Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Elegance Guide

patrick_y · 2026-03-23T20:20:34Z

Explore the Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Elegance, its categories, judging, and impact on watch design. A unique event celebrating VC's heritage.

patrick_y

WPS member · Vacheron Constantin forum

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Patrick_y's detailed post introduces the groundbreaking Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Elegance, an unprecedented event for the world's oldest continuously operating watch manufacturer. His insights into the submission process, categories, and judging criteria offer a crucial roadmap for collectors interested in this historic initiative. This article explores why this event is poised to redefine how the industry values horological heritage and design.

The inaugural Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Elegance is underway! I am personally very excited about what this event will mean for the watch industry - as it will bring a lot of attention to designs of the past. And the winners and response may influence Vacheron Constantin's future designs!

The Vacheron Constantin brand is the longest continuously operating watch brand in the world; operating without stoppage since 1755. It's truly a privilege to witness a first-time occurrence within this brand - something that doesn't even happen every generation!

If you are in New York City on 26-Mar-2026 please consider attending the Vacheron Constantin event! Link: Vacheron constantin: Event Vacheron Constantin X Phillips Concours D Elegance 26 Mar 2026 In New York City

Here's a quick easy step by step process of how the Concours d'Elegance works. It's simple and elegant!

1. Anyone who is of legal adult age with legal ownership of a Vacheron Constantin complete watch that is wholly made by the brand, unmodified, and is year 1999 or older (as old as 1755) are welcome to enter their watch(es). The final date to enter your watch is 30-April-2026. Watches can be entered in multiple ways; through a Vacheron Constantin boutique, or even digitally through the website (via photos). Generally, only wrist watches and pocket watches are welcome.

2. Upon entering the watch for consideration, the watch needs to be entered into one of seven categories! Those categories are; 1, Chiming watches; 2, Chronographs; 3, Astronomical Complications; 4, Multiple Complications; 5, Chronometre Royal; 6, Métiers d'art; and 7, Design.

3. A total of 35 finalists will be chosen among all entrants. Likely five finalists per category.

4. The 35 finalist watches will need to be made available to Vacheron Constantin, the Maison will arrange for insurance and shipping of the watches to Geneva where they will be displayed publicly and for a jury to evaluate. The expert jury will judge which watches are winners. The jury will evaluate the significance of each watch based on a set of nine pre-defined criteria; authenticity, elegance, rarity, impact to the industry, provenance, technicality, artistic crafts, state of preservation, and emotional dimension.

5. On 10-Nov-2026, Vacheron Constantin will invite the owners of those 35 watches to Geneva and to announce the winners. There will be at least seven winners - one of each category. Likely, a "Best In Show" winner. And possibly more winners under various titles. Of course, all 35 watches are already winners in their own respective rights simply by being finalists.

To get the full list of rules and fine print legal-speak; https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/gb/en/legal/concours-elegance-horlogere-policy.html

Here is the list of jury members; many familiar names!

Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant - Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, Geneva, Switzerland

Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Heritage & Style Director

Yasmine Alshathry, Founder of CLÉ

Felix Baumgartner, Co-founder and CEO of URWERK s.a.

Matteo Bega, Founder of Perpetual Passion

Benjamin Clymer, Founder of Hodinkee

Dr. Helmut Crott, Vintage watch expert and collectible watch consultant

Nicholas Foulkes, Author, historian and journalist

Alexandre Ghotbi, Deputy Chairman, Head of Department for Europe and the Middle East - Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, Geneva, Switzerland

Wei Koh, Journalist, watch afficionado, host and executive producer of Man of the Hour and founder of Revolution

Morgan Maillard, Vacheron Constantin Style & Heritage Expert

Auro Montanari, Collector, author, and publisher of books on vintage watches

Roberta Naas, Author and award-winning journalist

Jia Xian Su, SJX founder

Key Points from the Discussion

The Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Elegance differs from automotive concours events primarily because it focuses on a single brand, unlike multi-brand car shows that often categorize vehicles by era for comparability. This unique approach allows for a deeper dive into Vacheron Constantin's extensive history.
The event shifts the industry's focus from purely technical complications and chronometer ratings back to the artistry and design language of Vacheron Constantin timepieces. This highlights the aesthetic significance of vintage pieces, even those that might not excel in precision contests.
The Concours d'Elegance is a non-commercial endeavor for Vacheron Constantin, driven by interests beyond direct revenue generation, despite significant coordination and logistical costs. This underscores its role in celebrating heritage rather than immediate sales.
The event has already proven its value by helping to bring 'long lost super significant vintage Vacheron Constantin' pieces to light, with one such watch even being discovered through WatchProSite (formerly PuristSPro).
An online submission issue was reported where the system did not provide an acknowledgement of submission after completing the Captcha, suggesting a potential technical glitch in the digital entry process.
The success of Vacheron Constantin's single-brand Concours d'Elegance could influence other watch brands to consider similar events, potentially leading to multi-brand watch concours in the future.

The Discussion

Gregineugene

Mar 24, 2026

Having attended some and followed many automobile Concours' I've been wondering if this event has any similarities. Since I've never participated I don't really know the specifics of the rules. Are the rules for the VC Concours at all similar to those for automobiles? Are other brands watching? Do you think if this event is successful that it could encourage other watch Concours? Maybe multi-brand Concours? Do you think that would be a good thing to encourage in the industry? I'd like to hear yo

patrick_y

Mar 24, 2026

It's not quite the same as automotive concourses, and yet also very similar. The biggest difference is that in automotive concourses, there are different brands, although sometimes some years have a featured brand as a category - and thus all the vehicles in that category are of a singular brand. The automotive concourses also are usually comparing cars within eras; such as one category is "pre-war cars" where these are generally your Packards, Rolls Royce Phantom II, Maybach DS8, etc. So the ve

patrick_y

Mar 24, 2026

Event attendance is not absolutely mandatory. Although - it would be LOVELY to see you. Several WatchProSite readers have already added the event to their schedule.

Gregineugene

Mar 24, 2026

I'm glad you're there for the inaugural event! I'm sure you'll have a terrific time. I know I would.

Pelle_thorstenson

Mar 24, 2026

I will not make it to NYC this time however my plan is to attend the event in November. Cheers Pelle

Bill

Mar 24, 2026

What strikes me most about the Concours format is how it shifts the conversation from complications and chronometer ratings back to artistry and design language. Some of the greatest Vacheron pieces from the 1920s through 1950s would never win a precision contest but they remain breathtaking examples of the watchmaker's art. Enjoy the event Patrick. This is history in the making. Bill

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