Jean-Marc Vacheron (1731–1805) was a Swiss horologist and a founder of the

Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin SA () is a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer founded in 1755. Since 1996, it has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group. Vacheron Constantin is the second oldest Swiss manufacturer and one of the oldest watch ...

watch company. He was a close friend of leading

Enlightenment Enlightenment or enlighten may refer to: Age of Enlightenment * Age of Enlightenment, period in Western intellectual history from the late 17th to late 18th century, centered in France but also encompassing (alphabetically by country or culture): ...

philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire due to their common interests in philosophy, science and watchmaking.

Early life

Jean-Marc Vacheron was born in 1731 in Geneva, Switzerland. His father was Jean-Jacques Vacheron.

Career

Vacheron opened his watch shop in 1755. His timepieces naturally bore the name ''"Jean-Marc Vacheron"''. At that time he was 24 years old and was one of many ''cabinotiers''-watchmakers who specialized in the production of certain components, selling them to so-called ''etablisseurs''. The watchmakers were called ''cabinotiers'' in honor of the well-lit ''cabinets'' on the top floors of the houses in Geneva's Saint-Gervais neighborhood, where they worked.

Personal life

Vacheron had five children. His sons Louis Andre (born in 1755) and Abraham (born in 1760) followed in his footsteps.

Death

He died in 1805.

References

Sources

* WatchTime Magazine - Edition Vacheron Constantin special (October 2009) {{DEFAULTSORT:Vacheron, Jean-Marc 1731 births 1805 deaths 18th-century businesspeople from the Republic of Geneva Swiss watchmakers (people)