Vacheron Constantin (VC), and the NAIOSW have formed a two-year partnership to promote and support high watchmaking in North America.
VC is the first Swiss watchmaking brand to partner with the North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking, based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. The partnership is an extension of the brand’s worldwide support of the Institute of Swiss Watchmaking, of which the North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking is a branch.
Students in the classes of 2013 and 2014 that the Swiss luxury watch brand is sponsoring celebrated their first day of school on September 13 with a reception hosted by Denis Jaquenoud, president of North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking, and Hugues de Pins, president, VC North America.
The North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking opened its doors in 2009 with a mission to preserve the art of fine watchmaking and meet an increasing demand for qualified watchmakers and craftspeople. The program accepts only six students per year to guarantee ample one-on-one training.
VC will mentor and educate students about the watchmaker’s career from a brand perspective. The brand will supply educational tools on high watchmaking topics, such as the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, founded in 1887. Students who graduate at the top of their class will be invited to VC in Geneva for a three-week “Discovery Internship.”
“This partnership is faithful to our values of perpetuating the tradition of high watchmaking and transmitting the know-how of our watchmakers,” de Pins said.
Two certificates are offered at the North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking: the Watch Encasing Technician Certificate which requires 640 hours of training over four months, and the Watchmaker Certificate which requires 3,000 hours over two years. The two-year Watchmaker program provides advance education and training. Both programs meet the exacting requirements of the "Swiss Made" standard and feature a student-centered learning environment based on theory and experience. The Institute’s trainers have a more than 50 years of watchmaking and teaching experience combined.
The North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking is part of The Institute of Swiss Watchmaking, founded in 2008 in partnership with Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program, an independent institution based in Switzerland. WOSTEP partners with watchmaking schools throughout the world to ensure high training standards and quality education in accordance with the demanding criteria of the Swiss fine watchmaking industry.
