A LADY'S 18K GOLD AND DIAMOND COCKTAIL WATCH, BY VACHERON & CONSTANTIN, CIRCA 1950

20-jewel manual wind movement, cream dial, black Roman hour numerals, black sword hands, brushed and polished...

A LADY'S 18K GOLD AND DIAMOND COCKTAIL WATCH, BY VACHERON & CONSTANTIN, CIRCA 1950

20-jewel manual wind movement, cream dial, black Roman hour numerals, black sword hands, brushed and polished 18K white gold case, snap on case back, diamond set octagonal bezel, integral 18K gold textured woven bracelet with folding clasp, dial and movement signed, movement no. K1050XX, Serial no. 4251XX, Swiss assay marks, maker's mark, case (including crown): 2.1cm, length 16.8cm, with maker's leather & velvet case

Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watch manufacturer in the world, was established in Geneva in 1755 by Jean-Marc Constantin, master watchmaker. Known today as the producer of the "Kallista", one of the world's most expensive wristwatches, the company has a legacy unmatched by any other watchmaker.

At the end of the 18th century, c.1790, Vacheron gave us the first complication - any feature in a mechanical watch beyond the simple display of hours and minutes, for example day or date display. Less than a decade later, they produced the first engine-turned dials.

Throughout a rich and sometimes turbulent history, the firm was passed through generations of the Vacheron family. In 1819, the founder's grandson Jacques Barthélémy Vacheron - worn out from the constant travel necessitated by what had become a merchant business - made the decision to partner with François Constantin, a fellow merchant watchmaker.

A dynamic partnership resulted in an even more dynamic product. Vacheron & Constantin extended into new markets taking North America by storm. Under the direction of inventor, Georges-Auguste Leschot, Vacheron & Constantin were responsible for the standardisation of movements into calibers and won many medals and awards. In 1885, the company created the first non-magnetic timepiece, the construction of which may have inspired the design of the company's logo, a Maltese cross which is still in use today.

Although the company ceased to be family owned in 1987, today it maintains its international reputation and continues to push the boundaries of invention. With stores across the world and impressive headquarters in Geneva, Vacheron Constantin boasts an enviable array of clientele over the course of its history, from Napoleon Bonaparte to Pope Pius XI, American Presidents Eisenhower and Truman, and the iconic Queen of Hearts, Princess Diana. More recent fans of the brand include actress Kate Bosworth and another American president, Bill Clinton.

Above all the company remains true to the motto of the original partners, word uttered by François Constantin in 1819: "Do better if possible and that is always possible".

 

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