About Vacheron Constantin


1755 - A tradition is born

In the middle of the 18th Century, in the city of Geneva, a young man called Jean-Marc Vacheron decided to open his own watch-making workshop. This exceptional craftsman founded a business that was to become, two and a half centuries later, one of the most renowned in the science of time.

1770 - First complication watches

15 years after its foundation, Vacheron Constantin creates its first 'complication' watches.

1779 - Production of engined-turned dials

First appearance of engine-turned dials at Vacheron Constantin.

1810 - The Grandson

The grandson of Jean-Marc Vacheron, Jaques-Barthélemy, takes the head of the family business and initiates the brand's first exports to France and Italy.

1812 - First quarter-repeater watches

Creation of a collection of watches of six quarter-repeater watches. These watches strike the hours and the quarters upon request.

1819 - The year of the motto

Jaques-Barthélemy, grandson of Jean-Marc Vacheron together with François Constantin creates the company name "Vacheron et Constantin".

In this year on 5th July, François Constantin sends from Turin a letter to Jaques Barthélémy Vacheron containing the words that were to become the company motto: "Do better if possible and that is always possible".

1839 - A new era in manufacturing

Georges-Auguste Leschot is taken on as production engineer in 1839 and proceeds to revolutionize watch-making techniques by adapting the pantograph to the requirements of his industry.

With the use of that instrument, certain watch components can be copied repeatedly by a machine, and no longer need to be hand-made as before, thus propelling Vacheron Constantin to the forefront of the industrial age.

1872 - First contest, first prizes

When the very demanding Geneva Observatory staged a precision contest for timepieces in 1872, Vacheron Constantin entered a number of its watches. The awards won proved to be the first in a long line of awards, records and prizes received.

1880 - Appearance of the "Maltese Cross" logo

Appearance of the "Maltese Cross" symbol in the logo of Vacheron Constantin. This motif is taken from the shape of a component of the movement fixed to the barrel. Its use means that the number of wheels can be kept low.