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: WRISTWATCHES
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.
ARMAND NICOLET
One of the grand Swiss watchmakers, Armand Nicolet is a connoisseur’s horology brand, founded in 1875. The house’s eponymous founder was born into a watchmaking dynasty and was a master of his craft when he opened his workshop. From the outset, Nicolet gained a reputation as an expert manufacturer with a honed eye for the finest complications and mechanisms. The brand’s signature is elegant, timeless timepieces befitting the high taste and high status of its typical customer. The firm’s most famous watches include moon phase and chronograph movements, with the M02 model being the most sought after.
BENNY & CO
A New York brand whose history and reputation is intertwined with the rise of the 1990s East Coast hip-hop scene, Benny & Co began as a jeweller providing custom after market detailing to wristwatches and jewellery before launching their own eponymous range. The brand reached its zenith in the late 1990s and early 2000s when their “iced out” (diamond encrusted) watches were highly prized amongst their celebrity customer base and those who aspired to emulate them. The watches are increasingly rare today and are still relatively popular amongst collectors and connoisseurs of the music scene with which they are associated.
ZENITH
A true pioneer in the world of watchmaking, Georges Favre-Jacot and the Zenith brand he founded in 1885 was the first of the great marques to produce beautiful of timepieces with movements designed in-house and under his own watchful eye. A perfectionist by nature, Favre-Jacot believed that the greatest wristwatches could only be made if every part of the design process was controlled, thus guaranteeing their quality. It would prove to be the making of one of the world’s greatest and most exclusive horology brands.
GRASSY: MADRID’S LUXURY BESPOKE JEWELLERS AND TIMEPIECE CURATORS
Joyería Grassy is a Spanish luxury jewelry brand known for its timeless designs and use of high-quality materials. The brand was founded in 1914 by Manuel Grassy, a master jeweler who was inspired by the natural beauty of Spain. The House’s iconic building in Madrid is home to their in-house Rolex store which is one of the world’s most reputable official dealerships.
ISSEY MIYAKE: A VISIONARY JAPANESE FASHION HOUSE
Issey Miyake is a high-end Japanese fashion brand, named for the late designer who founded the house in 1970. The designer behind the eponymous label was a known for his innovative and technology-driven clothing designs, a brief which continues to influence the label’s collections today. Miyake was born in Hiroshima in 1938 and lived through the atomic bombing of the city as a child. This experience had a profound impact on him and his work, and he often spoke about the importance of peace and harmony in design and in culture.
GIRARD-PERREGAUX: A TIMELESS TRADITION IN TIMEKEEPING
Girard-Perregaux is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1791 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. It is one of the oldest Swiss watchmaking companies still in operation today. The company is best known for its Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, which was awarded a gold medal at the 1889 International Exposition in Paris. Other notable models from the company include the collection 1966, Vintage 1945, and models such as Tri-Axial Tourbillon and Laureato.
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.
DIOR: A PRE-EMINENT COUTURE GRAND MAISON
Christian Dior’s eponymous fashion house has had a profound impact on the world of fashion and luxury goods since its foundation in 1946. The designer label has come to epitomise what is signature French style, both through the long association with high fashion and Couture as well as ready-to-wear and off-the-rack pieces.
FITZGABRIELS 