Vacheron Constantin

As someone who doesn’t typically enjoy group activities, I felt honored to receive an invitation from Vacheron Constantin for a private visit with my son, just the two of us. In the invitation VC proposed an agenda for us including among other things:

Decoration

Machining

Watchmaking workshops including High Complications

Restoration workshop + Heritage

Metiers d' Art

Exclusive presentation of timepieces

My immediate reaction to the proposed agenda was "this can hardly get much better"!

Before leaving for Geneva, I thought about which watches to wear during the visit and decided to bring my Corne de Vache and Malte Perpetual. In the picture you can see both watches on our wrists.

A thought worth mentioning in this context is that we often discuss size of the watch and focus on the wrist. Sometimes I think we tend to forget the size of the hand that in my mind is very important when choosing the right dimension of your new watch.

After studying several posts here at WPS I know that many members prefer white metal. I tend to lean more towards the color gold that to me fosters a feeling of warmth and perhaps a new beginning. 

Other personal reflections are that during my whole life I have never been swimming with my watch nor worn it when I shower. Perhaps a reason why I prefer dress watches with straps rather than divers with bracelet. 

At 8.30 (sharp) we got picked up at the hotel by private limousine and off we went to VC Manufacture. I don't want to bore you with too many details but allow me to focus on some of the things we saw and that we were permitted to take pictures of.

Engraving impressed us a lot and the skills it requires. We got a feeling for the different challenges that faces when doing the engraving on 18 versus 22 carat gold and of course the hard platinum.

The machine is from 1904 and still is in use. 

I spoke to a woman who had reached the highest level when it came to engraving and was now training to reach the same high level for the enamel process. The man in charge for the training of the staff (he was with us the whole day) stated that when she has achieved these skills doing both engraving and enamel it is less than 5 people in the whole world who could do what she does. When we left her station I did bow which is something I had not done since back in the 80's when I got to meet M. Ali.

The enamel process with all its sensitive steps is difficult to comprehend - here illustrated by the oven.

To see my Malte Perpetual through a camera lens guided by a true expert was extremally interesting. He described the skills that are required to get the so-called swan neck in its right position.

Also, he guided me to examine the details of my perpetual calendar. Even better, he took me to another watch looking through a camera lens focusing on all the details in a perpetual watch. Including 28, 30 & 31 days of the month. However, it was pure magic to see him slowly turn the crown forward February 28 on leap year and mechanically once every four-year notice how the movement went to February 29. This alone was worth the trip. IMH opinion a perpetual watch focusses my attention on the time that has passed by as well as reaching the hand into the future. 

I have always had a weak spot for various guilloche patterns and after seeing it happen "live" I like it even more.

Restoration workshop allowed me to try watches that I had asked to see before the trip. Among them was the square 222 (46004), Prestige De La France & Mercator.

The food and wine that was served tasted very good and we enjoyed to see the Maltese cross on the porcelain.

A splendid time is guaranteed for all! 

As you can imagine I took the opportunity to ask about topics that have been on the agenda here at WPS. Among them was:

-winding direction (Forward or back and forth)

-set the watch (forward and/or backwards)

-automated production versus manual

-things worth considering before buying a minute repeater

AOB

The PP museum is well worth a visit. Looking at all the magnificent pieces it is striking that PP has demonstrated an impressive leadership in the watch industry by gathering these rare and unique pieces. Looking at the 2499 sent shivers down my spine.

Odd detail - we had bought tickets for the opening session at 14.00 (2 PM) but they did not open until 14.03 that I thought was strange and it generated comments in the queue. One could not keep from thinking that PP's whole business idea is built around keeping time. 

Geneva is beautiful, specially when walking around the Old Town and looking at the Geneva Lake. Switzerland in no 1 on the Big Mac index list and from that one can expect the prices to be high. This became more obvious for me coming from a country outside euro and dollar zone.  

According to the legend Cafe de Paris sauce/butter was presented the first time some 90 years ago in Geneva. It tasted very good, served at the very same restaurant, however the guests were treated like cattle. 

Many thanks for taking the time to study this long post.