Vacheron Constantin: a renewed Parisian shop for the maison’s 270th anniversary
After several months of extension and renovation, the Vacheron Constantin shop re-opened its doors at 2 Rue de la Paix. At a stone throw from Place Vendôme, the new literal jewellery case of the Maison now offers a two-storey tripled surface. The place showcases the Maison’s history, their watchmaking know-how and their open-mindedness to the reconciliation of arts and cultures. Intimate salons, a discovery space and layouts inspired by the Parisian art of living… the place embodies the company’s aesthetic codes. Who would have thought the Maison is already 270 years old?
Vacheron Constantin: a still-relevant Parisian history
For more than two centuries, Vacheron Constantin has forged a special relationship with the French capital. It all started in 1810, when Barthélémy Girod, the uncle of Jacques-Bathélémi Vacheron, opened the very first international office of the Maison.
Such a strategical anchor point for the Genevan watch maker, who experienced a spectacular takeoff on the world’s big markets. Later on, his collaboration initiated in 1879 with Ferdinand Verger and his sons greatly influenced the Maison’s creations, especially during the tumultuous Années folles period.
In 1972, the manufacture reached a new milestone when receiving the Diplôme du Prestige de la France, an official award that recognizes its key role in the country’s industrial and cultural influence. It is the first manufacture to receive such an award. Today, all these landmarks are on display via the Chronogramme, an interactive device that carries the visitors through the Maison’s archives.
A true immersive experience
The new shop frontage, centered on light and transparent materials, opens on a ground-floor where iconic pieces and brand-new creations are intertwined.
An informative space showcases the Maison’s craftsmanship, while a local watch maker dispenses interviews and discussions surrounding high watchmaking subtleties to connoisseurs. On the walls, marble, straw paintings and stained-glass rub shoulders with French decorative arts, in an atmosphere evoking the cozy elegance of Parisian brasseries.
Upstairs, a more exclusive experience awaits you, with private rooms and a refined diner room. Inspired by the Maltese cross – technical symbol and historical emblem of the Maison – the central staircase stands proudly as the shop’s choice piece.
Finally, artistic collaborations organized with the Amélie Maison d’Art gallery are scheduled to regularly cadence the place and reinforce the link between watchmaking and contemporary creations.
A new jewellery case for the Overseas Peprpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin…
The Overseas collection is now enriched with two new interpretations of Vacheron Constantin’s ultra-thin perpetual calendar. The first edition made of rose gold introduces a matching tone-on-tone dial, while the second one associates a white gold case with a lacquered burgundy dial.
These two models are delivered on 41.5mm cases, with gold integrated bracelets. They come with two additional rubber straps that allow the wearer to switch styles. This pair follows the Overseas aesthetic grammar, inspired by the Maltese cross.
The rose gold edition plays on a monochrome harmony highlighted by a subtle blue minute circle. The moon phases disc, also made of rose gold, follow this aesthetics. For a more leisure look, the bracelet can be switched with a white or blue rubber strap.
As for the white gold edition, contrasting is the watchword, with a lacquered burgundy dial and a matching moon phases disc. The white numerals and indices enhance the legibility and the elegance of the model. Here again, two additional rubber straps – burgundy or white-coloured – supplement the gold bracelet.
At the heart of these watches, an ultra-thin self-winding manufacture caliber beats, assorted with a perpetual calendar and a moon phases disc. Such complication, that counts as one of the most complex in the watchmaking industry, takes the irregularities of the Gregorian calendar into account, including leap years, and won’t need to be corrected until 2100. With a power reserve of about 40 hours, this movement is a true technical feat: it is only 4.05mm thick, despite gathering 276 components. The sapphire case back displays a gold oscillating weight with a wind rose engravement.
Remarkable finishing, such as Côtes de Genève waves, chamfered angles and circular graining, prove how every detail is thought-through. Cherry on top: the interchangeable bracelets that allow the wearer to switch from the elegant gold bracelet to the sporty-chic rubber strap, without any tool. Depending on the chosen edition, new color associations – white, blue or burgundy – widen the range of possibilities.
See the technical specification sheet of the rose gold Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin – €134,000
See the technical specification sheet of the white gold Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin – €134,000
… and for exceptional pieces
“Hommages aux Compositeurs Illustres” or the art of miniature painting
This master piece, named Hommage aux Compositeurs Illustres, was released in 2010 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the AROP, the Association for the Influence of Paris Opera house. On the Grand Feu enamel dial, the ceiling of Opéra Garnier painted by Marc Chagall is reproduced in extreme minute detail.
