Plan-les-Ouates can boast the arrival of this brand-new Manufacture in an area already graced with prestigious brands that have chosen its territory to develop their production facility. Not only because the municipal coat of arms already carries the symbol of the famous Maltese Cross, the symbol of Vacheron Constantin, but also because the design of the Manufacture is already attracting an incredible number of visitors.

Headquarters worthy of the brand
“It is so beautiful that it makes you want to shoot a film here!” was just one of the comments heard among a group of connoisseurs invited to its inauguration on September 7th, barely a month after the 170-strong personnel had taken possession of the premises. It is true that the contrast with the various sites previously spread across Geneva is a dramatic one, since the management team of Vacheron Constantin and the Richemont Group have not done things by halves. Symbolising the brand’s ambitions on the threshold of its 250th anniversary (in 2005), this avant-garde building was designed by architect Bernard Tschumi. Viewed from the outside, its 1130 tons of steel girders and metal framework, along with its 3,000 square metres of glass might easily lead one to mistake it for an elegant airport; from inside, it might be taken for a modern art museum. The stairways and passages are also in glass, and even their thickness cannot totally dissipate the irrational fear of stepping through them by accident. The designer Roger Pfund has created a huge mural fresco that graces the atrium with its rich colours and varied motifs. In short, worthy international headquarters for one of the leaders in Haute Horlogerie. Indeed, the symbolic figure 250 also represents the number of employees that are expected to be working there in due course.

An undeniably comfortable working environment
For most of the employees, this relocation represents a mini-revolution, given the geographical scattering to which they were accustomed. So the extremely comfortable cafeteria on the top floor is not just appreciated for its cuisine and the panoramic views from its bay windows, but also as a meeting point between staff from many different horizons. Those working in the head office, of course, but also the people working in the design department and in the workshops devoted to assembly, adjusting mechanical movements, casing-up, testing and after-sales service. The comfortable working environment does not stem merely from the warmth of the wooden panelling, but also to factors such as the car park located under the Manufacture and the 1,500 trees planted around the grounds (the site has a total surface area of 30,000 sq.m.). Specially designed for watchmakers, the natural light shafts are equipped with invisible neon lamps and regulators guaranteeing stable lighting throughout the day, whatever the weather. The principle of a fine, supple envelope has been applied to the entire building, which welcomes the light on the northern side and filters it on the south. At the centre of the watchmaking wing, an aquatic patio enhanced with greenery creates a beautifully peaceful atmosphere. The entire construction suggests a smooth flow of relationships between the various management, design and production departments. An undeniable success!

What added value can one expect in 2005?
“A quarter millennium!” exclaims Claude Proellochs (Chairman), “Although it’s important to say that we are the oldest watchmaking company, what is more important is the transition, the development of the art of Vacheron Constantin. This is the added value of the brand and this is why, as a brand we are so collectible. We are constantly fighting to achieve perfection; it was the motto of François Constantin, ‘Do better if possible, and it is always possible’. (It is always possible by the way, because things constantly change, there are always new techniques, always new ways of doing things, always new ways to produce timekeepers!) This is Vacheron Constantin’s legacy and it is up to us, the current generation of Vacheron Constantin, to build on this legacy and not to consign it to a museum of beautiful masterpieces, which is well-guarded, well-protected and well-polished. It is today’s reality, because what each generation of watchmakers produces is their perfection.”

“But it is important not just to say, ‘we are the oldest manufacturer and we are the best,’ because customers inevitably judge for themselves. It is through a customer’s personal taste and cultural sensitivities that he or she is able to judge what he or she does or doesn’t like. So it is important, even if we are in very prestigious surroundings, to remain very humble and adhere to our strict rules of ethics. This is our real added value.”

On April 3rd 2005, to mark this exceptional event, Antiquorum, the world’s leading auctioneer in the field of horology, will hold one of its special theme auctions consisting of 250 Vacheron Constantin timepieces, pieces which are representative of the art of Vacheron Constantin from its earliest beginnings in 1755, through its remarkable Art Deco period to its present-day masterpieces. Watch this space in upcoming issues of GMT...