When you see the title, I guess you will think of "Beauty and the Beast". This classic fairy tale has accompanied generations of growth and has been adapted into a movie remake many times by Hollywood, leaving a deep impression on people.
However, what we are talking about today is not fairy tales, but an interesting set of Vacheron Constantin watches. They have similarities with His Royal Highness the Princess and the Little Demon in appearance, so they have won the title of love given by collectors and watch fans.
"Your Highness of the Princess" and "Little Devil" watch
In addition, there are crabs, giraffes, Eiffel Tower, chocolate, horns, etc. These things that we are most familiar with in our lives are also the nicknames of some exquisite watches in Vacheron Constantin's history.
"Crab" and "Giraffe" watch
In late April 2019, at the Vacheron Constantin House at No. 796 Huaihai Middle Road, Shanghai, a exhibition of famous works of Vacheron Constantin called "Time' Expression" kicked off.
Experts from the historical heritage department of Vacheron Constantin carefully selected dozens of elegant and interesting antique watches, which made the visitors enjoy the eyes, allowing guests to explore different aesthetic views in different eras and learn more about the development trends and interesting stories of the watch industry in the more than 100 years of modern history.
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favorite antique products
0 Play with an antique watch in your hand. If you can study history a little and appreciate it in combination with the background of the times it is located, we will discover many interesting places, and the fascinating thing about the antique watch is also here. Among the antique works at the "Time's Expression" exhibition, several chronographs and full calendars from the Les Collectionneurs Collection series, and their disc functions are very common from today's perspective.
But in the 1940s and before, when there were no smart electronic devices, and even computers were not invented, the functions of time indication, timing, calendar display and other functions on clocks played a very important role in people's daily lives.
Les Collectionneurs Collectionneurs chronographs, the dial has speed and distance measurement functions
, one is equipped with a chronograph watch that facilitates the calculation of heartbeat, racing speed and distance measurement of the disc. It is extremely convenient to use in sports such as doctors' rescue and racing. Therefore, these chronographs are often called "doctor watch" or "race watch" and have been passed down to this day.
Vacheron Constantin's model 4072 watch, produced in 1945, is a typical "doctor's watch". The word "Pulsations" on the dial indicates that it has the function of calculating pulses, so it is also called a "pulsemeter". The number "30" in front of it means that it is calculated by recording the pulse beats at 30.
Les Collectionneurs Model 4072 Chronometer
When using it, the doctor puts one hand on the patient's wrist and presses the timing start button with the other hand. When counting 30 pulses, press the pause button, and then reads the number on the outermost ring scale of the dial pointed by the central chronograph seconds hand. This is the patient's pulse number per minute, that is, the heart rate, and the unit is times/minute.
"Doctor's Table" Pulsemeter scale on the dial
Today, the hospital has used advanced electronic devices to automatically record blood pressure and heart rate information for patients. However, in some relatively urgent and special environments, the traditional "doctor table" is still an effective helper for doctors to quickly obtain basic vital sign data for patients.
In addition to the timing function, the calendar is also one of the most practical functions on watches in the first half of the 20th century. In the era without a TV, without a computer, and without a mobile phone, the "Sun, Moon and Star" calendar on the watch shows that it is the best and only way for people to obtain current calendar information anytime and anywhere.
Les Collectionneurs Collection Series Triple Calendar Watch
Vakura Constantin This 1942 stainless steel triple Calendar watch was one of the representative works of the full calendar at that time. It is also the prototype of the 1942 model of the Vacheron Constantin historical works series Triple Calendar 1942.
In the 1940s, steel-shell watches from high-end watchmaking brands were not common, and this watch with months and dates marked in French was even rarer. Its unique three-layer concave and concave engraving case is very elegant and beautiful, and this iconic design is also displayed on the 1942 model of the historical masterpiece series.
Les Collectionneurs Collection Triple Calendar Watch and Historical Masterpiece Series 1942 Model
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irregular shell shape is rare in the mainstream market today, and only a few independent watchmaking brands are unique and unique. However, in the 1940s and 1950s, there were relatively more special-shaped cases and are very beautiful and interesting. Most of the interesting nicknames of Vacheron Constantin watches at the "Time's" exhibition also come from watch cases of different shapes.
This different-edged rectangular Vacheron Constantin watch, produced in 1952, looks like a dancing butterfly: the crown is the head of the butterfly, and the four wing-shaped lugs are the spreading wings of the butterfly.
"Butterfly" watch
18K gold case has slight traces of time; the mirror is very different from today, and it looks elegantly arched from the side; the champagne dial is full of ancient charm, matched with gold hour markers and hands, and the small second hand at six o'clock is also the mainstream design of that era.
"Butterfly" watch is equipped with a square movement that can be exquisitely adapted to a square case. The other two watches at the exhibition - "Wings of Swallows" and "Eiffel Tower" - also used the same movement, which are also representative works of the popular trend at that time.
"Eiffel Tower" and "Wings of Swallow" watch
Put these three exquisite watches on your wrist, and your thoughts will be brought back to the golden age of the full recovery of the European and American economy after the war. People who experienced the lack and suppression of war began to pursue the clear lines, beautiful contours and rich functionality of things in life.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, Vacheron Constantin also had a square watch series, which was also the trend of that era. The square shape of the watch case is very similar to that of classic chocolate, so it was given the nickname "chocolate".
