Phillips to Showcase 34 Finalists in Vacheron Constantin’s First Watchmaking Concours of Elegance
Vacheron Constantin and Phillips will present 34 finalists in the inaugural Concours d’Élégance Horlogère at the Hôtel Président Wilson in Geneva from November 4 to 8, ahead of the November 10 awards. Selected from 95 shortlisted entries, the watches span seven categories and were made between 1755 and 1999. A 14-member jury will choose the winners after reviewing 550 entries from collectors worldwide. Highlighted finalists include the one-of-a-kind 1940 “Don Pancho” minute repeater with retrograde date, a 1930 sapphire-set pocket watch made for King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, and a distinctive 1979 gold Ref. 44018. Other notable pieces include a rare 1962 platinum minute repeater, one of only three Ref. 6448 examples, and a 1957 Chronomètre Royal Ref. 6167 with a Türler-signed dial, Gay Frères band, and Caliber 1008 movement. The competition celebrates the watches’ craftsmanship, design, provenance, and the collectors who preserve them.
Buying Time Analysis: This story is important because Phillips will publicly display 34 rare Vacheron Constantin finalists, offering collectors a rare opportunity to see historic watches that are usually encountered only at auction.
