Vacheron Constantin Launches First-Ever Concours d’Élégance Horlogère: A Call to Collectors of Timeless Craft

A Celebration of Watchmaking Heritage for the 1%

In a landmark move that merges tradition, prestige, and horological excellence, Vacheron Constantin has unveiled the inaugural Concours d’Élégance Horlogère — a global competition honoring the most exceptional timepieces created between 1755 and 1999.

Designed for passionate collectors and connoisseurs of the maison, the initiative is a powerful reminder of the role that fine watchmaking and luxury jewelry continue to play in preserving legacy and cultivating personal heritage among the world’s wealthiest.

Hosted in collaboration with Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, the competition opens registration in January 2026 and culminates in an awards ceremony in Geneva on November 10, 2026, immediately following the Phillips autumn auctions. This prestigious event, which includes seven distinct prize categories, is more than a celebration of horological mastery — it is a tribute to enduring value, generational taste, and the art of collecting in its purest form.

A Market Where Heritage Is a Form of Wealth

The timing of this initiative aligns with a global surge in interest for rare timepieces and luxury jewelry as tangible assets. The luxury jewelry market alone is projected to reach $68.3 billion by 2028, with UHNWIs playing an outsized role in its growth. According to Bain & Company, over 392,000 Ultra High Net Worth Individuals globally now hold $42.4 trillion in assets — and many are increasingly turning to vintage and bespoke collectibles that transcend trends and anchor family legacies.

For this elite class, collecting is no longer just an aesthetic indulgence; it is a declaration of identity and a smart diversification strategy. Fine watches, particularly those with historical provenance like Vacheron Constantin’s, are increasingly viewed as a hybrid of emotional and financial capital — wearable expressions of intellect, taste, and legacy.

Curated for Discerning Collectors

The Concours d’Élégance Horlogère is open exclusively to owners of Vacheron Constantin timepieces produced before the new millennium. Eligible entrants may submit either pocket watches or wristwatches, with each timepiece entered into one of seven categories ranging from chronographs and astronomical complications to métiers d’art.

Judging criteria include: authenticity, rarity, elegance, provenance, preservation state, emotional value, and impact on the broader horological landscape. The competition’s panel is co-chaired by Aurel Bacs, revered for his deep expertise in the watch auction world, and Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Heritage at Vacheron Constantin.

This is a competition not for accolades alone, but for affirmation — a stage upon which the 1% can reaffirm their relationship with artistry, innovation, and personal narrative through the objects they cherish.

Haute Horlogerie as a Legacy Investment

This initiative arrives at a time when private sales of collectible timepieces and jewelry are outpacing public auctions in terms of value. According to recent insights from Christie’s and Sotheby’s, private transactions among UHNW clients have increased more than 14% year over year, often driven by emotional attachment to brands that embody heritage, like Vacheron Constantin.

While modern investments may ebb with volatility, a well-preserved, limited-production Vacheron Constantin watch from the 18th or 19th century offers something intangible: the assurance that some forms of value — artistic, technical, and personal — are timeless.

A Rare Invitation for the One Percent

For those who wear their wealth not as a statement but as a story, the Concours d’Élégance Horlogère is more than a competition. It is an invitation to step into the canon of horological history. Whether as a custodian of a century-old minute repeater or the heir to a vintage chronograph once worn by a patriarch, this event provides a global platform to share, honor, and elevate the most exquisite timepieces ever made.

As the luxury jewelry and horology markets continue to evolve, one thing is certain: heritage is the new power statement. And at the heart of this narrative stands Vacheron Constantin — calling the 1% to unveil their masterpieces and, in doing so, shape the next chapter in the story of excellence.