Vacheron Constantin is an iconic Swiss timepiece marque, one of the oldest in the world having made watches since 1755. The brand is the most exclusive of the so-called “Holy Trinity” of ultra-luxury major watchmakers (alongside Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe). The firm quickly became a favourite of Kings and Queens, besotted with the delicate and ornate mechanics of the house’s beautiful pieces, indeed, the early Fabergé eggs would contain Vacheron Constantin timepieces as the surprise within. The firm is highly prized amongst collectors with some of their most famous models being amongst the most coveted clocks and wristwatches ever made, achieving some of the highest prices ever recorded at auction.
Tag Archives: RICHEMONT
PETER MILLAR
Launched in 2001, Peter Millar set out to offer luxurious and elegant sportswear and casualwear for the well-dressed man. Taking inspiration from the golf courses of old and using those styling cues to create clubhouse appropriate clothing lines, Peter Millar quickly established itself as a go-to label for the sports enthusiast. The North Carolina label uses cottons and fabrics from the region, renowned for their high quality and comfort, to produce sophisticated tailored pieces to elevate golfwear and redefine business casual attire. The brand, now within the prestigious Richemont stable, has expanded to offer a full range of menswear and womenswear from performance apparel to countrywear lines borrowing from the British and American traditions.
BAUME & MERCIER
Ths famous Swiss marque first came on the scene in 1830 when Louis Joseph Baume opened his watchmaking atelier in Les Bois, in the Swiss canton of Bern. His two sons, Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume, would work with him and, four years later, re-registered the company under their names as Baume Frères. The firm quickly gained a reputation for quality workmanship and excellent accuracy and, in 1840, the brothers opened an outlet in London’s horology epicentre, Northampton Square in Clerkenwell – the destination of choice young men equipping and provisioning themselves with all that they should require before voyaging across the world in service of trade and empire. Baume watches were very much in demand as campaign and maritime watches – their reliable precision timekeeping complementing the race to set records in transatlantic, eastern and oriental voyages on tea clippers and, later steamships and ocean liners.
PANERAI: THE FAMOUS SWISS MADE WRISTWATCH OF CHOICE OF ITALIAN NAVAL FROGMEN
Panerai is an Italian luxury watchmaker founded in Florence in 1860. The company is known for its large, distinctive watches that were originally designed for military and professional use. Panerai watches are now popular among collectors and enthusiasts for their unique design and high quality.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE: MASTER GERMAN WATCHMAKERS IN THE GLASHÜTTE TRADITION
A. Lange & Söhne is a German luxury watchmaker which traces back to 1845 when Dresden-born Ferdinand Adolph Lange established his atelier in Glashütte, Saxony, the home of the German horology industry. Lange’s attention to detail and impeccable engineering, typical of German manufacturing, quickly caught the attention of the most discerning clients, including emperors and royals. Lange timepieces were the preserve of the noblest houses and were in high demand. The company has undergone a number of changes and reincarnations since its initial foundation and, today, is a marque in the Richemont stable of luxury brands. The company remains known for its high-quality movements, excellent finishing, and traditional German aesthetic sensibilities making their watches highly coveted amongst horologists and collectors.
FITZGABRIELS 