Vacheron Constantin, patron of Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire on the occasion of the “Watchmaking in Geneva. The Magic of Craftsmanship, Treasures of Gold and Enamel” exhibition, nurtures a deep-felt attachment to the horological expertise that has long since become an integral part of the identity of the city where it was born in 1755.

Calendar watch - end of 18^th century

Brass dial with chased floral motifs, subdivided in three smaller enamel dials for the date, the day of the week, the hours and the minutes - Calibre 20’’, date, day of the week, round, in gilt brass, crown-wheel escapement, three-arm annular balance, barrel with chain and fusee, chased balance-cock - Diameter: 46mm

The exhibition organised by Estelle Fallet, curator of the watchmaking, enamelling, jewellery and miniatures collections encompassing around 18,500 objects, highlights the know-how Geneva has cultivated in the field of Horology and the various related Métiers d’Art (artistic crafts) that Vacheron Constantin has been faithfully perpetuating for over 250 years. This expertise has given rise to models that are remarkable in both technical and aesthetic terms.

Pocket watch, Jumping hours - 1929

8K yellow gold and white gold, guilloché silver dial - Caliber RA 17’’ (thickness: 15/12), round, in rhodium plated German silver, lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, "Breguet" balance-spring, simple regulator, 18 jewels - Diameter: 45mm

Technique, aesthetics and finishing are indeed the cherished trilogy of Genevan watchmaking which, above and beyond its long-established history, represents a genuine culture in its own right. A culture that tells the story of creativity as well as of people, of crafts and of objects destined to find their way through the ages, serving as witnesses and actors on the great stage of History. Passing on skills and sharing are values that daily enrich our Manufacture. In supporting the City of Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, we are not only celebrating the cultural heritage bequeathed on us by watchmaking, but also art and craftsmanship as a whole, in a spirit of tradition and innovation.

Art Deco clock retrograding display - 1928

Vacheron Constantin & Verger Frères creation - 18K yellow gold, platinum, rock crystal, agate, onyx, lapis lazuli, enamel and diamonds - Caliber RA 19’’, 8 day, round, in brass, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, “Breguet” balance-spring, simple regulator, 17 jewels - 110x 190x 59 mm (height, width, depth) - Collection Privée

This partnership is also a means of contributing to the dynamism of the city where Vacheron Constantin was founded. Geneva quickly showed its willingness to open its borders in order to become a thriving commercial, cultural and artistic crossroads. From the 18^th century onwards, the City of Calvin became the cradle of technical and precious Haute Horlogerie, where a number of gifted artisans developed their art in creating exceptional pieces of watchmaking, goldsmithing and jewelry.

Arms Up "Chinese Wizard" pocket watch - 1930

Vacheron Constantin & Verger Frères creation - Yellow gold and white gold, silvered satin-finish dial with engraved yellow gold and enamelled “Chinese wizard” indicating the hours and the minutes with his arms - Caliber RA 17’’ (thickness: 15/12) "arms up", round, in rhodium-plated German silver, lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, flat balance-spring, simple regulator, 18 jewels - Diameter: 45mm

As part of this patronage, Vacheron Constantin will be presenting an exhibition at the Geneva Musée d’Art et d’Histoire from December 15^th 2011 to January 22^nd 2012, stemming from its Heritage collection and entitled “Watches with special displays... various ways of telling the time”. The dial with its hands serving as indicating organs is often described as the “face” of the watch. The latter, just as with human beings, thus becomes the expression of a personality, the place where art, creativity, science, technique and know-how converge. The timepieces on show will illustrate this quest for expressing the reading of time – a quest motivated by technical or purely aesthetic criteria.

Pocket watch World Time - 1946

18K yellow gold, silvered dial triple-zone dial, central zone with 12 hours-makers, second rotating zone with 24 hours in Arabic numerals, exterior zone with indication of the time in 31 of the world’s major cities, reference time zone New York - Caliber RA 17’’ (thickness: 15/12), World Time, round, in German silver, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, "Breguet" balance-spring, simple regulator, 18 jewels - Diameter: 45mm