Vacheron Constantin & the Palace Museum Forge New Cultural Educational Alliance
The Educational Institute of the Palace Museum – charged with a cultural and educational mission on behalf of the general public – is Vacheron Constantin's new partner. This alliance sets a new seal on the links forged with the world's most important museums, underlining Vacheron Constantin's longstanding attachment to the world of art and culture. Through these partnerships based on shared values of heritage conservation, training and education, Vacheron Constantin remains true to the commitment it has made from the outset to preserve and pass on creative skills. This perspective takes on its full meaning on Chinese soil, where Vacheron Constantin has been present since 1845.
Vacheron Constantin, patron of the arts and culture
The partnership with the Educational Institute of the Palace Museum – located in the heart of Beijing's Forbidden City – marks a new milestone in Vacheron Constantin's unfailing commitment to art and culture. From its very beginnings, the Maison has been strongly inspired by the cultural and artistic universes observed in Europe, the United States, the Far East and the Middle East, as well as paying tribute to its Greco-Roman roots. Throughout its almost 270-year history, this has resulted in timepieces graced with highly sophisticated creative ornamentation, enhanced by remarkable watchmaking expertise combined with the decorative expertise of artistic crafts. It is within this context of exchanges and promotion of various art forms from around the world that Vacheron Constantin has entered into its various partnerships.
A cultural and educational vocation
Collaborations with various museums began in 2007 with the Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva, which gave rise to the now-famous Métiers d'Art “Les Masques” series, a tribute to primitive art. In 2019, Vacheron Constantin announced its partnership with the Louvre, followed in 2023 by an alliance with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Now active in this respect across three continents through its educational partnership with the Educational Institute of Palace Museum, Vacheron Constantin is pursuing its quest and mission as a guardian of art and culture. Created in 2014, this department is an exemplary base of education within the Palace Museum and shoulders the responsibility to disseminate traditional Chinese culture to the general public through social education.
Relying on the abundant collections and expert resources of the Palace Museum, the Educational Institute of Palace Museum and Vacheron Constantin will closely collaborate to unfold various educational programs, pulling synergy in the shared vision of paying tribute to the protection of cultural heritage, fostering the exchanges between civilizations, and further promoting the passing on of skills, expertise and craftsmanship. The value of education and transmission of knowledge dates back to the origins of the Maison, when Jean-Marc Vacheron immediately hired his first apprentice upon setting up his own workshop in 1755 at the age of 24. The two institutions are already working together on joint projects, including creative collaborations, specific programs including master classes and watchmaking classrooms, research and exchange programs, as well as special joint development of offline exhibitions and events.
YAN Hongbin, Chairman of the Educational Institute of Palace Museum addressed in his speech, during the signature ceremony: “Introduced to China in the 16th century, Western timepieces constitute an essential part of the Palace Museum collection, as in the 18th century, the Qing Dynasty Royal Palace started to use mechanic timepieces. As the living epitomes of culture, history and aesthetics, these horological masterpieces are noteworthy to be promoted to the public with specialized educational program. To achieve that purpose, designing an educational system to transmit the expertise of watchmaking and restoration is a significant move. With both parties’ joint forces and synergy, we believe we will create groundbreaking courses to rejuvenate the patrimony of craftsmanship.”
Alexandra Vogler, Chief Marketing Officer at Vacheron Constantin remarked, “Throughout its history, Vacheron Constantin has demonstrated a deep commitment to the promotion of watchmaking techniques. The transmission of knowledge from master to apprentice has been at the core of the Maison. The partnership between Vacheron Constantin and the Educational Institute of the Palace Museum is a celebration of the significant legacy of China's cultural heritage.”
A centuries-old presence
This partnership is an extension of a long-running history between Vacheron Constantin and China. Vacheron Constantin's archives attest to relations dating back to 1845.
Since then, the Maison has always remained very close to China, drawing inspiration from the country's traditions and crafts as well as its legends and calendar to create exceptional timepieces. Examples include the limited-edition Traditionnelle Tourbillon Phoenix and Dragon, the Métiers d'Art watch series devoted to the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, not to mention the "Chinese" timepieces in the Métiers d'Art “Les Masques” and Métiers d’Art Villes Lumières collections, as well as those made for Les Cabinotiers Memorable Places. In 2024, Vacheron Constantin presents the Les Cabinotiers - The Berkley Grand Complication watch featuring a Chinese perpetual calendar, a world first programmed up to the year 2200.
About the Educational Institute of the Palace Museum
Certified by the Ministry of Education of China and the Education Bureau of Dongcheng District of Beijing, the Educational Institute of the Palace Museum is an exemplary education institution established by the Palace Museum to bring traditional Chinese culture closer to the public. The Institute was designed to be a public welfare school to fit the era and people’s need, promoting the Chinese traditional cultures, activating the collections and experts of the Palace Museum, and providing diversified art and culture education of quality.