When great talents meet in the world of fine watchmaking.
Vacheron Constantin celebrates the culmination of talents in encounters that have resulted in significant milestones in its history with “Diptyques” A History of Collaborations. The showcase highlighting seventeen timepieces from the Vacheron Constantin private Heritage collection, recounts the chronicle of how personalities united by affinity and complementary skills built on one another’s vision, and revolutionised the technical and artistic processes that breathe life into exceptional horological creations and instruments.
The belief in combining great talents to achieve greater advancements dates back to 1819; Jacques-Barthélémy Vacheron, grandson of the Maison’s founder and a technically gifted watchmaker combined his skills with the business acumen of François Constantin. Since then, the Maison has been dedicated to its motto “Do better if possible, and that is always possible”, shaping its vision of time by marrying tradition and innovation.
From Emile Plantamour to Albert Pellaton, Raymond Moretti and Michel Butor, “Diptyques” tells the story of how these encounters that ensued led to ever greater breakthroughs characterised by talent and fuelled by passion. This encompasses other momentous collaborations in the history of the Maison:
Georges-Auguste Leschot invented the revolutionary pantograph, designed to standardise the production of watch movements and to enable industrial-scale component manufacture. He was hired by Vacheron Constantin in 1839 for his specialised watchmaking skills in mechanics and construction.
Ferdinand Verger, a prominent jeweller with watchmaking knowledge, produced a Fabergé egg comprising a Vacheron Constantin movement for the tsar. His sons carried on his legacy, making watches with complications and richly ornamented clocks until the 1930s.
Louis Cottier developed the world time display, indicating the various time zones with an ingenious rotating disc device.
Anita Porchet, an expert in the art of miniature enamelling, created a masterpiece for the Maison with a timepiece that identically reproduces the ceiling of the Opéra Garnier painted by Marc Chagall.
Under the spotlight of “Diptyques”, the combined geniuses of these watchmakers and artisans come through. Some of the highlights include:
1824 VACHERON & CONSTANTIN (Reference 10823)
1930 VACHERON CONSTANTIN & VERGER FRÈRES (Reference 11178)
1949 VACHERON CONSTANTIN & LOUIS COTTIER (Reference 11289)
“Diptyques” A History of Collaborations is now on at the following Vacheron Constantin boutiques in Singapore:
ION Orchard: 1 to 17 March 2021 (10:00am to 9.30pm)
Marina Bay Sands: 18 to 31 March 2021 (11:00am to 10:00pm)
Les Collectionneurs
Watch collectors can also anticipate and view a curated set of Les Collectionneurs timepieces which are restored and delivered with an authenticity certification and a two-year guarantee.
Here are some highlights:
Images courtesy of Vacheron Constantin, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related Links:
Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 now in Steel
Vacheron Constantin: Sealed with a Digital Kiss
Vacheron Constantin: The New Romantic
