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Vacheron Constantin Key Dates

Vacheron Constantin replica watches 1755 Jean-Marc Vacheron hangs up his own shingle pocketwatch from 1760 signed J.M. Vacheron

1785 company name ownership, name changed to Abraham Vacheron-Girod

1810 company name ownership, name changed to Vacheron-Chossat, under Jacques Barthelemy Vacheron

1819 critical event in the history of the company - Francois Constantin, previously with J.F. Bautte, joins the company in a sales and "marketing" capacity. He coins the phrase which becomes the company slogan, Faire Mieux si possible, ce qui est toujours possible - Do better when possible, and it is always possible!

1825 First Jumping Hour pocketwatch produced by Vacheron

1839 Georges-Auguste Leschot joins Vacheron, and begins design and development work on precision machines for production

1845 Vacheron becomes an OEM manufacturer, supplying movements to other companies

1864 Vacheron and Constantin agency opened in US

1870 Laure Vacheron-Pernessin, Catherine-Etiennette Vacheron take over running of the company, name changed to "Vve. Cesar Vacheron & Cie"

1877 The company name is formally and permanently changed by charter to "Vacheron & Constantin," regardless of ownership changes

1880 Maltese Cross logo registered; the origin of this symbol is the tension spring regulator

1906 Boutique opened in the rue des Moulins headquarters building

1910/1911 First VC wristwatch

1940-1950's VC's operational role became etablisseur to LeCoultre's manufacture

1944 The caliber 2003 is announced - 1.64mm thinnest manual wind in history - by AP, and VC participates in a similar announcement.

1965 George Ketterer left Jaeger LeCoultre and went to head VC, thus separating the LeCoultre ownership connection.

1969 George Ketterer died, succeeded by Jacques Ketterer, his son

1979 Kallista - most expensive watch in the world - $5,000,000

1994 Vacheron Constantin private museum opened, replicating a 1700's cabinotier's workshop

1998 HDG (Haut De Gamme) - a small specialist movement maker specializing in tourbillons and repeaters, wholly acquired to become an in-house manufacture for Vacheron Constantin

2001 March 23 - Formal announcement that "Mr. Gunter Blemlein, previously Chief Executive of LMH, becomes Chief Executive of Richemont's new specialist Watch Division with responsibility for Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, Baume & Mercier, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, A.Lange & S?hne and Officine Panerai”. Vacheron Constantin replicas