Vacheron Constantin’s Chic New Watch Celebrates 270 Years Of Precision And Perfectionism
As one of the world’s oldest Swiss watchmaking maisons, Vacheron Constantin has clocked up almost three hundred years of watchmaking excellence, driven by its determination to innovate
Vacheron Constantin has form for celebrating milestone anniversaries with historic timepieces, and as the maison enters its 270th year, it makes no exception for 2025. The Swiss maison has chosen to mark this momentous occasion with an important launch – its Historiques 222, crafted in sleek, stainless steel. Why? Because the Historiques 222 embodies the very quest that underpins the Swiss manufacture; a quest that started in 1755.
It was the maison’s founder, Jean-Marc Vacheron, whose ambition fuelled the crusade for perfection and precision. Determined to blend passion, creativity, and technical mastery to create a whole new breed of fine watches, Jean-Marc signed his watchmaking apprenticeship contract in 1755, but it was his grandson, Jacques Barthélémi Vacheron, who established the motto of the maison alongside business partner François Constantin: “do better if possible, and that is always possible.”
The maison’s archives belie the remarkable feats achieved ever since – from its first calendar timepiece in 1790 to the Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication watch unveiled last year, which flaunts no fewer than 63 complications and offered the world’s first Chinese perpetual calendar. This is just one of the pioneering complications in its repertoire – Vacheron Constantin has become synonymous with countless areas of innovation in the watchmaking world, from chiming watches and short interval measuring mechanisms, to astronomical functions and tourbillon regulators; an impressive roster of ground-breaking achievements that keep watch connoisseurs coming back for more.
Some of Vacheron Constantin’s most notable achievements? In 1934, the maison developed a device that enabled precision calculated to 1/20th of a second; two years prior, it had crafted the timepiece that would become the standard on which all world time displays are based, allowing its wearer to read the time anywhere in the world. Some of its timepieces track civil, solar, and sidereal time, and each watch is adorned with the Maltese cross – the emblem of excellence for the maison since 1880. No wonder, that in June 1972, the maison was awarded with the Diplôme du Prestige de la France, becoming the first watchmaking company to be bestowed with such an honour.
While precision is Vacheron Constantin’s keystone, artistry and artisanal excellence are just as important in the maison’s legacy, and it boasts its own highly accomplished métiers d’art workshops. The archives convey extraordinary examples of artistic savoir faire, too – in 1929, a Grand Complication pocket watch was presented to King Fouad of Egypt, adorned with exquisite enamelling, while high jewellery creations have illustrated the maison’s flair for gem-setting and jewellery design. In 1979, Vacheron Constantin unveiled its Kallista timepiece, which was carved from a one-kilo gold ingot and featured 118 diamonds weighing more than 130 carats. The piece required 6,000 hours in the making, and has since inspired the Grand Lady Kalla – another important high jewellery timepiece unveiled last year; a transformable sautoir dazzling in diamonds and pearls.
With such fine heritage, it’s easy to understand why the maison commits to celebrating each decade in style. This activation began in the 1990s, and has delivered some of the maison’s most critically acclaimed timepieces. In 2005, the Tour de l’Île watch marked the maison’s 250th anniversary and was the most complicated series-produced wristwatch ever, while ten years later the maison set a new world record with its self-winding Calibre 3500, comprising 459 components yet measuring just 5.20mm thick. “Since the turn of the century, Vacheron Constantin has taken each decade anniversary as an opportunity to talk about its history and the values handed down through the centuries,” says Christian Selmoni, style & heritage director. “These milestone anniversaries celebrate a philosophy that combines mechanical research and innovation with a deep commitment to craft and a stylistic approach that is both progressive and highly respectful of classical elegance.”
‘Progressive and highly respectful of classic elegance’ is a phrase that was destined for the Historiques 222, and so it was the natural choice to celebrate the 270-year mark. Designed by Jorg Hysek, the original 222 was a disruptor in watchmaking circles – it was a sports watch, but instead of focusing on pilot, diving or exploration functions, the timepiece had athleisure in mind: smart-casual luxury, now one of the most important sectors of the world’s watchmaking market. The new model for 2025 displays a few fine details that have been upgraded from the original – the clasp has been amended to hide visible pins and improve ergonomics, while the caseback is now fitted with sapphire crystal, to allow its wearer to admire the in-house Calibre 2445/2, which is just 3.6mm thick. Small details to some, but for Vacheron Constantin, every little counts.
While the technical details are impressive, there is a certain je ne sais quoi about the Historiques 222 that even seasoned watch editors can struggle to put into words – it simply has… swagger. “The 222 is a legendary timepiece and is greatly appreciated by collectors – not least because its initial production run in the late 1970s was very limited,” says Alexandra Vogler, the maison’s chief marketing officer. “The distinctive character of the 222 has made it one of Vacheron Constantin’s most recognisable models over the last few decades.”
In a busy commercial landscape, reflecting on successes of the past certainly helps pave the way to future success, and ultimately, can inform what a maison wants to be remembered for. “Tracing Vacheron Constantin’s past involves looking back at a large swathe of watchmaking history,” proffers Christian. “As one of the oldest watchmaking Maisons in continuous operation, we undoubtedly have a greater duty of remembrance than any other.”
