Concours d'Élégance Horlogère
Vacheron Constantin, at the initiative of Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, is proud to announce the first "Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Élégance Horlogère", a major event that pays tribute to the international community of collectors and enthusiasts, guardians and transmitters of a 270-year quest for excellence and creativity.
An inaugural edition in the industry
Aimed at enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, the competition is open to owners of Vacheron Constantin pocket watches and wristwatches produced between 1755 and 1999.
An international jury of experts, co-chaired by Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant at Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, and Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Heritage at Vacheron Constantin, will award seven prizes, without financial endowment, on November 10th, 2026, after the Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo autumn auctions.
Registration is open from January 19th to April 30th, 2026 in Vacheron Constantin boutiques or online.
A tribute to heritage and the quest for horological excellence
The competition will highlight historical and contemporary pieces, celebrating the art of haute horlogerie in all its forms and emphasizing the importance of transmitting and preserving heritage. It is open to owners of Vacheron Constantin pocket watches and wristwatches produced between 1755 and 1999.
Seven Prizes for this first edition
Each watch is only allowed to compete in one of the seven categories of this edition, at the owner's choice.
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.
Pocket watches and wristwatches equipped exclusively with a minute repeater, quarter repeater, half-quarter repeater or grande sonnerie.
Pocket watches and wristwatches equipped with a two- or three-counter chronograph, a single pusher, or a split-seconds mechanism.
Pocket watches and wristwatches equipped with a triple calendar, a complete calendar or a perpetual calendar.
Pocket watches and wristwatches combining at least two complications - tourbillon, repeater (quarters or minutes), striking mechanism, chronograph, split-seconds, complete or perpetual calendar, sky chart.
Pocket watches and wristwatches bearing the official designation "Chronomètre Royal" issued from 1907.
Pocket watches and wristwatches featuring engraving, enameling, gem - setting, guilloché or any other decorative craft, with the exception of skeleton pieces.
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.
A heritage recognition under the expert eye of an international jury
Co-chaired by Aurel Bacs and Christian Selmoni, the jury will bring together watchmaking experts, collectors and key players in the watch industry to ensure a cross-disciplinary approach combining technical mastery, heritage value and market understanding.
Share your exceptional timepiece with the collector community
Registration is open from January 19th to April 30th, 2026 in Vacheron Constantin boutiques or online.
