Q&a / Vacheron Constantin’s Sandrine Donguy on blending heritage with innovation in luxury watch design, as the maison celebrates its 270th anniversary

Jun 16, 2025

Vacheron Constantin Overseas perpetual calendar ultra-thin skeleton. Photo: Handout

Donguy says her role is about ‘gathering past and present, and preparing for the future’ on behalf of the storied brand, which counts Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Bad Bunny among its celebrity fans

Sandrine Donguy, product and innovation director at Vacheron Constantin, describes her job at the storied watchmaker as “gathering past and present, and preparing for the future”.

This dialogue between tradition and innovation is a constant at Vacheron Constantin, which this year celebrates its 270th anniversary.

Known for its technical prowess, rare complications and unique movements, Vacheron Constantin boasts a loyal following among connoisseurs. That doesn’t mean, however, that its fans are just hardcore collectors and experts. With signature lines such as Overseas and Historiques 222, the maison appeals to a wide range of watch lovers, including talented and accomplished A-listers such as Brad Pitt and Bad Bunny.

Sandrine Donguy has been at Vacheron Constantin for almost eight years. Photo: Handout

At this year’s Watches and Wonders fair in Geneva, the house broke ground with the world’s most complicated wristwatch. The double-sided Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grande Complication La Première has a whopping 1,521 components, 41 complications and 13 patent applications.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria 9600-C000G-231C ultra-grand complication wristwatch. Photo: Handout

From marketing to product design, savoir faire and storytelling, Donguy’s role encompasses every single aspect of the creation of a Vacheron Constantin timepiece.

On a recent trip to Hong Kong for the opening of an exhibition titled “The Quest: 270 Years of Seeking Excellence”, Donguy sat down for a chat to talk about watches and more.

Vacheron Constantin Heritage private collection wristwatch from 1946, featuring an 18k pink gold case, a complete calendar with moon-phase complication, and powered by the calibre 12” 1/2 495 movement. Photo: Handout

How would you describe your role at Vacheron Constantin?

I would say my role is to [support] the vision of the maison in terms of who we are, our heritage – because if you want to express yourself, you should know yourself best. It’s about having ongoing conversations about the archives and when it makes sense to continue to push boundaries. And on the opposite side, innovation – but always in the [realm] of who we are in terms of mechanism, astronomy, function, striking watches, tourbillon, chronograph and also craftsmanship. We can twist all these elements to give a certain life, but my role is to start from who we are, and to push and think from another angle.