Geneva-based Vacheron Constantin has maintained its reputation for producing exceptional timepieces, from its first watch circa 1760 to its extraordinary mechanical watches of today. Highly collectible, these prestigious timepieces are conceived as much to seduce by their elegance as to provide precision timekeeping. An unwavering commitment to excellence is the firm's hallmark, and celebrations for its 250th anniversary include the renovation of its flagship store and opening of a new manufactory in Geneva, the creation of a magnum opus timepiece, and the publication of this book. Illustrated with specially commissioned photographs, the book traces the rich history of the manufacture and includes an informative catalog of timepieces and a guide to the watchmaker's art that has been enriched by a unique artistic and technical expertise compiled over two and a half centuries.

"Published in conjunction with the exhibition ... held at the national Museum of Singapore, June24th-August 14th, 2011"--T.p. verso.

This handsome volume showcases master watchmaker Vacheron Constantin’s innovative Reference 57260 timepiece—a horological masterpiece and the most complicated watch ever made. Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watch manufacturer in the world, has been renowned for its watchmaking excellence for more than 260 years. From the first watch made around 1760 to the legendary models—among the most remarkable of their time and created for eminent collectors such as automaker James Ward Packard, Count Guy du Boisrouvray, and Kings Fouad I and Farouk I of Egypt—the Swiss watchmaker has continually perpetuated a tradition of designing exceptional, highly complicated precision timepieces. Vacheron Constantin’s latest creation, the Reference 57260, sets a new benchmark in the realm of horology. Developed by a team of master watchmakers over eight years, this double-dial watch combines the classic principles of watchmaking with modern innovations to create a unique and entirely original piece with a total of fifty-seven complications, many of which are brand-new inventions. Detailed photography of the masterpiece demonstrates the extraordinary craftsmanship behind this historic timepiece from Vacheron Constantin.

Two wealthy and powerful men engage in a decades-long contest to create and possess the most remarkable watch in history. James Ward Packard of Warren, Ohio, was an entrepreneur and a talented engineer of infinite curiosity, a self-made man who earned millions from his inventions, including the design and manufacture of America’s first luxury car—the elegant and storied Packard. Henry Graves, Jr., was the very essence of blue-blooded refinement in the early 1900s: son of a Wall Street financier, a central figure in New York high society, and a connoisseur of beautiful things—especially fine watches. Then, as now, expensive watches were the ultimate sign of luxury and wealth, but in the early twentieth century the limitless ambition, wealth, and creativity of these two men pushed the boundaries of mathematics, astronomy, craftsmanship, technology, and physics to create ever more ingenious timepieces. In any watch, features beyond the display of hours, minutes, and seconds are known as “complications.” Packard and Graves spurred acclaimed Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe to create the Mona Lisa of timepieces—a fabled watch that incorporated twenty-four complications and took nearly eight years to design and build. For the period, it was the most complicated watch ever created. For years it disappeared, but then it surfaced at a Sotheby’s auction in 1999, touching off a heated bidding war, shattering all known records when it fetched $11 million from an anonymous bidder. New York Times bestselling author Stacy Perman takes us from the clubby world of New York high society into the ateliers of the greatest Swiss watchmakers, and into the high-octane, often secretive subculture of modern-day watch collecting. With meticulous research, vivid historical details, and a wealth of dynamic personalities, A Grand Complication is the fascinating story of the thrilling duel between two of the most intriguing men of the early twentieth century. Above all, it is a sweeping chronicle of innovation, the desire for beauty, and the lengths people will go to possess it.

This volume commemorates Vacheron Constantin’s uninterrupted 260-year history devoted to watchmaking excellence. Geneva-based Vacheron Constantin has maintained its reputation for producing exceptional timepieces, from its first watch circa 1760 to its extraordinary mechanical watches of today. Highly collectible, these prestigious timepieces are conceived as much to seduce by their elegance as to provide precision timekeeping. With specially commissioned photographs, the book traces the rich history of the manufacture and includes an informative catalog of timepieces and a guide to the watchmaker’s art. An unwavering commitment to excellence is the firm’s hallmark; the heritage of 260 years of unique artistic and technical expertise.

The indispensable guide for investing in luxury watches. Build a watch collection that will not only grow in value but also bring joy on the wrist. According to Bloomberg, multiple luxury watches have outperformed vintage cars, Bitcoin and other crypto currencies in 2022. Market prices for some Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet references have more than doubled over the past two years and auction records keep being set month after month. In the watchmaking industry, knowledge is power and properly navigating this landmine is key to make wise investment decisions. With Invest in Watches: The Art of Watch Collecting you will understand the crucial elements to realize good watch investments by learning what makes a worthy investment, how to properly estimate the value of a watch, how to sell a watch at a profit, what are the costs of owning a watch, how to acquire a watch on a wait list, how to buy at auctions, tips for watch repair and many more including a list of watches (and clocks) to keep on the radar. Not only providing concrete examples of valuable watch investments, Invest in Watches: The Art of Watch Collecting is also a journey in the fascinating world of horology through the eyes of a watch collector whose passion is contagious. Both modern and vintage watches are covered and whether a watch expert or complete beginner, you will discover hundreds of watches to invest in from brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Tag Heuer and many more including independent watchmakers. “Investors who earned big returns in tech stocks and crypto currencies are now looking to pre-owned watches as the next hot asset class”. —Bloomberg "A great read and strongly recommended for those interested in taking their luxury watch collecting to the next level and unpacking the booming trading value of select pieces." —Teddy Baldassarre "Don't ask me which watch to buy, just go get the book!" —Andrea Casalegno, IamCasa "Rarely have I been so enthusiastic about a book. It has a clear and understandable structure and is well researched and prepared. You can feel the passion for watches in every line – on every page – beware of the risk of addiction." —Karl Heinz Nuber, Tourbillon Magazine "This book is the perfect guide for understanding how to invest wisely in watches. It's also simply a lot of fun and super interesting to read for anyone who loves watchmaking." —Alex G, editor of madeinbienne.ch Marc Montagne is a watch industry professional and a collector himself. He founded the Toolwatch.io & WatchAuctionHQ.com apps used by over 150’000 watch enthusiasts around the world. Marc also hosts Repetition Minute, France’s first podcast about watches, gathering tens of thousands of monthly listeners. He is also one of the most popular watch writers on Quora, with over 11 million readers.