Vacheron Constantin

An update

 

I've been talking to the VC Concierge in New York about what type of documentation came with 2 vintage Chronometre Royal watches (1908 pocket watch and 1955 wristwatch) that I have and if it was possible to obtain copies of any type of testing results, whether it was from an Observatory or the Maison.  I received the following reply this morning:

Dear Mr. Shao,

I was able to speak with my colleagues in Switzerland regarding your request.

Unfortunately, Vacheron Constantin does not keep a register of the Observatory Testing results for our timepieces.  Therefore, it is not possible to obtain copies of the original documents that may have come with those timepieces through Vacheron Constantin.  You would have to speak directly with the Observatory of Geneva for those documents.

However, the Heritage Department also told me that there is no mention in the archives of your two particular pieces having original documentation from the Observatory of Geneva.  The "Chronometre Royal" is a trademark and does not guarantee that all the movements received a certificate from the Observatory.  The two particular pieces you own may have never had this documentation.

I was surprised as I must have misinterpreted what "Chronometre Royal" stood for.  I knew that it was a trademark copyrighted in 1907, but believed the watches that bore the name were considered "Chronometres" of their time, and therefore needed to pass this type of testing in order to be considered Chronometres.  Or at least some type of  "series" or sample testing (since over 10,000 CR pocket watches were manufactured over a period of 30+ years, I recognize the impracticality of trying to test every one at an Observatory - let alone having every one pass!).

I still think the 2 watches I have are beautiful, but I'm just a little disillusioned.

Best Regards, Dan