Swiss gold observatory chronometer pocket watch Circa 1905

Gold hunting cased pocket watch by Vacheron & Constantin
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A Swiss Observatory Chronometer 1st class, tested at the Geneva Observatory 1905. 18K gold à-goutte hunting case with case numbered and dome marked, observatory chronometer 1st class. The watch is an extraordinary timepiece, featuring an extremely rare and special chronometer calibre, a special fine adjusting device, wolf’s toothing, and a unique serial number. The enamel dial is perfectly preserved, with Breguet-style radial hours, an outer minutes track, a subsidiary dial for the seconds, and gold Breguet hands. The watch is in beautiful original condition, complete with its original box, which is dated 1906. Copies of the original papers of the chronometer tests conducted at the observatory in Geneva in 1905 are also included.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 123 g
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Signed: Vacheron & Constantin Genève
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Jean-Marc Vacheron was born in 1731 and passed away in 1805. He established a watch workshop in the Saint Gervais district of Geneva in 1755. In 1785, his son Abraham took over the business, which was still small at the time. The watches produced by the company were highly sought-after by the nobility, the clergy, and wealthy merchants. However, sales declined significantly during the French Revolution, and Abraham faced many challenges.

Abraham married and added his wife’s surname to his own to overcome these difficulties. This led to a change in the workshop’s name to Vacheron-Girod. At the start of the 19th century, Abraham’s son Jacques Barthélemy Vacheron became the company’s new head, which was renamed Vacheron-Chossat. Jacques Barthélemy discovered new customers for the company’s sophisticated products, including pocket watches with flat movements, hunting-cased watches, and minute repeaters. He also travelled to Italy, France, and Germany to expand the company’s reach.

In 1819, François Constantin, the son of a cloth merchant, joined the company as a partner to help with watch distribution. The company subsequently became known as Vacheron & Constantin. Constantin had previously worked as a salesman for Jean-François Bautte, and his expertise helped the company overcome its financial difficulties. Sales figures increased significantly, and by 1830, Vacheron & Constantin had started selling in New York and New Orleans.

In 1970, the company name was changed to Vacheron Constantin, and the brand logo became the Maltese cross. Today, Vacheron Constantin is part of the Richemont group, the oldest continuously active watch manufacturer globally.