"Les Collectionneurs" in Singapore, 1st March – 31st March 2021
- A representative selection of vintage watches covering the entire 20th century period.
- Singapore, 1st March – 31st March 2021, at Vacheron Constantin boutiques, ION Orchard & Marina Bay Sands
- Models “hunted down” by Vacheron Constantin's experts, then restored and delivered with a certificate of authenticity and a two-year guarantee.
Singapore, March 2021 - Chosen with patience and talent by the Maison’s heritage department specialists, vintage watches covering the entire 20th century are now part of the aptly named "Les Collectionneurs" collection. The latter continues to evolve over time and is regularly offered for sale to brand aficionados at dedicated events organised in Vacheron Constantin boutiques around the world. "Les Collectionneurs" models all come with a certificate of authenticity and a two-year guarantee – an offer unmatched in the watchmaking world.
When vintage is second nature
The notion of vintage is second nature to Vacheron Constantin. It is expressed through a strong attachment to everything relating to its heritage. In more than 265 years of existence, the Maison has accumulated a unique set of archives in the field of time measurement. Engaged in uninterrupted production since its origins, the Manufacture is also able to take care of – and restore if necessary – any watch from its workshops, whatever its age. A closer look at its archives and its private collection of more than 1,500 timepieces offers an excellent insight into this historical depth and the means used to nurture it. From the watchmakers and craftsmen of its restoration workshop to the historians of the Heritage team, the experts at Vacheron Constantin possess all the necessary skills to best serve this vintage watchmaking that now enjoys such an excellent reputation.
Les Collectionneurs
Vacheron Constantin quickly felt the need to unite connoisseurs and aficionados of the Maison around this same passion, leading to the creation of "Les Collectionneurs": an approach consisting in using the Manufacture’s considerable resources to gather and restore a series of historical Vacheron Constantin pieces, subsequently offered for sale at dedicated events in Vacheron Constantin boutiques around the world.
"Les Collectionneurs represents another facet of Vacheron Constantin," comments Christian Selmoni, Style & 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. As for the events organised around the world to unveil these pieces, they attract both seasoned collectors and young generations eager to delve more deeply into watchmaking history.”
Watches ready for a new life
The Vacheron Constantin Heritage team works to bring together these vintage watches, whether pocket or wristwatches. The objective is to create a representative range of timepieces offered by Vacheron Constantin over the years. All kinds of channels are used in order to locate them: auction rooms, personal contacts with private individuals – bearing in mind that an expert eye is decisive in the choice of these timepieces, be they simple or striking models, calendars or chronographs... Pocket watches mainly covering the years 1910 to 1930 and wristwatches prior to 1970 – with a preference for the period from 1940 to 1960 – are then subjected to a dual appraisal. First of all, a historical evaluation is undertaken in order to authenticate the piece with reference to the in-house archives, which have been listing cases and movements by serial number for a century and a half. Then comes the technical assessment aimed at determining which interventions may be necessary, from simply cleaning the watch to its restoration – the objective being to preserve these timepieces in a state as close as possible to that of their origins. If necessary, they are restored to working order using period components, of which Vacheron Constantin maintains a large stock, or else reproduced the old-fashioned way and in identical form within the Manufacture. Once the process is complete, each timepiece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a two-year guarantee, the latter being the same as that delivered with all models within the Maison’s standard collections.
Models unveiled at dedicated events
Throughout the year, Vacheron Constantin organises special events or exhibitions of historical models from its private collection in its boutiques. These are all special experiences that give connoisseurs an opportunity to discover this “Les Collectionneurs” collection; and Vacheron Constantin's experts a chance to share the history related to the "experience" of these models. Thanks to its extremely well documented archives, the Maison can retrace the destiny of these timepieces that have survived through the ages as testimony to their time and to its watchmaking expertise. Rare and doubtless unique for those who cherish them, these Vacheron Constantin watches bearing the patina of age as a badge of honour are thus ready for a new life.
Watches highlight
18K yellow gold ultra thin minute-repeater wristwatch - 1951
An exceptional grand complication, the Reference 4261 combines an impressive thinness and superb aesthetics. The minute repeater mechanism was the third type of complication to be miniaturised enough to fit into the space of a wristwatch after the calendar and the chronograph mechanism. developed around 1930. The model 4261 was the first ultra-thin minute repeater produced by Vacheron Constantin. When it was launched in 1943, it was considered as one of the thinnest minute repeater ever made.
The Reference 4261 is the most probably the most sought-after Vacheron Constantin timepieces, from the collector's perspective. Less than 40 pieces were produced between 1944 and 1951 in yellow gold, pink gold and platinum, this watch is one of the last pieces produced.
Manual-winding movement, stylized indexes, tear-drop lugs soldered to the middle, cabochon style crown, thickness of 5.25mm.
18K yellow gold worldtime pocket watch - 1949
In 1932, the Vacheron Constantin first World Time pocket watch displays the Cottiersystem capable of showing the times of the 24 time zones on the same dial, rotating with the movement. The Maison assigns model ref 3372 to this brand new watch. Watches indicating 24 time-zones were progressively named "Universal time", "international time" (i.e Vacheron Constantin archives) and then "World time" for most contemporary watches.
In 1936 seeking to show that the complication was worth perfecting, Vacheron Constantin presented two new version of its international time model whose dial featured 31 international cities for reference 3650. In 1646, Vacheron Constantin assigned reference4414 to the worldtime model with a dial comprising 41 cities.
Manual-winding movement, silvered dial made in three parts with fixed central disk satin-dinished, yellow gold indexes, trapezoidal shaped indexes at 3 and 9 o'clock, Arabic numerals at 6 and 12 o'clock, 8 star shaped indexes.
18K yellow gold squared shape wristwatch, 1967
Model 6440 is one of the models so-called Cioccolatone by the collectors due to its resemblance to a square chocolate piece. The model is one of the most sought-after vintage wristwatches from the 1950's and 1960's.
The calibre housed here is part of the fourth generation of automatic movements manufactured by Vacheron Constantin. A patented self-winding mechanism, with ruby-ball bearing and oscillating weight in 18K gold, able to wind the movement in both directions and stamped with by the Hallmark of Geneva.
Self-winding movement, silvered sunray satined dial, dauphine-shaped hour and minute hands, hand-engraved pattern on dial.
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Schedule
VACHERON CONSTANTIN ION ORCHARD BOUTIQUE
Date 1 - 17 MARCH 2021
Hours 10:00 AM - 9.30 PM Daily
Address Vacheron Constantin ION Orchard Boutique
2 Orchard Turn #02-07 Singapore 238801
VACHERON CONSTANTIN MARINA BAY SANDS BOUTIQUE
Date 18 - 31 MARCH 2021
Hours 11:00AM - 10:00PM Daily
Address Vacheron Constantin Marina Bay Sands boutique
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue #B2M-238 Singapore 018972