Tick Talk[Vacheron Moderator]
2203
Annals of Vacheron & Constantin: 1914 to 1938 - Episode 1
Nov 02, 2022,23:28 PM
It is approaching 10 years since I distributed this self-published booklet to fellow Vacheron Constantin enthusiasts at the 2013 edition of the Salon International de Haute Horlogerie, now Watch & Wonders. By sharing with my friends here at WatchProSite, I hope to stimulate further interest in the rich history of this noble brand.
In 1927, Charles Constantin, the great-grand nephew of François Constantin, was Managing Director of the Company. He collaborated with author Louise Plan to research the extensive collection of letters and documents in the archives of Vacheron & Constantin. The results were privately published as the Annales de la Maison d'Horlogerie Vacheron & Constantin: 1785 to 1914.
Charles Constantin (1887 - 1954)
Some of you may already know that excerpts from these Annales were published in English as the forward to Antiquorum's 1994 auction catalog: The Art of Vacheron Constantin. What I hope comes as a pleasant surprise is the knowledge that Constantin returned to his manuscript in 1944 and added a final chapter; the Sixth Era from 1914 to 1938. Here he accounted for the effect on Vacheron & Constantin of such historic events as the Great War, Great Depression and merger with Jaeger-LeCoultre.
With copyright on the original material long expired, I am able to share this material with you. Although hampered by the formal, sometimes archaic and technical, language used by the author, I trust this rendition is faithful to the original as it was assembled with the assistance of a professional translator. My intention is to share a few pages every week. Enjoy!