Park provides a detailed account of the Vacheron Constantin Snow Golf Cup in Aspen, Colorado, offering readers a glimpse into a unique brand experience. Beyond the sporting event, his report culminates in a highly anticipated first North American preview of the 2016 Overseas Collection, providing critical hands-on impressions of the new Overseas Chronograph.
ACTIVE FRIDAY
On Friday morning, guests and staff were transported to the Snowmass Club for the opening round of the first North American Vacheron Constantin Snow Golf Cup. Our hosts had already made provisions for clubs, balls, tees, golf bag, extra gloves, VC-logo hats, VC-logo towels, VC-logo lip balm, and other incidentals for the unprepared. There was a briefing as to the rules of play and assignment of partners.
Those who judged the weather well wore their VC windbreakers rather than a heavy ski jacket:
I had the pleasure of joining Vincent Brun and Eddie, a collector from Portland. Once play began, I took no photos, as there were professional photographers everywhere, including one operating a camera-equipped recreational drone. Moreover, I was focused on hitting and finding the orange golf balls, and even then lost two in the first nine holes. Even though we were allowed to improve the lie of the ball, I found that almost every fairway shot moved a mass of Snowmass snow, along with the ball, which went a fraction of the expected distance. This and the 10-stroke limit per hole helped explain why skill was not prerequisite to having a good time. It was as though the whole course were a giant, wet sand trap.
The golf carts looked inviting, but they kept getting stuck in the snow, despite the chains, leaving boots as the practical means of transit. As a sea-level dweller unaccustomed to an altitude of 9,000 feet, walking the course (which my tracker recorded as 3.5 miles and 18 flights of stairs)-- with occasional descents into knee-deep snow--became something of an endurance test, and Vincent and Eddie could not have been more tolerant and supportive of a companion who hadn't played in 35 years. By the time we returned to the clubhouse, I was looking forward to sitting down.
We were welcomed to a lovely fondue, which seemed lunch enough but was just the starter before a full lunch was served. In the afternoon, Annie chose snowshoeing over skiing, cross-country skiing, or a spa treatment.
That evening, the entire group assembled to walk to the St. Regis Hotel. The cocktail reception in the foyer of the Chef's Club included the highlight of the trip for me: the first North American preview of the 2016 Overseas Collection. I had already read all I could about the new Overseas Chronograph and was reserving a purchase decision until I could test the size on my wrist and examine the case architecture. Doing so that night, I can attest that it is everything one might hope for in a sports chronograph: beautifully finished in-house, column wheel, vertical clutch, integrated chronograph movement 5200; clean, legible sunburst dial, with well-placed lume; sapphire crystal case back; 12-hour chronograph and date complications; architectural case with distinctive Overseas heritage; and comfortable bracelet featuring tool-free interchangeability with the supplied rubber and crocodile straps using an interchangeable clasp. The column wheel screw is even in the shape of the Maltese cross. The ease of removing the secure bracelet was remarkable; on the second try, I was able to release and attach it with a gentle push on the release lever, which could never occur accidentally while the watch is worn. I learned that the release mechanism had been tested to the equivalent of three strap changes a day for six years without evidence of loosening, wear, or failure.
Because Audemars Piguet continues to use the F. Piguet 1185 movement in the Royal Oak Chronograph and an outsourced chronograph module in the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, and because Patek Philippe has discontinued the 5980 in steel and reduced the functionality of the 5990 by omitting the chronograph hour hand, I consider the 2016 Overseas Chronograph the new King of Sports Chronographs.
I'll be placing my order for the blue-dialed version at the Costa Mesa Boutique, which expects delivery as early as May. When I mentioned to Vincent that the new 5200 movement begs for a precious metal case, too, he replied noncommittally and indisputably that each of the new movements has future possibilities.
The ladies Overseas caught Annie's eye, so it seemed we could be looking at a his-and-hers pairing:
Even more impressive than either of these, however, is the new ultra-thin Overseas Perpetual in white gold. It is a stunning watch with elegant proportions. If an in-house perpetual is in your dreams, you owe it to yourself to try this masterpiece on your wrist.
As if these and the other delicacies on display were not enough, we were then treated to another spectacular dinner at the Chef's Club, which invites leading chefs for month-long rotations. The printed menu even had photos of the new Overseas collection, but I was too distracted by the watches to take a picture of anything but desert:
Fondue, fine watches, fine food, fine chocolate, and fine hosts: a Swiss experience in the Rockies.
Part 3 will bring even more, soon.
Park
Erratum: Yann Bouillonnec's correct title is International Brand Director.
This message has been edited by Park on 2016-03-17 22:29:20 
