A Quest for Excellence

270 years of extraordinary mastery

The Starting Line

In 1755, Jean-Marc Vacheron began his apprenticeship in the city of Geneva, right in the midst of the Age of Enlightenment. Propelled by his unwavering determination and inherent inquisitiveness, he embarked on a quest to create the finest luxury watches. This passion has persisted to the present day and beyond—a fervent flame carried by his successors. This march of progress is essential in the Maison’s accomplishments. In 1819, Jacques Barthélémi Vacheron, the founder’s grandson, received a note from his new business partner, François Constantin. The note read, “do better if possible, and that is always possible.”

‍Their constant innovation, meticulous attention to detail, and technical excellence is the driving force behind Vacheron Constantin. Complications are their heart and soul, starting from the calendar timepiece drawn from their archives in 1790. Their contributions to the world of horology cannot be denied. It is responsible for crafting many of the world’s firsts: the first retrograde time display, the Don Pancho; the first Herbaic calendar, and the first Chinese perpetual calendar, The Berkley Grand watch with over 63 complications.

Tempered by Time

Since the 1990s, it has celebrated each decade anniversary with a watch, recognising those that came before it. In 1995, it released the Malte, a tonneau-shaped timepiece in gold or platinum equipped with the in-house Calibre 1127, to commemorate its 240th birthday. A decade later, it saw the Tour de l'Île, housing the Calibre 2750 that tied together its 16 complications. In 2015, the Harmony collection was unveiled, with models suitable for both men and women. The self-winding Calibre 3500 boasted a record-breaking 459 components within a 5.20 millimetre case.

The Maison prides itself on developing the movements and calibres that furnish their watches, with special care to accuracy and precision. It celebrates this excellence with releases that challenge conventions—boldy venturing where none have gone before. In 1955, Vacheron Constantin produced the Historiques 1955 Ultrafine, which, at the time, was the thinnest timepiece ever seen.
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Further technical ingenuities continue to be added with each passing rendition, proof of their never-ending journey of perfection; their works are the prize to this pursuit. Never content with timepieces that merely tell the time, Vacheron Constantin ensures that each watch does so with flawless aesthetics. Its craftsmen that maintain its artisan workshops have mastered the techniques intrinsic to watchmaking: perlage, Côtes de Genève, bevelling, chamfering, mirror-polishing and engraving. It recognises that this discipline is an artform, a balanced combination of technical prowess and undeniable beauty.

A Crowning Culmination

Every hand-finished detail, drop of sweat, ounce of ingenuity and over the past 270 years has led to this: the Historiques 222 in classic stainless steel.

It is a homage to its very first iteration that was first unveiled in 1977, which was designed by celebrated watchmaker Jorg Hysek. Its impressive blend of sportiness and sophistication was nothing short of exceptional.

In 2025, the Historiques 222—nicknamed “Jumbo” by collectors—features an elegantly refined blue hue and a classic, 37 millimetre stainless steel case. The fluted bezel runs parallel to the baton-styled indicators, the latter of which gives it a subtle, sporty impression. The hands and hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova, lending it an off-white colour during the day and a lime green glow in darkness. The date window was also slightly adjusted to the left, no longer encroaching on the minutes track, which simultaneously improves readability.
Every hand-finished detail, drop of sweat, ounce of ingenuity and over the past 270 years has led to this: the Historiques 222 in classic stainless steel.

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Examining the strap reveals that the twin-blade clasp has been replaced with a triple-blade one, improving overall ergonomics while hiding the pins. Vertical satin brush finishes can be observed on the strap, crown, and bezel, which creates interesting interactions with light. A Maltese cross adorns the piece near the 5 o’clock mark.

Turning over the watch, the caseback further immortalises the Maison’s 270th anniversary with an engraving, while a transparent sapphire crystal reveals the inner Calibre 2455/2. Vacheron Constantin’s ingenuity shines with its 4 hertz frequency providing enhanced precision and an improvement over the original model’s 2.75.

The 2025 edition of the Historiques 222 is empowered by its past. Improvements to its design and technical components are complemented by its nostalgic factor, transforming this timepiece into a representation of what Vacheron Constantin is: constantly moving and improving upon its past.

Passed Down to the Future

Just as watches are passed down from generation to generation, so too have the lessons that the Maison learned over the years to its successors. With each passing creation and enhancement, the excellence of Vacheron Constantin continues to be built up, as is the eminence of its timepieces.

“Since the turn of the century, Vacheron Constantin has taken each decade anniversary as an opportunity to talk about its history and the values handed down through the centuries,” Vacheron Constantin style & heritage director Christian Salmoni remarked. “These milestone anniversaries celebrate a philosophy that combines mechanical research and innovation with a deep commitment to craft and a stylistic approach that is both progressive and highly respectful of classical elegance.”

Chief marketing officer Alexandra Volger said that this year, marked by the Historiques 222, would usher in more horological surprises. “By kicking off its 270th anniversary with this iconic timepiece—one that is vintage yet resolutely contemporary—the Maison is weaving past and present together.”

"Tracing Vacheron Constantin’s past involves looking back at a large swathe of watchmaking history—and as one of the oldest watchmaking Maisons in continuous operation, we undoubtedly have a greater duty of remembrance than any other,” Salmoni mused. Its archives are highly cherished, housing irreplaceable documents, notes, tools, and components. In preserving its roots, it fuels its brilliant future.

Each piece they produce is the product of centuries of experience. And yet, they continue to strive for more, with each passing innovation, complication, and design. They eagerly continue the quest that Jean-Marc began, with a burning passion that persists ever-forward.