Vacheron Constantin’s First Concours d’Élégance Spotlights 34 Historic Watches

Organized as an initiative by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, Vacheron Constantin has officially announced the finalists for its inaugural Concours d’Elégance Horlogère. Billed as the first-ever “Concours d’Élégance” dedicated exclusively to haute horlogerie, this landmark event pays tribute to the international community of watch collectors and the Swiss manufacturer’s 271-year heritage.

The competition invites enthusiasts from around the globe to showcase their historically significant Vacheron Constantin timepieces, celebrating the pure, timeless beauty and enduring legacy of watches that have been cherished and passed down through generations. More than 550 owner-submitted timepieces were entered following the competition’s announcement earlier this year, spanning pocket watches and wristwatches made by Vacheron Constantin between 1755 and 1999. After authentication and evaluation by the Maison’s master watchmakers and Heritage experts, 95 pieces advanced to jury review before being narrowed to 34 finalists.

The competition is divided across seven categories – Chronographs, Métiers d’Art, Chronomètre Royal, Astronomical Complications, Multiple Complications, Design and Chiming Mechanisms – creating a cross-section of more than two centuries of Vacheron Constantin watchmaking. Among the finalists are exceptionally rare and, in some cases, unique pieces: a steel Reference 4072 chronograph from 1940; a 1957 rectangular platinum full-calendar and moon-phase watch produced as a single piece; a one-off 1940 “Don Pancho” minute repeater with retrograde full date; and ornate cloisonné enamel watches depicting maps of the Americas and Europe. The selection also stretches into later neo-vintage territory, including skeletonized perpetual calendars, world timers and highly unusual references whose historical importance has, in some cases, only become clearer through the competition itself.

Judging is being overseen by a panel of international watchmakers, historians, collectors, journalists and industry figures, co-chaired by Aurel Bacs and Christian Selmoni, with members including Felix Baumgartner, Benjamin Clymer, Nicholas Foulkes and Alexandre Ghotbi. Instead of evaluating pieces purely on market value or complexity, the jury considers each watch in broader terms, weighing originality, aesthetics, technical significance, rarity and historical context.

The 34 finalists will be exhibited publicly at the Hôtel Président Wilson in Geneva from November 4 – 8, 2026, during Phillips’ Geneva auction week, before the seven category winners are announced on November 10. An additional Best in Show – Jury’s Special Prize may also be awarded, giving the first Concours a broader role as both competition and public celebration of Vacheron Constantin’s archival legacy.