From tomorrow 24 January to 29 February 2020, the Vacheron Constantin Pisa Orologeria boutique in Via Verri 9, Milan, will host "Vacheron Constantin and Italy, a retrospective of an uninterrupted history", an exhibition of creations from the Maison's heritage. Thirteen pieces dated between 1824 and 1979 that retrace the most significant stages of the relationship between the Geneva-based House and our country, told through exceptional watchmaking. "Historical tradition and vintage are highly topical themes and of increasing interest to watchmaking enthusiasts. It is a privilege for our Milan boutique to be able to exhibit to the public a selection of such emblematic pieces from the Vacheron Constantin heritage. The design, savoir faire craftsmanship, and watchmaking technique will captivate the public who will be able to appreciate the modernity that Vacheron Constantin has always expressed through its creations while always respecting the highest tradition. The spirit then is the same as it is today," comments Marco Pagani, Vacheron Constantin's Brand Manager Italy. The exhibition opens with a decidedly symbolic creation from 1824, a yellow gold pocket watch with a silver-plated dial and Roman numerals, decorated on the back with a map of Italy made with champlevé enamel in vivid blue and azure tones. The collection of pocket watches - 6 in all - includes, among others, the 1905 model presented at the Simplon International Exhibition held in Milan in 1906, one of the pieces that won the Maison the international jury's prize for the quality of its timepieces. The model is the 'Chardon', a yellow gold pocket watch with the back decorated with a floral cloisonné enamel motif. The guilloché dial has 11 Arabic numerals, small seconds at 6 o'clock. Among the wristwatches - 7 on display - model 4461 from 1950, a yellow gold timepiece with a complete calendar and moon phases, is a particular highlight of the selection of exhibits. The dial of this creation is silver-plated with Roman numerals and 12 star-shaped yellow gold indices. The day of the week and the month can be read through two windows positioned between 12 o'clock and the centre of the dial and are written in Italian. The historical path described by the exhibition is punctuated by a number of documents ranging from the Italy/Switzerland letters sent by Jacques-Barthélémy Vacheron to the Maison and from correspondence with business partners of the time to advertising pages. Introducing the contemporary collections, on display is the famous "222" model, the timepiece that inspired the birth of the Overseas collection.
THE WATCHES ON SHOW IN DETAIL
1824, Pocket watch, yellow gold case, case back decorated with champlévé enamel depicting a map of Italy, guilloché silver dial with 12 Roman numerals, small seconds at 6 o'clock.
1837, Pocket watch, yellow gold case, back engraved with a marine scene, white enamel dial with 12 black enamel Roman numerals.
1905, Pocket watch, yellow gold case decorated with cloisonné enamel depicting a floral motif composed of thistles, silver guilloché dial with 11 Arabic numerals, small seconds dial at 6 o'clock. This watch was presented at the Milan International Exhibition in 1906.
1908, Pocket watch, pink gold case, large and small chime and minute repeater mechanism, case back decorated with enamelled and polychrome coat of arms attributed to the Roman Salviati family, white enamel dial with 11 Arabic numerals, small seconds at 6 o'clock.
1929, Art Deco pocket watch, yellow and white gold case, case back decorated with black enamel monogram, jumping hour window at 12 o'clock, minutes indicated by a triangular black onyx hand, silver-plated dial decorated with guilloché soleil motif, graduated outer minute circle with stylised Arabic numerals.
1941, Pocket watch, pink gold case, gilded dial with gold hour markers with double signature: 'Vacheron Constantin, Genève and Gobbi, Milano', small seconds at 6 o'clock. Personalised engraving on the inside of the case back 'To Eng. Luigi Selmo the friends of Vizzola affectionately December 1953'. According to the research carried out, Luigi Selmo was the director and engineer of the SIP hydraulic company of the Lombardy Region.
1948, Model 4240 - Men's wristwatch, complete calendar, rose gold case, gold-plated dial, rose gold Arabic numerals and hour markers, day of the week and month (in English) in a window between 12 o'clock and centre, red outer date circle, small seconds at 6 o'clock, leather strap and rose gold pin buckle
1950, Model 4461 - Men's wristwatch, complete calendar with moon phase display, yellow gold case, silver-plated dial with Roman numeral at 12 o'clock and yellow gold star indices, day of the week and month windows (in Italian) between 12 o'clock and centre, blue outer date circle, moon phase display and small seconds at 6 o'clock, outer minute circle, leather strap and yellow gold pin buckle.
1953, Model 4907 - Men's 'Chronomètre Royal' wristwatch, yellow gold case, central seconds with 'stop balance' device, silver-plated dial with yellow gold hour markers, leather strap and yellow gold pin buckle.
1960, Model 6115 - Men's ultra-thin wristwatch, yellow gold case, silver-plated dial with gold-plated indices, leather strap with yellow gold pin buckle.
1962, Model 6440 - Men's self-winding "Chocolatone" wristwatch with square case with pink gold rounded corners, central seconds, silver-plated soleil dial with pink gold hour markers, inner minute circle. Leather strap with pink gold buckle.
1965, Model 4072 - Men's 30-minute chronograph wristwatch in yellow gold, gilded dial with yellow gold indices, graduated pulsometer scale in French, 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and small seconds at 9 o'clock. Leather strap and yellow gold pin buckle.
1979, Model 46003/411 - Collection "222" - Men's self-winding wristwatch, yellow gold case. Slate grey dial with luminescent yellow gold hour markers, central hours, minutes and seconds, date window at 3 o'clock, integrated 18-carat yellow gold bracelet.
