Born in Geneva to a family originally from the city of Fribourg, Jean-Marc Vacheron was the youngest of a master weaver’s five sons. Introduced from an early age to manual trades by his father, Jean-Marc Vacheron created his own watchmaking workshop at the age of 24. He founded his company on September 17, 1755 and hired his first apprentice, Esaïe Jean François Hetier, for his workshop in the Saint-Gervais district. This commitment was recorded with a document bearing the oldest reference to the Vacheron watchmaking dynasty. An uninterrupted history of more than 265 years.
Meanwhile, the son of a merchant, François Constantin spent his youth on the roads of the Alps and the Jura to perfect his keen sense of business. From these travels, he developed into a successful businessman and met Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron — Jean-Marc’s grandson. Both men originated from Geneva, shared the same passion for stylish and complicated watches. This way, the company “Vacheron et Constantin” was brought to life. Only a few weeks later, during a trip to Turin on July 1819, he wrote these words to his associate: “Do better if possible, and that is always possible”; these continue to be at the heart of the Maison today.
