Discover some of Vacheron Constantin’s finest vintage pieces in a special exhibition in the capital this summer
As one of the world’s oldest watch manufactures, with more than 265 years of continuous production, Vacheron Constantin places a strong emphasis on its heritage and the timepieces that have shaped the company throughout the centuries. With its ‘Les Collectionneurs’ initiative, it is opening up its incredible wealth of historic creations to be newly discovered by aficionados. Its Heritage team works to source notable pieces that can come from anywhere from auction houses to private collections, which are then carefully assessed and, if necessary, restored before being available for sale.
‘Les Collectionneurs represents another facet of Vacheron Constantin,’ explains Christian Selmoni, style and heritage director. ‘The collection perpetuates this precious link between past and present, enabling our clientele of connoisseurs and collectors to acquire restored vintage pieces directly through the Maison, which is a real guarantee.’
18ct yellow-gold open-face worldtime pocket watch, 1949
These are showcased in a series of dedicated events and exhibitions around the world, including one currently taking place between the Vacheron Constantin Bond Street and Harrods boutiques until 8 August 2021. It is a unique opportunity to view and purchase some of the finest vintage Vacheron with confidence, with the reassurance that each piece has been authenticated and appraised directly by the maison, which have been listing cases and movements by serial number for a century and a half. Each comes with a two-year guarantee, along with a digital certificate of authenticity secured using Blockchain technology.
Among the highlights is a reference 4261 yellow-gold wristwatch from 1951. A testament to Vacheron Constantin’s refined style of the era, as well as its accomplished watchmaking, the handsome piece is impressively thin despite being equipped with a technically advanced minute repeater mechanism. More ornate is a stunning open-face worldtime pocket watch from 1949, showcasing the name of 41 cities and places on its dial, thus allowing for easy reading of the time wherever in the world one finds themselves.
