Vacheron Constantin, patron of Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire on the occasion of the “Watchmaking in Geneva. The Magic of Craftsmanship, Treasures of Gold and Enamel” exhibition, nurtures a deep-felt attachment to the horological expertise that has long since become an integral part of the identity of the city where it was born in 1755. The exhibition organised by Estelle Fallet, curator of the watchmaking, enamelling, jewellery and miniatures collections encompassing around 18,500 objects, highlights the know-how Geneva has cultivated in the field of Horology and the various related Métiers d’Art (artistic crafts) that Vacheron Constantin has been faithfully perpetuating for over 250 years. This expertise has given rise to models that are remarkable in both technical and aesthetic terms. Technique, aesthetics and finishing are indeed the cherished trilogy of Genevan watchmaking which, above and beyond its long-established history, represents a genuine culture in its own right. A culture that tells the story of creativity as well as of people, of crafts and of objects destined to find their way through the ages, serving as witnesses and actors on the great stage of History. Passing on skills and sharing are values that daily enrich our Manufacture. In supporting the City of Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, we are not only celebrating the cultural heritage bequeathed on us by watchmaking, but also art and craftsmanship as a whole, in a spirit of tradition and innovation. This partnership is also a means of contributing to the dynamism of the city where Vacheron Constantin was founded. Geneva quickly showed its willingness to open its borders in order to become a thriving commercial, cultural and artistic crossroads. From the 18th century onwards, the City of Calvin became the cradle of technical and precious Haute Horlogerie, where a number of gifted artisans developed their art in creating exceptional pieces of watchmaking, goldsmithing and jewellery. As part of this patronage, Vacheron Constantin will be presenting an exhibition at the Geneva Musée d’Art et d’Histoire from December 15th 2011 to January 22nd 2012, stemming from its Heritage collection and entitled “Watches with special displays… various ways of telling the time”. The dial with its hands serving as indicating organs is often described as the “face” of the watch. The latter, just as with human beings, thus becomes the expression of a personality, the place where art, creativity, science, technique and know-how converge. The timepieces on show will illustrate this quest for expressing the reading of time, a quest motivated by technical or purely aesthetic criteria.