Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch manufacture in continuous operation, is pleased to announce the addition of new stories to The American Heritage of Vacheron Constantin site, directly resulting from the “live” authentication days that took place in May at the Madison Avenue boutique in New York City.
On May 4th and 5th, for the first time ever in the US, owners of vintage Vacheron Constantin timepieces were invited to bring their watches to be examined and appraised by an expert from Vacheron Constantin Heritage Department in Geneva and a Senior Watch Specialist from Christie’s. Over the course of the two days, more than 50 watches were examined and some exceptional pieces discovered.
Highlights included a yellow-gold pocketwatch dating back 180 years, to 1832 – the same year that the company established its first offices in New York City – featuring a guilloché dial and ornate gold chasing on the rim of the case. Another exquisite pocketwatch from 1874 housed a Calibre Leschot movement with lever escapement. The Calibre Leschot (also called the “Calibre Vacheron”) is named after George-August Leschot, the legendary inventor who worked with Vacheron Constantin and revolutionized the watch industry with innovations such as the pantograph and vastly improved the lever escapement.
Several ladies timepieces were discovered including an 18K yellow-gold wristwatch from 1969 with a diamond bezel, a late-20th century example of Vacheron Contantin’s ladies wristwatch designs. In addition, multiple owners presented classic men’s wristwatches from the 40’s and 50’s, which due to their elegance and apparent simplicity, are in high demand among watch collectors and enthusiasts today.
During the Authentication Days, clients shared their personal knowledge about and experience with their timepieces as they interacted with the experts, eager to learn more about the treasure they had inherited or acquired. “This is the piece that started by passion for collecting fine timepieces,” said one Vacheron Constantin owner. Another Vacheron Constantin owner openly shared his family’s passion for watches, “My grandfather, my father, and I all shared a loved for beautiful objects. My wife bought me this watch as a birthday gift, knowing that fine timepieces are a family passion.
The American Heritage of Vacheron Constantin first launched in August 2011 as a precursor to the grand opening of Vacheron Constantin’s first-ever US boutique. The interactive online event was the first of its kind to interactively intersect American history with the company’s 257-year history and the rich stories of its American collectors.
“We are very pleased with the success of The American Heritage of Vacheron Constantin interactive site. The site has allowed us to reach wide community of Vacheron Constantin collectors and owners in North America, and has helped us acquire new knowledge about our company’s history in the US,” says Hugues de Pins, president of Vacheron Constantin North America. “We are also thrilled with the enthusiastic response to our first-ever offering of Authentication and Appraisal Services and grateful for the new stories which were collected during this event which will add to the brand’s rich history in the US, following our company’s official arrival in 1832.”
The site is still open to participation. Vacheron Constantin owners are encouraged to submit their watch and story, thus becoming a part of Vacheron Constantin’s history. The American Heritage of Vacheron Constantin can be experienced at vacheron-constantin.com/americanheritage.
About Vacheron Constantin:
Established in Geneva in 1755, Vacheron Constantin is the world’s oldest continuous watch manufacturer and a jewel in Geneva’s crown of couture watchmakers, maintaining a seamless tradition of watch-making excellence for 257 years. Held in high regard by watch connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike, Vacheron Constantin’s strengths lie in its superlative technical mastery, aesthetic know-how and extremely high level of finish.
