Quattro's original post meticulously details Vacheron Constantin's inaugural Concours d'Élégance Horlogère, a global competition inviting collectors to showcase their vintage Vacheron Constantin pocket and wristwatches. This initiative, in partnership with Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, offers a unique platform for enthusiasts to celebrate the brand's rich heritage. Quattro's comprehensive breakdown of categories and criteria serves as an essential guide for understanding this significant horological event.
At the invitation of
Phillips in Association with
Bacs &
Russo,
Vacheron Constantin is launching a
Concours d'Élégance Horlogère for
enthusiasts and
collectors worldwide who
own Vacheron Constantin
pocket watches or
wristwatches.
To be eligible, your timepiece must address the following criteria:
- Only authentic Vacheron Constantin timepieces, manufactured between 1755 to 1999 (no clock, no quartz)
- No major modification allowed (aftermarket diamonds, bracelet modification…)
- The movement doesn’t need to be functional, but in a correct condition
- The timepiece doesn’t need to be complete, but with at least the majority of its components
Each watch will only be allowed to compete in one of the seven categories of this edition, at the owner's choice:
1/ Chiming mechanism : pocket watches and wristwatches equipped exclusively with a minute repeater, quarter repeater, half-quarter repeater or grande sonnerie.
2/ Chronographs : pocket watches and wristwatches equipped with a two- or three-counter chronograph, a single pusher, or a split-seconds mechanism.
3/ Astronomical complications : pocket watches and wristwatches equipped with a triple calendar, a complete calendar or a perpetual calendar.
4/ Multiple complications : pocket watches and wristwatches combining at least two complications - tourbillon, repeater (quarters or minutes), chiming mechanism, chronograph, split-seconds, complete or perpetual calendar, sky chart.
5/ Chronomètre Royal : pocket watches and wristwatches bearing the official designation "Chronomètre Royal" issued from 1907.
6/ Métiers d'art : pocket watches and wristwatches featuring engraving, enameling, gem-setting, guilloché or any other decorative craft, with the exception of skeleton pieces.
7/ Design : pocket watches and wristwatches featuring Vacheron Constantin's signature design, either in the case or through the time display – retrograde display, jumping hour, world time, etc.
Eligible pieces will be
evaluated according to
nine criteria:
- authenticity,
- elegance,
- rarity,
- impact on the history of Vacheron Constantin and/or on watchmaking in general,
- provenance,
- technicality,
- métiers d'art (artistic crafts),
- state of preservation and emotional dimension.
Co-chaired by Aurel Bacs and Christian Selmoni, the jury will be composed of the following members:
Registration will be open from January 19th to April 30th, 2026, on vacheron-constantin.com and in the Maison's boutiques.
The awards in the form of trophies, without financial compensation, will be granted in Geneva on November 10th, 2026, after the Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo autumn auctions.
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
All images come from the official Vacheron Constantin Press Release Kit
