To celebrate 270 years of craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation, 2025 for Vacheron Constantin will be filled with numerous events and launches. To kick off the festivities, the Maison unveils a highly anticipated piece for its clients: the re-edition of the iconic Historiques 222 in steel.
In 1755, in Geneva, Jean-Marc Vacheron began writing the first chapters of a story that became a human adventure, carried forward by an unrelenting pursuit of watchmaking excellence, passed down from generation to generation. It is the story of the men and women whose passion, expertise, and creativity have shaped the identity of Vacheron Constantin—a delicate balance between technical mastery and artistic sensitivity. Deeply rooted in the workshops, these values are fundamental to the Maison’s longevity.
An Extraordinary Human Adventure
When Vacheron Constantin was founded in the 18th century, Geneva was a prosperous and peaceful city. “The watchmaking industry was one of the city’s most flourishing activities, employing more than a fifth of the population,” noted Diderot and d’Alembert in the Encyclopedia. This economic prosperity was accompanied by great cultural richness: Geneva, the birthplace of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, attracted other great minds of the time, including Voltaire, who settled there the very year the Maison was founded.
The signing of Jean-Marc Vacheron’s watchmaking apprenticeship contract in 1755 marks the founding act of the Manufacture. It was the beginning of a quest for horological excellence, driven by the determination and passion of successive generations, which has kept the heart of the Maison beating ever since. This contract also established one of its core values: the transmission of knowledge and expertise.
Initially supported by the open-minded spirit of the Enlightenment, and later by an enduring drive for progress, this sharing of knowledge has been inseparable from Vacheron Constantin’s identity for 270 years. In 1819, the founder’s grandson, Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron, received a letter from his new business partner and associate, François Constantin, urging him to “do better if possible, and that is always possible.” This phrase has since become the Maison’s motto.
From its origins, Vacheron Constantin has built its reputation on a unique approach to watchmaking, one that seeks to reconcile technical mastery with artistic sensitivity, mechanical complexity with artisanal craftsmanship, and innovation with elegance. Two models embody this principle: the pocket watch created in 1918 for American industrialist James Ward Packard—featuring a chronograph and a striking mechanism in a finely engraved 18K gold case—and Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon Armillaire, a unique piece crafted in 2023 for a client to adorn the dashboard of his Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail. Such models epitomize both the creativity and the expertise of the Maison’s master watchmakers, artisans, and designers, who constantly push the boundaries of their craft—a pursuit defined by perseverance and mastery.
This relentless commitment to fine craftsmanship has defined the Maison’s identity for 270 years and will be highlighted through a new communication campaign in 2025. This campaign will reflect the pursuit of excellence that has always driven Vacheron Constantin—both in the highest expression of horological artistry and in the appreciation and transmission of knowledge. It portrays a human adventure whose longevity is deeply tied to the search for beauty.
French musician and artistic director Woodkid, who has collaborated with the Maison for three years, notably on mentorship programs, has composed a dedicated piece of music celebrating this 270-year-long pursuit of excellence.
270 Years of Technical Mastery and Watchmaking Innovations
Throughout its history, Vacheron Constantin has demonstrated bold creativity, leading to numerous innovations, particularly in the fields of Grand Complications and chronometric precision.
From the first calendar complication recorded in the Manufacture’s archives in 1790 to Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication, unveiled in 2024 with an astounding 63 complications, the Maison has tirelessly explored various realms of technical expertise: striking watches, short-time measurement mechanisms, astronomical functions, special displays, and tourbillon regulators.
These various research and development efforts have led to major innovations, both in timekeeping mechanisms and in refining production processes. In 1839, the Manufacture hired Georges-Auguste Leschot to develop a watchmaking pantograph, pioneering the standardization and interchangeability of watch components. In 1934, the Maison designed a high-frequency portable precision device capable of measuring time to 1/20th of a second.
Vacheron Constantin has consistently pursued technical breakthroughs, ensuring that both its simple calibers and its most complex watches achieve absolute precision. From Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600, which combines civil, solar, and sidereal time, to its marine chronometers of the 19th century, the Maison has continually set new benchmarks in watchmaking.
Historiques 222 in Steel: A Reinterpretation of a Bold Design Icon
To honor 270 years of passion and meet the expectations of its clients, Vacheron Constantin kicks off the anniversary celebrations with the new Historiques 222 in Steel.
This watch revisits a legendary creation, first unveiled in 1977 to mark the Maison’s 222nd anniversary. Designed by Jorg Hysek, the 222 defied conventions from the moment of its release. Unlike most sports watches of its time, which were primarily designed for pilots, divers, and professional explorers, the 222 embodied the evolving spirit of the era, blurring the lines between formality and sportiness. While breaking away from traditional sports watches, it captured the best of 1970s design and introduced a new style now inseparable from the Maison.
With an integrated bracelet, its sleek and functional monobloc case featured a bold fluted bezel and a Maltese cross at 5 o’clock. The model was water-resistant to 120 meters, thanks to its screwed bezel and top-mounted movement. Displaying hours, minutes, and date, the 222 was also remarkably slim, measuring just 7 mm in thickness—a feat made possible by its ultra-thin caliber 1120, measuring only 3.05 mm. At the time, it was the world’s smallest automatic movement with a full rotor.
For the start of 2025, a reinterpretation of this iconic model is introduced. Nicknamed “Jumbo” by collectors, the watch features a blue dial within a 37 mm steel case and benefits from numerous technical enhancements. The bracelet’s links, now equipped with a three-blade folding clasp, have been redesigned to conceal visible pins and improve wearing comfort. The sapphire crystal caseback, engraved with the 270th-anniversary emblem, reveals the in-house caliber 2455/2. Slightly smaller in diameter than its predecessor, this movement measures only 3.6 mm in thickness.
Engraved with the original 222 logo, the oscillating weight is surrounded by a fluted pattern that echoes the bezel. With an increased frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), surpassing the original model’s 2.75 Hz, this movement offers greater precision and a 40-hour power reserve.
On the dial, the date window has been repositioned for better readability. The vintage-style typography of the “automatic” inscription and the Super-LumiNova® coating on the hands and indices (cream-colored by day, lime-green by night) pay homage to the tritium once used in historical models. The watch’s finishing techniques—combining vertical satin brushing and polishing—create fascinating light effects on the bezel, crown, and bracelet, reflecting Vacheron Constantin’s attention to detail.
Like all models in the Historiques collection, the 222 marks the beginning of a new era. While embracing the original model’s emblematic design and nostalgic appeal, this 2025 steel re-edition remains thoroughly contemporary. Exuding sophisticated elegance and assertive presence, it embodies the Maison’s values and unwavering commitment to excellence.
