BRAND HISTORY

Founded in 1755 in Geneva, the prestigious Vacheron Constantin brand has a history that predates Japan's Edo period. At that time, Geneva was an era where elite watchmakers known as "carabiniers" were active, and the brand's founder, Jean-Marc Vacheron, was one of them.

In 1819, Jacques Barthélemy, the third generation of the founder's family, brought François Constantin on as a co-director, and the brand was renamed to its current name. They also solidified the brand's reputation through aggressive overseas expansion. The genius inventor Georges-Auguste Leschot joined them, supporting the brand in various ways, including the development of a new lever escapement and the establishment of an organized division of labor system.

At the time, Swiss watches were generally considered cheap compared to the expensive English watches. However, the rise of Vacheron Constantin's influence soon began to dispel that notion. In the early 20th century, they unveiled pocket watch complications. The brand had already secured its status as one of the world's foremost luxury watchmakers, holding its own as one of the three major Swiss watch brands. In the post-World War II era, Vacheron Constantin timepieces were presented as commemorative gifts to the leaders of the US, Soviet Union, UK, and France attending the Geneva Summit.

As the era shifted from pocket watches to wristwatches, many prestigious brands faded into history, but Vacheron Constantin's reputation continued to shine. The brand weathered the quartz crisis of the 1970s and is now celebrating its 252nd anniversary, the longest continuous history of any watch brand in the world. In 2004, they completed a vast in-house manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Geneva, actively expanding their product range.

Founded: 1755
Place of Origin: Geneva, Switzerland
Main Collections: Malta, Overseas, Patrimony
Inquiries: Vacheron Constantin 03-3288-6597

Official Website: http://www.vacheron-constantin.com/