Swiss and German houses · Founded 1755
Vacheron Constantin History
Vacheron Constantin was founded in Geneva in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron and has made watches without interruption ever since, making it the oldest watch manufacturer in continuous operation.
Key facts
| Founded | 1755 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jean-Marc Vacheron |
| Where | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Name | François Constantin joined in 1819 |
| Owner today | Richemont |
Geneva's oldest workshop
Jean-Marc Vacheron was 24 when he took on his first apprentice in 1755, the date the company counts as its founding. His descendants grew the business through the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. In 1819 François Constantin joined as a partner and became its traveling salesman, opening markets around the world. His motto, roughly "do better if possible, and that is always possible", is still the company's.
Complicated machines
Vacheron Constantin is known for highly complicated watches. In 1839 it hired engineer Georges-Auguste Leschot, whose machines made parts precise enough to be interchangeable, an early step toward industrial Swiss watchmaking. In the 21st century it has made some of the most complicated watches ever built, with dozens of functions.
Read more: Who invented the watch? 50 inventions · the full story of the watchmakers
Questions people ask
What is the oldest watch company?
Vacheron Constantin (1755) is the oldest in continuous operation. Blancpain (1735) is the oldest registered brand.
Who owns Vacheron Constantin?
The Swiss luxury group Richemont.
Sources
Last updated October 18, 2026. Found an error? Tell us.