foversta shares a delightful afternoon spent at the Vacheron Constantin boutique in Paris, highlighting the brand's unique approach to client engagement. His report goes beyond new releases, capturing the essence of a luxury experience through artisan interactions and personal reflections on various timepieces. This post offers a glimpse into the personalized world of high horology events.
One of my biggest pleasures is to walk around and on the rue de la Paix, Place Vendôme during the week-end. And when you receive an invitation from Vacheron to attend an event on Saturday to discover several novelties, you know that the day will be even more exciting than usual!
It is the reason why I came to the boutique at the beginning of the afternoon with a quick step... and I discovered an unusual car parked in front of the entrance door...
This car was belonging to David, the shoe and leather cleaner! So I didn't miss the opportunity to get my shoes cleaned by a true expert of leather care. The funny point is that David worked previously in the watch industry and then changed his professional life. My shoes were requiring this care after three days of snow on Paris!
Then I met Yohann the drawer and painter.
He drew Melina and Jean-Yves of the Vacheron team and it is always fascinating to realize that with just a few details and a wise choice of colors, these sketches become very faithful to the characters!
Like with David, I could feel a lot of skills, control and mastery in the way Yohann was drawing my shape... It was like observing a watchmaker in front of his workbench!
I can tell you: Vacheron Constantin is good for your morale and mood! Thanks to this drawing, I have ten kilos less and more hair... I knew that this afternoon would be very special!
Speaking about watchmakers, Jérôme, the Vacheron watchmaker was obviously present and ready to bring any additional technical explanations to the guests. You will notice that he was standing a strategic position in the boutique, just behind the buffet meal.
But even if I enjoyed a lot the different animations organized during the event, I was also happy to be able to try several watches. The new Fifty-Six collection was not available and will be officialy launched to the end-customers in September. I will come back to this collection with the pictures I took during the SIHH. Having said that, several novelties could be tested.
Let's start with the Traditionnelle Complete Calendar.
The Complete Calendar is a very trendy complication for Vacheron Constantin because I have seen several different watches bearing the same complication in a few months.
The Traditionnelle version is very different from the Historiques one mainly due to the change of the windows locations. I don't speak about the case by itself but just the change of these windows has a strong impact on the lay-out and so on visual rendering. I think that the 41mm diameter is a bit too large what obliged Vacheron Constantin to make the indexes larger. But in the end, the watch remains nice and elegant... but a bit unbalanced.
The Overseas Dual Time features, at least for me, the complication which fits the most the Overseas collection. After all, we are talking about all-around watches so a second timezone display is perfect in the context of a watch which could be worn by travellers. I like the simple way to display the second timezone with a straight AM/PM indicator. The clever strap/bracelet system is of course still available. I have to confess that this version of the Overseas is one of my fav ones.
Well, to be fully honest, my fav one is the Perpetual Calendar version.
Actually, it is a bit a strange mix. The crossroad between a very classic and prestigious complication and a casual watch. But this gathering works!
The slender style of the watch, the diameter (the 41,5mm are here perfect due to the busy dial), the Overseas bezel, all these details make this Overseas watch very appealing. There is no second hand running dial side but despite the absence of such operation indicator, I find the dial beautiful. A great piece.
It is always good to see again watches we had the chance to appreciate a few months ago for the first time like this Historiques 1942. I really love this watch even if my taste is now toward less classic pieces. But what a beautiful case, what a great dial lay-out (even if I find the two windows a bit too small). The Historiques 1942, powered by the movement 4400 offers great value for money.
Let's compare with the dial of the Traditionnelle Complete Calendar which features the moonphase display (like the Historiques 1948). Since the windows are on a lower position, they become closer to the bezel.
We already spoke a lot about the American 1921 36,5mm.
I find that this case size works very well. For several reasons:
- due to the size of the original watch
- because it is a shaped watch
- it enhances the elegance of the watch
The only downside is that the change in diameter/case height ratio makes the watch thicker.
But I still enjoy it a lot.
Even if I love to write about novelties, it is also interesting to come back to some fascinating beauties of the recent past.
Let's take an example: the Mécaniques Gravées - 14 day Tourbillon.
This watch is pure feast for the eyes. Of course, some may find the dial too busy. It is actually too busy but it is part of the concept. I have the feeling to discover a watch from the Renaissance... and I love the contrast between the decorative style and the technical features. And I almost forget the power reserve display on top of the dial.
A beauty!
I would like to thank a lot Julie and Melina for the great Vacheron afternoon at the boutique!
Fx
