Vacheron Constantin

History

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Timeline

Vacheron Constantin's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.

1. 1755 · Career

   The company was founded in Geneva in 1755 by the independent watchmaker Jean-Marc Vacheron.

   Profile text · see Sources

2. 1819 · Career

   In 1819, the firm underwent a significant partnership change when François Constantin became an associate of Jacques-Barthélemy Vacheron.

   Profile text · see Sources

3. Circa 1840 · Catalogued piece

   Vacheron & Constantin Gold Quarter Repeating Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Musée international d'horlogerie

4. Circa 1860 · Catalogued piece

   Vacheron Constantin 18K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Renaissance Antiques

5. 1887 · Career

   The business evolved into a joint-stock company in 1887 and later faced the quartz crisis before entering the Richemont Group in 1996.

   Profile text · see Sources

6. Circa 1887 · Catalogued piece

   Vacheron Constantin Pink Gold Hunting Cased Watch

   Provenance: Sotheby's

7. 7 September 1931 · Sale

   Vacheron & Constantin gold and enamel keyless dress watch: original sale recorded

   Recorded by Antiquorum

8. Circa 1941 · Catalogued piece

   Vacheron Constantin Deck Watch

   Provenance: Antiquorum

9. 1950's · Catalogued piece

   Vacheron & Constantin 18ct yellow gold wristwatch

   Provenance: Somlo

10. 1989 · Catalogued piece

    Vacheron Constantin Phidias Chronograph

    Provenance: Craft & Tailored

11. Circa 1990s · Catalogued piece

    1980s Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold Dress Watch - Reference 31015

    Provenance: Huntington Company

12. 1996 · Career

    Since 1996, the brand has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group.

    Profile text · see Sources

Current watchmaking & later fate

• Since 1996, the brand has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group.
• The company operates its headquarters and manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, where the majority of its 1,200 worldwide employees are based as of 2018.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

Reference 57260

Introduced in 2015, this pocket watch features 57 horological complications.

Les Cabinotiers - The Berkley Grand Complication

This model, unveiled in 2024, is a pocket watch featuring 63 complications.

Major innovations

• Early adoption of interchangeable-part methods by Georges-Auguste Leschot in Geneva
• Georges-Auguste Leschot revolutionized manufacturing at the firm by standardizing watch movements into calibers.
• The firm developed a pantographic device, which enabled the mechanical engraving of small watch parts and dials.

Known markings

• Maltese cross mark in later periods
• Geneva hallmark on selected watches
• The company began using the Maltese cross as its official brand symbol in 1880.

Serial numbers

Company archives are used for confirmation; the 1755 founding date is the firm's traditional claim rather than an independently reconstructed record.

Collecting significance

Original dials, cases and archive support are the principal research questions.

Identification and dating notes

• Watches featuring the ampersand in the name Vacheron & Constantin date from before the formal name change to Vacheron Constantin in 1970.

In the object catalogue

83 catalogued objects are recorded under Vacheron Constantin. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

• 1980s Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold Dress Watch - Reference 31015Automatic wristwatch · Circa 1990s
• Vacheron & Constantin 'Le Rêve d'Amour' Dress WatchEnamel, form & pendant watch · 1947
• Vacheron & Constantin 'Montre Couteau' Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · 1940s
• Vacheron & Constantin 'Montre de sac à volets' purse watchOpen-face watch · 1920s
• Vacheron & Constantin 18ct Gold Amethyst-Set WatchEnamel, form & pendant watch · first part of the XIXth. century
• Vacheron & Constantin 18ct Gold Keyless Pocket ChronometerPocket chronometer & deck watch · 1908
• Vacheron & Constantin 18ct Gold Self-Winding WristwatchAutomatic wristwatch · circa 1954
• Vacheron & Constantin 18ct Gold Triple Date WristwatchCalendar & moon-phase watch · circa 1952
• Vacheron & Constantin 18ct Rose Gold Open Face Pocket WatchOpen-face watch
• Vacheron & Constantin 18ct yellow gold double dial pocket watchOpen-face watch · 1970s
• Vacheron & Constantin 18ct yellow gold wristwatchHand-wound wristwatch · 1950's
• Vacheron & Constantin 18K Gold Chronograph Pocket WatchChronograph & split-seconds watch · 1912

Browse all 83 in the object catalogue

Provenance

Where the 83 catalogued pieces by Vacheron Constantin were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.

Collectors, owners and donors

• 7 September 1931Original sale · Vacheron & Constantin gold and enamel keyless dress watch
• Patrimoine V.C.Collection · Vacheron Constantin Triple Complication Pocket Watch (1901)

Auction history

Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.