Vacheron Constantin has named the 34 watches that will compete in its first Concours d’Élégance Horlogère, a contest run with auction house Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo. The finalists were picked from more than 550 timepieces submitted by private collectors and will be exhibited in Geneva next month before the winners are named.
The entries span almost two and a half centuries of watchmaking, from 1755 to 1999, and are divided into seven categories covering historic, vintage and neo-vintage pieces. Before the shortlist was drawn up, master watchmakers and heritage specialists checked each submission to confirm that it was authentic and that it belonged in the category chosen by its owner.
The selected watches will be on display at the Hôtel Président Wilson in Geneva from November 4 to 8, 2026, giving the public a rare chance to see pieces that normally stay in private collections. The seven category winners will be announced on November 10. The project brings together Aurel Bacs, senior consultant at Phillips, and Christian Selmoni, director of style and heritage at Vacheron Constantin, who have been closely involved in shaping the competition.
Jury member Auro Montanaro stressed how unusual the format is for the industry. “This is the first time a watch brand has organized this kind of event,” he said. The format borrows its name from the elegance contests long associated with classic cars, but here the judging centres on the condition, rarity and history of each watch rather than on restored vehicles. Organisers have not yet said whether the competition will become a regular fixture.
For Vacheron Constantin, the Geneva-based maison founded in 1755, the contest is also a way of building a community around its collectors. By inviting owners to submit their own pieces and having them judged by recognised experts, the brand is placing the private collector at the centre of the event rather than its own new models. The involvement of Phillips, one of the most active auction houses in the vintage watch market, and of Bacs & Russo adds weight to the selection. The results on November 10 will reveal which of the seven categories has produced the standout pieces, and the exhibition days beforehand are expected to draw collectors, dealers and enthusiasts to the Hôtel Président Wilson on the shore of Lake Geneva.
