In a moment that feels less like a launch and more like an industry-changing cultural journey, Vacheron Constantin and Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo presented the first-ever Concours d’Élégance dedicated entirely to the watch—a vision so vivid that in retrospect it’s surprising no one had attempted it before. For generations, the world’s greatest cars have roamed the manicured lawns of Pebble Beach, Amelia Island and Villa d’Este, among others, judged not by horsepower but by history and careful preservation. Now, haute horlogerie is entering its unique turf.
The “Vacheron Constantin Concours d’Élégance Horlogère,” Phillips’ initiative in association with Bacs & Russo, is a deliberate celebration of watchmaking innovation and technical excellence. “This was the dream of our founder, Aurel [Bacs]has been around for a long time: showcasing exceptional watches from all categories and eras and best-in-class selections across the board. This kind of annual celebration of the best of the best has long been done in cars but not watches. So far,” said Paul Boutros, vice chairman and head of watch Americas for Phillips, told the Observer.
The horological concours is important because it formalizes what horological collectors around the world have come to understand: rare watches are important cultural objects, and their owners are stewards tasked with maintaining the integrity of the pieces. This is emphasized by the fact that there is no commercial profit involved in horological concours. Watch collectors are asked to submit their watches knowing that the only prize is the honor of the winner, acknowledging that the watch represents the end of its era.
“As is customary at automotive events, it’s not us who show off our watches, it’s our customers who show theirs,” Christian Selmoni, director of heritage and style at Vacheron Constantin, told the Observer. “It’s a wonderful project that reveals our heritage and our values and gives us the opportunity to talk about our diversity and our constant innovation for two and a half centuries. There is also the ultimate goal of finding rare pieces of our past. The unicorn watches that collectors want to know about.”
Among the pieces organizers hope to see resurface are long-ago creations, rare ones that haven’t appeared in public for decades. One such watch is a rare 1957 World Time Cottier System (single pusher) wristwatch. Apparently, one hasn’t been seen at auction since the 1990s. According to Boutros, Vacheron Constantin is particularly suitable for this inaugural conference because of the depth, breadth and continuity of its creation. Founded in 1755, the company is the oldest watch company in the world. It just celebrated its 270th anniversary in 2025, but “the public is not exposed to the greatness of watches in general or especially this type. What Vacheron Constantin is doing today, world first, innovation, complexity is the result of what they did in the past and we want to shine a light on that greatness,” he said.
In addition, Vacheron Constantin services and restores every watch that enters the workshops – no matter how old it is. The brand can do this because of its uninterrupted history, extensive archive and its ability to create its own tools and parts. This is an important factor that includes the criteria for watches that are finally selected for concerts.
Management of the Vacheron Constantin Concours d’Élégance
As with the Concours d’Élégance luxury car events held around the world, watches will only be accepted after extensive testing. Watches must be faithful to their original mechanics and designs and adhere to precise guidelines to be considered for inclusion. Fitness is uncompromising. Only Vacheron Constantin watches produced between 1755-1999 can enter. Quartz watches are not included, nor are watches. Pieces that have undergone significant non-original modifications are not eligible. The restoration must have been done by Vacheron Constantin himself. Authenticity is non-negotiable.
“It has to be original with case numbers and archival movements,” explains Selmoni. “If the dial is modified, it must be a genuine Vacheron Constantin dial, or it will not be accepted. The same goes for other parts, such as bridges or hands. We have conditions about the condition of the watches as well, but they don’t have to be in good working order.”
There are seven categories in the concours: chiming clocks, chronographs, astronomical complications, multiple complications, Chronomètre Royal, design, métiers d’art. Each entry will be evaluated against nine criteria, including originality, technical merit, rarity, state of preservation, beauty and emotional resonance.
Overseeing this process is a panel of judges that reads like a vocation of star managers. Co-chaired by Bacs, senior consultant at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, and Selmoni, the panel includes respected collectors, academics, journalists and independent watchmakers whose combined expertise enables them to identify true cultural value. To introduce the concept, Vacheron Constantin and Phillips met privately with collectors around the world and held intimate gatherings to explain the scope and importance of the watches.
“It’s a new tradition in horology,” said Boutros. “The long-term goal is to raise the profile of special watches in all fields and eras. It shows the best.” Although this is the first event in collaboration with Vacheron Constantin, it is expected that the next events of the Concours d’Élégance Horlogère will be held in concert with high-end watch brands, and eventually there will be many products in one concert, like in the automotive field.
Collectors can consign their watches until April 30, 2026. The “Vacheron Constantin Concours d’Élégance Horlogère” watches will be displayed in a dedicated space next to the Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo autumn auctions in November. The judges will meet on the morning of the 10th to receive the final votes, and the awards will be presented that evening (details about the time and execution, as well as the address of the final event, are still to be announced).
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