About Vacheron Constantin

Founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron at age 24, and later joined in partnership with Francois Constantin in 1819, Vacheron Constantin is one of the oldest and most revered Swiss watchmakers.

Vacheron Constantin's history has been marked with many inventions and impressive milestones. The development of the winding crown to replace key winding is only one of many Vacheron landmarks.

Vacheron Constantin also continues to manufacture a limited number of ultra-complicated watches, such as the Tourbillon watches, the unique "Grand Mercator" and a magnificent minute repeater/perpetual calendar.

Vacheron Constantin Milestones

Year	Event
1839	Vacheron Constantin manufacturing supervisor, Georges-Auguste Leschot invents standardized movements called "calibers", changing watchmaking forever.
1855	Vacheron Constantin develops the winding crown to replace key winding.
1889	Wristwatch production at Vacheron begins in earnest.
1979	World's most expensive watch, Kallista, is presented. Carved and shaped out of one kilogram of solid gold, and adorned with 118 emerald cut diamonds totaling 180 carats, the Kallista took 6000 hours and five years to produce. The owner received a pledge from Vacheron Constantin to never reveal its ownership.
1994	Saluting the 400th anniversary of Gerardus Kremer, inventor of the Mercator projections, the Mercator watch is introduced.
1996	Highly successfully Overseas sports line introduced.
2000	Malte line is launched.