NOBLE SAUVAGES

If indeed watchmaking is an art (and we’d certainly argue that’s the case), then the cabinotier could be its old master. The moniker for these outstanding craftspeople—true Renaissance men, profoundly skilled in watchmaking but also steeped in the disciplines of contemporary and classical art, science and philosophy—derives from the workspaces they inhabited in the 18th century. The naturally lit rooftop ateliers where these artisans laboured over unique and bespoke timepieces were known as cabinets. And from these cabinets continue to emerge creations of rare beauty, imagination and craftsmanship. Since the manufacture’s foundation in 1755, Vacheron Constantin—the oldest watchmaker in continuous operation—has set numerous cabinotiers to work in sun-drenched eyries above Geneva to bring to life clients’ extraordinary wishes and whims. Formalising the manufacture’s longstanding bespoke service, Vacheron Constantin launched more than…