"Chocolate" watch
watch fans may still remember that more than ten years ago, the Vacheron Constantin historical works series once launched a watch called "Toledo ( Toledo )", which is based on the "Chocolate" series historical watches as the prototype.
Toledo is an ancient Spanish city, named after it because in 1952, the triple calendar feature "chocolate" watch was first sold there.
historical masterpiece series reinterprets Vacheron Constantin's historical masterpieces with modern aesthetics, presenting contemporary works with more historical charm to fans. People may be more familiar with the "Niu Kettle 1955" watch in this series. This chronograph, which was born four years ago, is made with reference to a 1955 historical watch.
"Niu Horn" watch
is named because the outline of the lug is similar to the shape of the horn. There are clear relevant records in the historical archives of Vacheron Constantin. The name was the case craftsmen at that time. From 1954 to the mid-1960s, a total of 36 "Niu Horn" watches were made, 8 of which were made of pink gold and 26 gold, which was very rare.
At this exhibition, there happened to be a historical model of "Niu Kear" which was displayed to visitors on the same occasion as the "Niu Kear 1955" watch in the historical masterpiece series.
Although the latter's watch diameter is only a little over 38 mm, which is considered a small size in the eyes of modern watch fans, it is still bigger than the antique watches sixty or seventy years ago. Putting them together looks like a couple watch.
"Niu Horn" historical watch and the "Niu Horn 1955" watch in the series of historical masterpieces
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Vacheron Constantin's Treasure Pavilion
not only the butterfly, chocolate and ox horn watches mentioned above, but every antique watch on the "Time's Show" exhibition has rich historical stories and accurate historical records behind it.
This is because Vacheron Constantin has a very powerful and magical department - the History and Inheritance Department, which has complete archive backups of Vacheron Constantin in all aspects. For Vacheron Constantin fans, it is simply an unfathomable treasure pavilion.
Let’s look at a few important data to learn how powerful the historical heritage department and Vacheron Constantin are.
At present, the historical inheritance department has collected about 1,500 timepieces from the 18th century; 800 machine tools, as well as a large number of equipment, drawings, watchmaking workbenches and tools; and various printing, image and audio-visual archive materials.
Vacheron Constantin traditional watchmaking machine
In the information includes: the reference document submitted by the father of the founder of the brand in 1711 to the authorities to apply for citizenship in Geneva; a notarized copy of the founder hired the first apprentice in 1755—this marked the birth of the brand; a registration form for 1773; 4 monographs on enamel craftsman handwritten by craftsmen…
1755 Jean-Marc Vacheron's first apprenticeship contract
These precious archives that record Vacheron Constantin's history and technical achievements over 260 years have been digitally processed and properly preserved.
is based on these reliable materials that historical heritage departments and watchmaking experts can provide collectors with authenticity certificates, archive excerpts and guarantees, ensuring that every antique timepiece can trace its origin.
There are still unknown corners in the past three centuries waiting to be discovered, and many registration forms, information boxes and letters have not been opened. As Christian Selmoni, Director of Vacheron Constantin Style and Inheritance, said: "The most important thing is the team members' ability to discover the highlights of brand timepieces and historical stories."
Vacheron Constantin Style and Inheritance, Mr. Christian Selmoni, Director of Vacheron Constantin Style and Inheritance, is also responsible for managing this special product series of Les Collectionneurs collectors because of the heavy responsibility of connecting the past and future of the brand.
This department has been committed to collecting antique timepieces from brands and identifying some early works from auction houses, private collectors and other channels as authentic products after comparison with historical archives.
then cooperates with the timepiece repair department to diagnose whether these antique timepieces require replacement of dials, remake their hairspring, or whether the hands and crown are damaged, and whether the bridge or plywood can work properly, etc.
Vacheron Constantin restoration engineer is repairing vintage pocket watches
then carry out a long restoration work to keep these antique timepieces that have been through time or restored as much as possible.
In order to maintain the original appearance of the antiques as much as possible, the restoration workshop preserved a large number of parts prepared for the timepieces produced between 1950 and 1970. Each part box is labeled like a treasure box: "large gold minute hand", "large gold hour hand", "balance wheel", "escape fork rod", etc.
Special spare parts for Vacheron Constantin antique watch repair
If the repair is an earlier antique, restorators also need to have the skills to skillfully operate and use antique machines, such as a 19th-century lathe equipped with a sliding bench, so as to make spare parts belonging to "that era". After the repair process of
is completed, each antique watch will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a two-year warranty commitment, and will be regularly exhibited and sold in specialty stores around the world and other channels to meet the needs of Vacheron Constantin connoisseurs and enthusiasts for brand antique watches.
Les Collectionneurs Collection series of antique timepieces from different periods
House Shanghai's "Time' Expression" exhibition will last until mid-May and will be exhibited in Shenzhen and Beijing in late May. Watch fans who like antique watches and are interested in watch history can make an appointment through Vacheron Constantin’s official WeChat.
is accompanied and explained by brand experts. Guests will be able to learn more about the unrestrained imagination and creativity of Vacheron Constantin watchmakers from the early 1970s, as well as the vicissitudes of the watch industry over the decades.
