Vacheron Constantin has recently once again winned the 2009 Watch of the Year Prize, for its Historiques American 1921. It is just two years ago that this prominent watch manufacturer was awarded with the same honour, for its innovative Patrimony Contemporary Retrograde Date and Day model.

The Watch of the Year Prize, presented by the French-speaking Swiss press group Ringier and its “Montres Passion” watch magazine, is held at the end of each year. It has becomes a must-see event that a jury of watch industry professionals at an annual ceremony decides and awards this distinction.

From Left to Right: Mr. Selmoni, Mr. Pradervand and Vacheron CEO Torres

At the 2009 Watch of the Year Prize ceremony in Geneva Intercontinental Hotel, Vacheron Constantin CEO Juan-Carlos Torres, presented his acceptance speech:” On behalf of Vacheron Constantin, I am infinitely honoured to once again receive the Watch of the Year Prize, awarded this year for our Historiques American 1921 model. The jury’s decision rewards and honours the excellence of the watchmaking tradition cultivated by Vacheron Constantin. It is also acknowledges the technical performance and aesthetic elegance of our company, values that have been consistently handed down from one generation to the next for over 250 years. I thank the jury for its choice and I wish to share this prize with my entire personnel.

As far as the award-wining model is concerned, the ‘Historiques American 1921′ has enjoyed instant and substantial success among our customers.

Born of a determination to highlight the wealth of our heritage, its design is inspired by an avant-garde cushion-shaped wristwatch featuring a crown at 1 o’clock, created for the crown in response to the wishes of an American client in during the Roaring Twenties. It blends creativity embodied in the daring style of the 1920s, with rigorous technical sophistication expressed through the new mechanical manual-winding Manufacture 4400 movement bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva to which we are firmly committed.”

As for the prize-winning watch, the Historiques American 1921 feautures in a cushion-shaped case in 18-carat pink gold, topped by a slightly convex sapphire crystal. The sandblasted dial, distinguished by 12 painted black Arabic numerals surrounded with an equally black-painted railway track minute circle, is graced by the black oxidised 18-carat gold hands. We get a easy access to a deep appreciation for the elaborate technics of the mechanical manual-winding Calibre 4400, through the transparent back. The Calibre 4400, with a power reserve of 65 hours, serves for movement in the Historiques American 1921, which is developed and crafted in-house by Vacheron Constantin and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. Other features include water resistance to 30 meters and a dark brown alligator leather strap fitted with an 18-carat pink gold pin buckle shaped like a half Maltese Cross.

As a perfect blend of timeless aesthetic and practicability, the Historiques American 1921 symbolishes the spirit and expertise of Vacheron Constantin and represents well a striking combination of inventive design and rigorous respect for history.