The beauty of the 200 m2 ceiling is concentrated on a miniature 31.5mm yellow gold dial. The time is shown by 3 golden hands that glide over the enamel painting. All around, hand-engraved nymphs look almost alive thanks to the play of light and the dial’s relief inspired by Palais Garnier’s gildings. The gold ring sitting in the middle evokes the glinting heart of Chagall’s artwork, and the refined miniature is even enhanced by the 40mm polished case. Finally, a self-winding caliber beats at the heart of the watch, bearing the prestigious Geneva Seal. This collection is a tribute to the Great Masters the house revered the most.
Les Univers Infinis – Angel Watch or the art of tessellation
This timepiece celebrates the art of tessellation by associating engraving, enamelling, guilloche work and a rare innovation: mother-of-pearl and gold marquetry. On the dial, angels and demons converse through a game of contrasts, both aesthetic and symbolic.
Some shine under the light, some lurk in the shadow… The composition draws its inspiration from a study by Maurits Cornelis Escher on “circle limit”. In this geometrical pattern, the figures spread out from a central point and are repeated indefinitely. This graphical research is transmitted through 3 crafts: engraving, enamelling and guilloche work. Starting from a white gold basis, the engraver first draws the outline of the character before starting the champlevé enamelling work. They define the demons’ details though a copper engraving process. Then, the master enameller meticulously fills the troughs with enamel – the littlest defect could break the drawing’s symmetry. Grey and blue enamel layers are cooked one after another in the oven, until they form a stable tint. One last translucent layer of enamel is poured on the demons to give emphasis to the background’s depth. The last craftsperson to intervene is the master guillocheur, who adorns the angels’ robes and wings. They cut through the enamelled material, a highly complex operation that rarely takes place at this stage of the process. Indeed, any clumsy gesture could jeopardise the whole piece.
See the technical specification sheet of the Métiers d’Art Les Univers Infinis – Angel Watch
Métiers d’Art Les Aérostiers – Paris 1783 or the art of plique-à-jour enamelling
The Métiers d’Art Les Aérostiers – Paris 1783 model is a tribute to the first manned flight in History, when a hot air balloon rose in the Parisian sky, embarking the first air travelers: the Montgolfier brothers. In 2018, Vacheron Constantin had already revisited this historical event through a watchmaking masterpiece that blended engraving, micro-sculpting and plique-à-jour enamelling.
In the centre of the dial, a hot air balloon made of rose and white gold soars up against an azure plique-à-jour enamel background, whose transparence evokes an open sky drenched in sunlight. The aerostat is engraved by hand with solar patterns, garlands, fleur-de-lis and zodiac motifs that evoke the 19th century symbolic imaginary world. Two tiny micro-sculpted passengers represent the scientific courage and curiosity of the first aeronauts. The pounced ornament process – removing material to create relief effects – gives both volume and lustre to the hot air balloon. This process, entirely hand-made at the in-house workshop, requires several hours of work. Gravers, small stones and brushes are used to fashion each element, from the basket’s ropes to the ornamental figures. The different textures of gold reveal every detail under the light, and the weightlessness impression is enhanced by the plique-à-jour enamel background. Like a stained-glass window, this translucent enamel disc provides a unique aerial atmosphere. This miniature masterpiece protects a self-winding manufacture calibre – an off-centre movement that leaves the field clear for the enamel work to be displayed. The time indicators – hours, minutes, day and date – are visible thanks to 4 peripheral apertures harmoniously placed to maintain the balance of the dial.
The iconic Historiques 222
To learn more about this model, you can watch our video dedicated to manufacture sporty-chic watches:
Stainless-steel Historiques 222 – €35,000
See the technical specification sheet of the stainless-steel and blue dial Historiques 222 model
Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grande Complication, a masterpiece of innovation and miniaturisation
41 watchmaking complications
5 rare astronomical complications including a world first
1 innovative Westminster minute repeater
13 patent applications filed
8 years of development
1,521 components
Unique piece – selected for La Montre de l’Année 2025 (Category: over €350,000)
See the technical specification sheet of the world’s most complicated watch
Vacheron Constantin Shop
2, rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris
Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tel: +33 1 40 20 17 55
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