News After a year of renovation work, the historical headquarters of the brand has been re-opened.
Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch Manufacture in uninterrupted activity since 1755, moved back in to its historical headquarters in December 2004, after a year’s restoration work with the collaboration of the architect Eric Maria. Representing the emblematic soul of the brand, the "Maison" Vacheron Constantin perpetuates the founding values of the finest Geneva watchmaking traditions, at the heart of a district constituting its historical cradle. Divided into two floors that form a unique whole, it houses the boutique, the brand archives, the tools and the watches from 1755 to the present day, as well as an artistic workshop dedicated to the restoration of antique watches and to the creation of one-of-a-kind or personalised models.
The "Maison" Vacheron Constantin holds a central and extremely special place in the history of the brand. While the Geneva-based brand has evolved in perfect harmony with the major aesthetic and technical developments that have shaped society over the past quarter of a millennium, it has always been firmly established at the heart of the St. Gervais quarter, the birthplace of Geneva’s watchmaking excellence. After occupying various locations in the area, Vacheron Constantin found a new home in the Tour de l’Ile between 1843 and 1875, before moving across the street to its current premises on the Quai de l’Ile. Commissioned by Jean-François Constantin, the building is the work of architect Jacques Elysée Goss, who had already designed the Grand Théâtre de Genève. In 1901, Vacheron Constantin began setting up its museum there, before inaugurating the boutique on the ground floor in August 1906.
Urban architecture has considerably evolved over the past 250 years, profoundly modifying the industrial and economic activity of this urban area. The "Maison" Vacheron Constantin symbolises and perpetuates the traditional yet innovative spirit of fine craftsmanship typical of its founding era, while asserting its firm footing in contemporary culture. The symbiosis is expressed through the interior design and by the choice of materials used to embellish this place: wood, bronze and leather convey rarity, originality and fine workmanship, corresponding to the values inherent to horological creations carrying the Vacheron Constantin signature for the past quarter of a millennium.
Offering a modern, smoothly integrated area composed of two floors, these premises are designed to be a spacious, serene and dynamic place pervaded by the interaction between the twin levels: the boutique on the ground floor, which presents the current creations by the brand, opens on to the heritage area on the 1st floor through a broad atrium. The cohabitation between the current collection and vintage watches testifies to this philosophy, enabling one to grasp the essential values of the brand from its origins up until the 21st century.
On the upper floor, watches, machines, original antique furniture and company records sum up a quarter of a millennium of watchmaking history, while offering a didactic approach to the development of the brand within the universal context of exceptional watchmaking thanks to temporary exhibitions suited to the chosen subjects, which will evolve in accordance with the themes being highlighted. Constituting a living universe by their very essence, the premises on the Quai de l’Ile will also progressively house the areas dedicated to the "Métiers d’art" workshops representative of the enduring values of Vacheron Constantin: bevelling, engraving and decoration of the movement, restoration of antique watches. A lounge-library is also incorporated within this cultural setting, run by a team entirely dedicated to the brand heritage and available to respond to any requests for information or consultation.
The entire "Maison" Vacheron Constantin embodies the ideal blend between universal heritage and tradition, combined with the contemporary creative dynamism of the Manufacture. Its inauguration on December 8th 2004 was a prelude to the 250th anniversary of the brand, which will feature the launch of five exceptional creations.
December 14, 2004
