Custodian of an authentic treasure, the Vacheron Constantin Heritage department keeps watch over a precious heritage comprising more than 1,300 horological creations and an extraordinary set of archives – all of which bear testimony to the history and expertise of the Manufacture itself, as well as to the evolution of watchmaking across the centuries. The department is entrusted with the two-fold mission of preserving this cultural wealth as well as making it available to the public. Its new exhibition – presented in the Vacheron Constantin’s Geneva Boutique and entitled “Reflections of Time” – highlights a little-known facet of the Maison’s history: the creation of table clocks in the late 1920s. This exceptional patrimonial collection comprises a dozen one-of-a-kind models now on show to the public for the first time ever, until the end of September.

Art Deco and orientalism

Distinguished by considerable stylistic variety, the table clocks developed by Vacheron Constantin between 1920 and 1930 reflect the originality (some might even say eccentricity), the mechanical expertise and the passion for artistic crafts expressed during the prolific Roaring Twenties. These tailor- made creations are authentic ornamental pieces celebrating the artistic currents of the era and mingling the formal equilibrium of Art Deco, Japonism, the inspirations of Chinese symbolism and the aesthetic tastes of those who commissioned them. Daintily sized yet nonetheless far larger than pocket watches, table clocks afforded new scope for expression of artistic crafts. The finest artisans – engravers, gemsetters and enamellists – enlisted by Vacheron Constantin thereby combined their talents with those of the watchmakers in the Manufacture in giving life to technically sophisticated and splendidly crafted creations.

Arca, spanning past and present

An in-house mechanical movement, distinctive geometrical shapes, rich materials and colours mingling lacquer, onyx, lapis lazuli, gold, precious and semi-precious stones, stylised numerals and finely worked hands. This dozen or so table clocks from the late 1920s incorporates a wealth of manual skills and embodies the style of an era. The inherently varied “Reflections of Time” exhibition also features an iconic rock crystal creation introduced a little later in 1933. Serving as inspiration for the current Arca collection composed of 12 unique crystal clocks, it is distinguished by a skeletonised movement and a precious facetted quartz cabinet forming an arched shape. The exhibition is rounded off by three new Arca creations, featuring the original design and mechanism. Their name evoking the structure of crystal blocks, as well as their presence alongside historical models, symbolically express the transmission of knowledge and heritage cherished by Vacheron Constantin.

“Reflections of Time” Exhibition, on view until the end of September 2017 Vacheron Constantin Boutique, Place de Longemalle 1 – Geneva
Monday through Friday from 10am to 6.30pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm