Pre-Owned
Vacheron Constantin Watches

Vacheron Constantin stands alongside Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet as one of the so-called “Holy Trinity” of the watch industry—three esteemed brands renowned for their long and illustrious history and exquisite craftsmanship. Between them they have created some of the world’s most complicated and desirable timepieces, breaking multiple records and setting new standards in horology.

Of the three, Vacheron Constantin was founded first, with its first workshop established in Geneva in 1755, making it the world’s oldest continuously active watch brand.

To make fine timepieces without interruption—through revolutions, two global wars and the quartz crisis, among other things—is a remarkable achievement, but then Vacheron Constantin is a remarkable brand.

The company was founded by 24-year-old watchmaker Jean-Marc Vacheron, passing through two more generations of Vacherons before a family friend Francois Constantin partnered with the founder’s descendant, Jacques Barthelemy Vacheron, to take over the business side of things in 1819.

The biggest turning point in the company’s history came when they employed a watchmaker called George-August Leschot who designed a machine that could make precision movements more economically. It proved to be a huge step not just for Vacheron Constantin but for the whole Swiss watch industry which would soon make watches this way.

As the wristwatch replaced the pocket watch as the timepiece of choice, Vacheron began producing not just elegant time-only watches in precious metals but chronographs, perpetual calendars and even—in very small numbers—minute repeaters. Movements were made in-house, although it also sourced them from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

In 1940, Charles Constantin, the last descendant of either of the founders to run the company, ceded control to George Ketterer who in turn handed the reins to his son Jacques. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Vacheron’s line-up consisted mostly of slim, time-only dress watches. It celebrated its bicentenary in 1955 by unveiling what was then the world’s thinnest watch, powered by a movement just 1.64mm thick.

Twenty years later—perhaps keen to garner publicity in the midst of the quartz crisis—it released the Kallista, a watch whose case and bracelet was fashioned from the same kilogram bar of gold. It was decorated with 118 emerald-cut diamonds and became, for a time, the world’s most expensive wristwatch, selling for $5m dollars. The 1970s also saw the launch of the sport-luxe 222 model, which later influenced the contemporary Overseas collection.

When Jacques Ketterer died in 1987, the watch-loving Saudi Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani became a majority shareholder, selling his share nine years later to the Vendome Group which later dissolved into its parent company, Richemont.

Now back to making an estimated 20,000-25,000 watches a year, and employing some of the world’s finest craftspeople in-house, it is once again producing some of the best watches in the industry and with a line-up more diverse than ever.

Notable current collections include the Overseas, Fiftysix and Patrimony, while it continues to raise the bar with its technical and artistic achievements, unveiling in 2015 the astonishing Reference 57260 pocket watch which boasted no less than 57 complications.

Whatever style of Vacheron Constantin watch you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it at Watchfinder. Our wide selection of pre-owned Vacheron Constantin watches encompasses everything from sporty steel models to refined dress watches in precious metal.

Furthermore, as an official Vacheron Constantin Certified Pre-Owned partner, every single one of our Vacheron Constantin timepieces has been meticulously inspected by our brand-accredited watchmakers, checked for provenance and comes with a minimum 24-month warranty.

Discover your ideal Vacheron Constantin timepiece with Watchfinder today.