In 1755, in Geneva, Jean-Marc Vacheron began writing the first chapter of a story that has become an extraordinary human epic: a quest for excellence handed down from generation to generation. The passion, expertise and creativity of the men and women of the Manufacture have forged Vacheron Constantin’s identity through a delicate balance between technical mastery and artistic sensitivity. These values, deeply rooted in the ateliers, largely explain the Maison’s longevity.
Throughout 2025, to commemorate 270 years of creation, tradition and innovation, a series of celebrations will take place, beginning with the reissue of an iconic timepiece long awaited by the Maison’s customers: the Historiques 222, with a stainless steel case.
To begin the celebration of 270 years of passion, and in response to the expectations of its customers, Vacheron Constantin presents the watch with which it is inaugurating its anniversary celebrations: the Historiques 222, in stainless steel.
This model evokes a legendary creation, first presented in 1977 on the occasion of the Maison’s 222nd anniversary. Designed by Jorg Hysek, the model was an instant departure from the conventions of sports watches at the time, which until then had been mainly professional models for pilots, divers and explorers, and captured a new cultural mood in which the lines between formality and sportiness were blurred. As well as being a break with the traditional characteristics of sports watches, the 222 was the quintessence of 1970s design, and introduced new stylistic features to the Maison.
Fitted with an integrated bracelet, its case had a functional construction, with a flat platform-shaped caseband topped by a prominent crenellated bezel and a Maltese cross stamped at 5 o’clock on the platform. The monocoque case, which required the movement to be fitted from the front, was water-resistant to 120 metres, thanks to the screw-down bezel. With hour, minute and date displays, the 222 also boasted a flat design, with a thickness of just 7 millimetres, thanks to the use of the ultra-thin Calibre 1120; at 3.05 millimetres thick, it was the world’s thinnest full-rotor self-winding movement. A paragon of balance and visual elegance, the simple baton-type hands and hour-markers and the large hexagonal central links of the bracelet conveyed an impression of robustness and self-confident modernity.
