Story Behind the Vacheron Constantin Cross

by | Mar 29, 2013

Vacheron Constantin Maltese Cross

Image from monochrome.nl.

Ever since it’s founding in 1755, Vacheron Constantin has never failed to create beautiful and innovative luxury watches. Vacheron Constantin can boast that their employee, inventor Geroges-auguste Leschot, was the first to convert watch movements into calibers and to create the pantographic device. Vacheron Constantin also created the first ever nonmagnetic timepiece in 1862. In 1877, the company changed its name to “Vacheron & Constantin, Fabricants, Geneve” and adopted the Maltese cross as the company’s official logo.

One question that often comes up in watch discussions regarding Vacheron Constantin is the origin of the Vacheron Constantin logo. The Maltese Cross, also known as the Amalfi Cross, was created by the crusaders known as the Knights of Malta. The design of this cross is based on the crosses that have been used since the First Crusade. The first evidence of the Maltese Cross comes from copper coins for the Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Vallette, who was the Grand Master of Malta from 1557-1568. Vacheron Constantin chose this symbol because it represents the shape of the component that fixed to the barrel of its movement, which reduces the amount of wheels necessary for winding.

Maltese Cross

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