History and heritage: Vacheron Constantin look back in time to create new watchmaking marvels
New horizons, near and far. Wherever you set your sights on going the Swiss luxury firm Vacheron Constantin want to help you get there with its latest collection which is themed around elegant and stylistic travel.
Published on 18/04/2026 - 7:55 GMT+2
History and heritage are at the heart of all things Vacheron Constantin do.
Last year, the Swiss luxury watchmaker celebrated its 270th anniversary with some truly remarkable examples of their craftsmanship, most notably, The Quest for Time (La Quête du Temps), the astronomical automaton clock which was exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The unique masterpiece was the result of seven years of research and development which demonstrated the particular challenge of designing a complication offering time, a three-dimensional moon phase and the movement of the constellations.
Its display at Watches and Wonders in Geneva is the first time it's been shown in Switzerland.
Reinventing and revival
But one doesn't get to survive by resting on one's laurels. Innovation is also a key factor for Vacheron Constantin and this year it's combining the challenge of creation with the themes of exploration and travel.
Christian Selmoni, Style and Heritage Director at Vacheron Constantin says their latest collection, Overseas Line, is dedicated to sport and elegance and allows the firm to "reinvent" themselves.
One of the star attractions is the brand new Overseas Ultra Thin, a timepiece with a self-winding innovative ultra-thin calibre with a diameter of less than 40mm.
"It's very difficult to speak about, to have a kind of definition of what is time, because this is a concept which is quite mysterious," says Selmoni. "This is probably the most intangible thing or concept which exists, but certainly the most important one for us. As watchmakers, we're happy to be able to kind of capture this very intangible notion which is time. I think also it's a celebration of crafts."
For more on Christian Selmoni's thoughts on heritage and craftsmanship, watch the video in the main player above.
Video editor • Joseph Allen
