SIHH is off to a flying start this week and Vacheron Constantin has released one of the most remarkable timepieces of 2019.
This year's launch was an entirely new movement which runs at two separate frequencies: 5hz while the watch is worn, reducing to 1.2hz when in sleep mode“ enabling the watch to maintain its timekeeping functions for up to 65 days. The single-barrel calibre uses an innovative regulating system which switches between two gear trains, gives new meaning to the term perpetual' calendar.
This model is among the greatest launches in the history of watchmaking. Chisholm Hunter are extremely proud to work closely with VC and be part of this historic launch.
View all the products from this amazing event click here
This month, we look at one of the most iconic watch brands in the world, a brand widely acknowledged to be the pinnacle of watchmaking now and historically, Vacheron Constantin.
The brand holds the title of being the longest continuously operating watch brand in the world and quite rightly bestows the title The Oldest Watchmaking Manufacture in the World upon itself. Vacheron Constantin was founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron in Geneva, Switzerland and whilst there are watch brands today that were founded before this, none have been in continuous operation and this is a testament to the phenomenally high level of quality of the watches produced by Vacheron Constantin.
From surviving through the trials of the French Revolution, to being the surprise' in the Third Imperial Faberg Egg, being acquired by the Richemont Group, to making the world's most complicated mechanical watch (named Reference 57260) for the manufacturer's 260th anniversary, the brand has such a rich and diverse history that is unrivalled in the world of horology. As I'm sure you can gather from the words written above, Chisholm Hunter is exceptionally proud to be the exclusive retail partner of Vacheron Constantin in Scotland and one of not many' in the United Kingdom.
In 1996, Vacheron Constantin created it's, now iconic, Overseas collection, a small line of sport watches crafted with the highest precision to compete with Audemars Piguet and Patek Phillippe who had launched the Royal Oak and Nautilus respectively. Reinvented in 2016 to convey the spirit of the modern day travelling business person and designed in a spirit of casual elegance and comfort enhanced by their interchangeable strap/bracelet system, Overseas timepieces are the perfect daily companions.' Ranging from £16,600 to over £65,000, the watches come with varying complications, from standard three-hand to Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar models in a variety of precious metals and a surprisingly convenient interchangeable bracelet. The watches in person are mind-blowing, but still remain understated and refined, a quality that you might not get in a Rolex Submariner or an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak for example. What really excites us at Chisholm Hunter is the attention to detail Vacheron have paid to this range, everything you would wish for in a haute horlogerie product is there in abundance without being ostentatious, an expression of sincerity in craft, rather than a desire to draw attention per se.
In 2018, Vacheron Constantin, ever innovative and constantly pushing their creative teams, announced the release of a new range, the Fiftysix, for this new family they have announced two new brand ambassadors to embody the modern and cosmopolitan elegance of the Fiftysix. These ambassadors are musicians, Benjamin Clementine and James Bay, creative, multi-talented and passionate artists whose explorative endeavours into music reflect the spirit of the Fiftysix. The range was introduced to add a degree of accessibility to the brand, with prices starting from around £10,000, now this still may sound like a considerable sum of money, but one must consider the brand we are discussing and the prestige that comes with wearing a Vacheron Constantin. This means the brands lower price points are now within the region of a few stainless steel Rolex models which is impressive.
Vacheron Constantin is a watch brand that is extremely exclusive, even in today's dynamic retail environment where online sales are taking over, the Vacheron Constantin collection is still very difficult to find and even harder to see in person. With the watches available in our Flagship Boutique on Princes Street, Edinburgh and online here. Chisholm Hunter is proud to be the only Retail Partner in Scotland, one of only two outside London and one of only six in the UK. In-line with the brands new campaign motto, Chisholm Hunter are One of Not Many'.
This month, our brand in focus is Glashtte Original, a brand with a fascinating history that can be traced back over 150 years. Glashtte Original deserves a mention when discussing not only watchmaking history but also the history of Germany itself as well as the Soviet Union. Watchmaking in the German town of Glashtte started in 1845 when Ferdinand Adolph Lange (of Lange & Sohne) began creating pocket watches with a small loan from the government of Saxony. Such was his talent that within 10 years, talented watchmakers were heading to Glashtte to study and set up their own companies.
The first timepiece with the name Original Glashtte on the dial was made by Karl W. Hohnel in 1916 and after 1921 this became common practice to prove the watch was Original Glashtte quality and not a foreign imitation. This same year, Alfred Helwig created the world's first Flying Tourbillon at the German School of Watchmaking in Glashtte, further strengthening the town's bond with haute-horolgie'.
