To mark the 100th anniversary of the Vacheron Constantin American 1921 Pièce Unique watch, Vacheron Constantin has delved into its archives and its horological expertise to offer a faithful reproduction of the timepiece emblematic of an era. Stemming from an impressive technical and human epic saga pushing the limits of fine craftsmanship excellence, the creation of the American 1921 Pièce unique watch mobilised the remarkable expertises of the Maison’s Restoration workshop and the Heritage department for an entire year. This approach might be a first in the watch industry, reflecting Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to the conservation, transmission and continuous enrichment of its heritage and of traditional skills.
Only 24 pieces of the reference dated 1921 were originally manufactured. Today only one of them is part of Vacheron Constantin’s private collection, making it an extremely rare and sought-after timepiece for collectors and watch connoisseurs. Some watches tell stories, inviting us to travel back in time, to retrace origins and immerse oneself in bygone eras. Faithfully recreated as if in 1921, the Vacheron Constantin American 1921 Pièce Unique watch presented this year is a case in point, offering a journey into the creativity of the Roaring Twenties and reviving the beauty of artisanal skills as practiced a century ago. More than a jubilee watch, it is the fruit of a fascinating odyssey into the heart of the artisanal know-how cultivated by Vacheron Constantin for over 265 years.
Back in April, Vacheron Constantin unveiled a trio of Historiques American 1921 models in precious metal cases, commemorating the 100th anniversary of its inspiration, a vintage timepiece from the heyday of Art Deco. The release of those models, however, was just the prelude to an even more ambitious and historically significant tribute to the model’s centennial in 2021. Vacheron Constantin also undertook the herculean task of creating a faithful re-edition of the original timepiece, combining the expertise and exhaustive research capabilities of its Heritage department with the voluminous archives of historical tools, components, and machines at its Restoration workshop.
While the manufacture takes great pride in its ability to utilize these resources to trace any of its timepieces, from any era, to its production registers, and to delicately restore any such timepiece to its original state, it had never before striven to reproduce an antique watch entirely from scratch. The year-long project of creating the American 1921 Pièce Unique, with the mandate of reconstituting the 1921 reference down to its smallest details, started with reproducing parts on vintage machines and hand-crafting others with appropriate historical tools. Artisans used a late 19th-century lathe to cut elements of the case, a mid-19th-century topping tool to modify the teeth of wheels, an 18th-century drilling accessory to drill jewel settings into the mainplate, and an early-20th-century staking tool to drive in the jewels. Custom-made milling cutters and riveting tools duplicating those of the early 20th century enabled watchmakers to work in the same manner as their ancestors had.
Geneva, May 25th 2021 – To mark the 100th anniversary of the Vacheron Constantin American 1921 Pièce Unique watch, Vacheron Constantin has delved into its archives and its horological expertise to offer a faithful reproduction of the timepiece emblematic of an era. Stemming from an impressive technical and human epic saga pushing the limits of fine craftsmanship excellence, the creation of the American 1921 Pièce unique watch mobilised the remarkable expertises of the Maison’s Restoration workshop and the Heritage department for an entire year. This approach might be a first in the watch industry, reflecting Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to the conservation, transmission and continuous enrichment of its heritage and of traditional skills.
Enriched by a heritage based on the transmission of watchmaking expertise and stylistic research through generations of master artisans, Vacheron Constantin continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American 1921 by recreating this emblematic model from scratch. From the 11-ligne Calibre Nouveau to the gold case along with the decorations and exterior components, the American 1921 Pièce unique watch reproduces the original properties of its ancestor created a century ago. This highly complex and unprecedented process involved the most experienced watchmakers in the Restoration workshop and the Vacheron Constantin Heritage team, who spent a year reviving old tools and forgotten know-how in the course of a passionately exciting human and technical adventure. The result is an exceptional one-of-a-kind timepiece, a symbol of the Maison’s attachment to its heritage and to the continuous enrichment of traditional know-how.
Vacheron calls the Vacheron Constantin American 1921 Pièce Unique watch (technically, Ref. 1921H/000J-B949) “emblematic of an era” and “a symbol of the Maison’s attachment to its heritage and to the continuous enrichment of traditional know-how.” Appropriately, it will make its public debut at Vacheron Constantin’s new, flagship boutique opening this summer in New York City before making a tour around the rest of the world.
Enriched by a heritage based on the transmission of watchmaking expertise and stylistic research through generations of master artisans, Vacheron Constantin continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American 1921 by recreating this emblematic model from scratch. From the 11-ligne Calibre Nouveau to the gold case along with the decorations and exterior components, the American 1921 Pièce unique watch reproduces the original properties of its ancestor created a century ago. This highly complex and unprecedented process involved the most experienced watchmakers in the Restoration workshop and the Vacheron Constantin Heritage team, who spent a year reviving old tools and forgotten know-how in the course of a passionately exciting human and technical adventure. The result is an exceptional one-of-a-kind timepiece, a symbol of the Maison’s attachment to its heritage and to the continuous enrichment of traditional know-how.
Vacheron Constantin American 1921 Pièce Unique
