Vacheron Constantin vintage timepieces

With competition getting ever more heated in the fine-watch industry, many horology brands are looking to their past as a source of inspiration — and legitimacy. The new FiftySix collection from renowned manufacture Vacheron Constantin, for instance, was inspired by a watch from 1956, the reference 6073. But vintage-watch fans who seek only the real McCoy rather than its descendants will want to check out this watch, along with 17 other vintage timepieces that make up the brand’s Les Collectionneurs collection for 2018. These models will be on show at the Vacheron Constantin boutique at Ion Orchard (#02-07) from now until Apr 27, and are all available for purchase, with prices starting from a relatively accessible $17,000.

“This is not about the secondary-market trend, but about vintage,” said Christian Selmoni, artistic and heritage director of Vacheron Constantin, who was recently in town to present the collection. First launched in 2005, the Les Collectionneurs project offers collectors and aficionados the chance to own exclusive Vacheron Constantin vintage pieces that have been restored by the brand. Including wristwatches and pocket watches that were carefully sourced from private collectors as well as auctions, each timepiece comes with a two-year guarantee — the same as that given for the brand’s new watches.

Christian Selmoni, artistic and heritage director of Vacheron Constantin, at the recent Les Collectionneurs presentation.

The collection for this year includes pocket watches from 1915 to 1925, and wristwatches from 1927 to 1961. (One outlier, age-wise, is a 1993 platinum minute repeater, perpetual calendar and moon-phase wristwatch.) Aside from the reference 6073 (full disclosure: it has already been sold — sorry), there are several other notable models. These include a platinum pocket watch from 1931 with Art Deco accents and a thickness of just 3.8mm; as well as the reference 4261: Fewer than 40 pieces of this reference were manufactured between 1944 and 1951. With its teardrop lugs and hand-made guilloche dial, this ultra-thin yellow-gold minute repeater is, to Selmoni, “one of the nicest Vacheron Constantin watches ever made”. You’ll want to check out the collection for yourself to see if you agree.

The reference 6073 yellow-gold wristwatch that inspired the new FiftySix collection.

To find out more or to make a private viewing appointment, call +65 6509 8800 or e-mail boutique-sg.ion@vacheron-constantin.com.

PeakMonogram