Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Élégance Horlogère
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Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Élégance Horlogère

By quattro · Jan 19, 2026 · 44 replies
quattro
WPS member · Vacheron Constantin forum
44 replies1723 views11 photos
f 𝕏 in 💬 🔗

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.

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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
  • No stolen watch



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

About the Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Élégance Horlogère

The Concours d'Élégance Horlogère represents Vacheron Constantin's contemporary approach to celebrating horological excellence through competitive showcase events. This initiative builds upon the manufacture's 269-year heritage of serving discerning collectors and connoisseurs, establishing a platform where exceptional timepieces are judged not merely on technical merit but on their embodiment of horological elegance. The program draws inspiration from automotive concours events, translating the concept of judged excellence to haute horlogerie.

The competition framework emphasizes Vacheron Constantin's design philosophy that technical sophistication must be matched by aesthetic refinement. Participating timepieces are evaluated across multiple criteria including movement finishing, case construction, dial execution, and overall design coherence. This approach reinforces the brand's position that true horological mastery requires both mechanical expertise and artistic vision, distinguishing it from purely technical or commercially-driven competitors.

Within the contemporary luxury watch market, the Concours d'Élégance Horlogère serves as both educational platform and brand positioning tool. By creating a structured evaluation framework for horological excellence, Vacheron Constantin reinforces its authority in the haute horlogerie segment while engaging collectors in deeper appreciation of watchmaking craft. The program's association with Phillips auction house suggests targeting serious collectors who view timepieces as both mechanical instruments and cultural artifacts worthy of scholarly appreciation.

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The Discussion
JM
jmousey
Jan 19, 2026
Would be nice to see some potential entrants here

@L
@lberti
Jan 19, 2026
I would join, but all my watches are stolen 🤣

QU
quattro
Jan 19, 2026
Aha! I like your humour! 🤩

Best, Emmanuel

QU
quattro
Jan 19, 2026
Yes, it would be very nice!

My CdV is too recent, not eligible. 😁😭 Best, Emmanuel

EN
enjoythemusic
Jan 19, 2026
Hmmm, guess only a small handful of us still love and value CLOCKS.

Pity to see VC excluded clocks outright as a category, but if they no longer make clocks, guess there's no commercial profit PR reason to mention them. Bummer.

QU
quattro
Jan 19, 2026
Yes, I wonder why clocks were excluded.

The idea was probably that only watches are really a matter of wide public interest... Best, Emmanuel

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