Fast forward 70 years, Germany and Glashtte had been significantly affected by worldwide events, in 1990, with the reunification of Germany, came a new found freedom and a fresh start for watchmaking in the town. During the Soviet era, all Glashtte watch companies were merged into one, state owned company, in 1990, this company became Glashtter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH, the legal commercial heir to every former independent watchmaker in Glashtte as far back as 1951. In 1994, the brand name changed to the more commercially attractive, Glashtte Original.
In the years that followed, Glashtte Original really came into their own, in 2003, they opened their own Manufactory, where they handcraft every precision component for every watch. They even have their own Dial Manufactory where they hand paint, polish and design their own dials from concept to completion. The brand is a part of the Swatch Group Portfolio and makes up part of the luxury brands, along with Breguet, Blancpain and Jacquet Droz.
From extremely complex pieces like the Senator Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon, with a perpetual calendar, a flying tourbillion and a solid Platinum casing to the everyday, iconic Sixties and Seventies range, Glashtte has a diverse range of watches to suit every collector and appreciator of fine watchmaking. At BaselWorld 2018, Glashtte unveiled a Special Edition Sixties Panarama with a deep green textured dial, a Special Edition that will only be produced during 2018, the detail in the dial showcases Glashtte's almost unique ability to be creative and innovative due to their manufacturing capabilities. Not only this but Glashtte Original have a fantastic range for ladies, strengthened greatly by the BaselWorld 2018 release which saw a gorgeous light blue Mother of Pearl Dial PanomaticLuna with a full Diamond Bezel, the Chisholm Hunter team were blown away by this piece and thought it complemented, an already very strong range, perfectly.
Chisholm Hunter are proud to be the exclusive retail partners of Glashtte Original in Scotland, the collection is available to view and buy online, in our Princes Street, Edinburgh store and in our Luxury Watch Boutique in the Argyll Arcade, Glasgow. This month, Glashtte Original are celebrating the launch of the new Senator Cosmopolite, a perfect time companion for travelling professionals, and for the occasion, Chisholm Hunter are hosting an exclusive Launch Event in our Flagship Boutique in Edinburgh on Princes Street. The event will be held on the 27th September from 18:00 onwards, if you are interested in attending please click here to RSVP.
The phrase Pre-Owned Watches brings to mind luxury and iconic brands along with great value and this is certainly the case for the prestige Pre-Owned watches now available in-store and online at Chisholm Hunter.
All of our Pre-Owned Watches come with a Chisholm Hunter Guarantee, they are all tested, serviced and refurbished at our in-house Swatch and Richemont accredited watch workshop in Glasgow before they are available for sale, this is to make sure that they are all at the highest possible standard before they sit on someone's wrist! Our staff both in-store and online are very knowledgable and in every store and on our website we have a Pre-Owned Watch Specialist to provide the best customer service possible.
With a Pre-Owned watch, customers are generally getting a watch that has been refurbished to a professional standard both internally and externally that is provided with a guarantee in the same way a brand new watch would be but they are priced at a lot less than the RRP. So for all the bargain hunters out there who have always dreamed of having a Rolex, a Patek Phillipe, an IWC or a Cartiner on their wrist, Pre-Owned may be the place to look.
You may have read about the Gender Pay Gap debate which has been widely publicised on various news outlets recently, this week was the deadline for all UK companies with over 250 employees to publish their Gender Pay Gap findings. This is a particularly interesting topic in the UK Jewellery Industry, an industry which is typically dominated by women in the retail sector and men at a managerial level. WatchPro published an article today regarding the findings of the Gender Pay Gap publications and with it, comes some quite interesting statistics.
Often companies will make excuses for the reason their Gender Pay Gap is larger than the UK average or industry average, however there is no such excuse at Chisholm Hunter. We are exceptionally proud to be the UK's most equal paying mutli-store jeweller. With an overall Gender Pay Gap of only 4.3% we are heads and shoulders above our competition in this regard.
We are incredibly proud that Chisholm Hunter does not have any notable gender pay gap. Our business has always been based on a meritocracy and I guess that these newly published figures go some way in reinforcing the fact that Chisholm Hunter rewards are based on merit rather than any sort of entitlement, says Harry Brown, managing director of Chisholm Hunter.
Chisholm Hunter are proud to pave the way for UK Jewellers to an industry that offers equality for both men and women.
