Vacheron Constantin, the renowned Swiss watchmaker, is set to revolutionize the world of horology with its upcoming global watch competition. This month, the brand is hosting a prestigious event, the Vacheron Constantin Concours d’Élégance Horlogère, in collaboration with Phillips and Bacs & Russo. The competition invites collectors and enthusiasts to showcase their prized Vacheron Constantin timepieces, spanning from 1755 to 1999. But here's where it gets intriguing: the competition isn't just about aesthetics; it's a celebration of the brand's rich history and craftsmanship.
The Concours d’Élégance Horlogère will feature seven distinct categories, each highlighting different aspects of Vacheron Constantin's exceptional watchmaking. The first category, 'Chimes,' celebrates timepieces with intricate chime mechanisms, including minute, quarter, half-quarter, and grande sonnerie. The 'Chronographs' category showcases watches with chronograph functions, featuring two or three counters, a single pusher, or split-seconds mechanisms. 'Astronomical Complications' is reserved for watches with triple, complete, or perpetual calendars, while 'Multiple Complications' recognizes watches with at least two complications. 'Chronomètre Royal' highlights watches bearing the official designation, 'Métiers d’Art' celebrates the brand's artistic craftsmanship (excluding skeleton pieces), and 'Design' acknowledges timepieces that embody Vacheron Constantin's signature style, such as retrograde displays.
But what makes this competition truly unique is its evaluation criteria. The watches will be judged based on nine essential factors: authenticity, elegance, rarity, impact on Vacheron Constantin's history or watchmaking, provenance, technicality, métiers d’art, state of preservation, and emotional dimension. Each watch can only be considered for one category, ensuring a fair and comprehensive assessment.
The jury for this prestigious event includes a diverse group of experts, designers, and historians from around the globe. Among them are renowned watch historian Nicholas Foulkes, Urwerk co-founder and CEO Felix Baumgartner, and vintage watch expert Auro Montanari. Overseeing the jury are watch specialist and co-founder of Bacs & Russo, Aurel Bacs, and Vacheron Constantin's heritage and style director, Christian Selmoni.
Bacs expressed his enthusiasm, stating, 'As a lifelong enthusiast of the Concours d’Élégance concept, it has long been my dream to bring this concept to fine watchmaking. I am delighted that Vacheron Constantin has accepted our invitation to support the world’s very first Concours d’Élégance dedicated to timepieces and I look forward to the inspiring discoveries and scholarly conversations that will emerge from the timepieces entered in this competition.'
Collectors can sign up for the competition starting January 19, with submissions open until April 30. The winners will be announced on November 10, following Phillips and Bacs & Russo's fall auctions, and will receive their trophies, along with the ultimate bragging rights. This competition promises to be a celebration of Vacheron Constantin's heritage and a testament to the brand's commitment to excellence in watchmaking.
