it one of the most handsome chronographs of its era.

Conceived in the 1950s, when elegance returned to the forefront, this ultra-thin conventional round watch embodied Vacheron Constantin’s classical styling, while offering outstanding reliability. The absence of extraneous decoration and the controlled design are all that is required, provided that every detail serves to accentuate the clean lines and the beauty of a timeless design.

In 2004, the Patrimony model paid full honours to this iconic style in a reinvention of the classic look.

Launched in 1977 as a celebration of the Maison's 222nd anniversary. Its monobloc case on a fitted bracelet features a porthole-style screw-held bezel providing resistance to hard wear in a harsh environment. Thanks to its unique character, this iconic model has become over the past 40 years one of the most recognizable Vacheron Constantin designs, inspiring the other recognizable line, the Overseas collection.

Mindful of its tradition of mastering ultra-thin movements, the Maison recreated a minute-repeating movement in the style of those it produced in the 1940s.

Launched in 1922, calibre 1755 became the world’s thinnest minute-repeater, only 3.28mm thick.

1996 marks the birth of the Overseas collection with which Vacheron Constantin embraces the technical and sports side of fine watchmaking. The structural design of this watch with its naturally elegant and clean lines takes up the contemporary theme of travel. The pure styling reflects its mechanical excellence.

Circular perfection, a quest for essentials: the Patrimony collection is the epitome of stylistic pureness. Relaunched in 2004 reflecting a deliberately minimalist approach striking a beautiful balance between taut lines and curves, it asserts its personality through slender cases radiating an elegance inspired by 1950s Vacheron Constantin models.

To commemorate its quarter millennium, Vacheron Constantin launches a collection of five outstanding creations that pay tribute to all the crafts involved in the Maison art of watchmaking.
At this occasion, the Maison presented a unique mystery clock in a pink-gold sphere engraved by hand which reveals a highly complicated watch and the Tour de l'Île watch, the most complicated watch ever made.
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awarded the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prize to Vacheron Constantin’s Tour de l'Île watch.

Revealed on September 17th 2015, at the occasion of the 260th anniversary of the Maison, Reference 57260 is the most complicated watch ever made. It was conceived over a period of 8 years and combines a total of 57 complications. Commissioned by a passionate collector, Reference 57260 is part of Les Cabinotiers service, perpetuating our tradition of excellence tailored to individual desires.
The Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie de Genève awarded the Jury's Prize to Vacheron Constantin's 57260.

Fiftysix, a name and a date evoking an iconic model by Vacheron Constantin dating from 1956. This modern, elegant and relaxed collection with its resolutely cosmopolitan style expresses its personality through the contrast between the classic dial and the daring case. The latter is notably inspired by the Maltese cross-shaped emblem of the Maison that is also picked up on the openworked pink gold oscillating weight.