Vacheron Constantin celebrates the codified, disciplined and at the same time imaginative universe of Haute Couture, with which it has a close kinship. The selection of watches from the Maison's private collection underlines this strong link. On display until 14 November in Milan, these timepieces bear witness to the feminine creativity that the Manufacture has cultivated for over two centuries. Haute Couture and Haute Horlogerie are closely linked. Since the mid-20th century, Haute Couture houses have been governed by a set of rules that codify their activity, from the creation of garments in the atelier to the fashion shows. This strict and uncompromising discipline naturally stimulates the imagination of the Maisons, giving rise to a whole world of style, luxury and quality. Similarly, Haute Horlogerie counterparts such as Vacheron Constantin adhere to a set of rules governing the creation of timepieces in a perfect balance between art and knowledge. In particular, the Swiss Maison shares with Haute Couture a focus on uncompromising quality aimed at creativity and an approach to work typical of artistic craftsmanship. The contiguity between these two sectors is particularly expressed in the world of women, a privileged sphere of expression for Haute Couture and a place where Vacheron Constantin's artistic sensitivity has been expressed at the highest level for over two centuries. Women have always been interested in watchmaking, often to enhance their adornments with sometimes unusual objects, generally conceived as genuine jewellery. These creations also take the functional side into account, as evidenced by the numerous chiming or calendar watches made for women. It was precisely women who were the first to wear wristwatches, long before they became widespread in the early 20th century. The Vacheron Constantin Heritage collection, comprising over 1300 pieces, bears witness to the formidable creative drive in the field of women's watches. With the first historical reference from 1815 - a yellow gold pocket watch with a finely engraved case middle and floral motif embellished with garnets - the Maison gave an early demonstration of its special attention to the female universe. The timepiece displays the time through an off-centre sub-dial that leaves plenty of room for the decoration - of the dial itself - carried out using two ancient craft techniques, hand engraving and gem-setting. This timepiece directly inspired the design of the Egérie collection. To illustrate its two centuries of feminine watchmaking, Vacheron Constantin has selected pieces from the Heritage collection.
