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On the evening of 10 November 2026, collectors and watchmaking connoisseurs gathered at the Hôtel Président in Geneva for the awards ceremony of the very first Concours d’Élégance Horlogère. Initiated by Phillips in Association with Bacs and Russo, the event showcased the rich heritage of Vacheron Constantin as preserved by passionate collectors worldwide.
Co-chaired by Aurel Bacs and Christian Selmoni, the jury brought together 34 international finalists to celebrate not just exceptional mechanics, but the profound human stories behind them. As Aurel Bacs reflected during the evening, the competition evolved from a dream of elegance into an emotional journey of scholarship, history, and shared stories.
Chronographs
The winning piece is a 1929 Vacheron Constantin pocket chronograph that unites exceptional horological sophistication with deeply moving historical provenance. It belonged to Dr. Gregorio Marañón, one of Spain’s great physicians, intellectuals, and humanists. Enriched by family tradition, Dr. Marañón carried the watch with him throughout his life and used it when taking the patients' pulses, making it a true tangible fragment of cultural history.
Métiers d’Art
This 1930 pocket watch is a royal gift bearing the enameled crest of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia that has remained in the owner's family for four generations. Presented originally to Dr. Otto von Frangeš, the King’s Minister of Agriculture, the watch survived the 1934 royal assassination motorcade and the turmoil of World War II. It later underwent a daring, perilous journey into exile, smuggled behind the Iron Curtain sewn into the lining of a coat, before finally arriving safely in America.
Chronomètre
Representing a stainless steel reference 2215 from 1976, the Royal Chronometer, this timepiece was acquired early on in the owner's quest to collect Chronometer Royal models. It brilliantly blends technical precision with a robust integrated case construction. The sharp case and black dial are further enhanced by three diamond markers, making it a standout creation that continues to be proudly worn on weekends.
Astronomical Complications
This unique 1957 platinum "Cioccolatone" (reference 4764) stands out as an extraordinary piece of mid-century watchmaking. Powered by a caliber 495 movement, it features a complete full calendar setup, uniting sophisticated mechanical complications with distinctive vintage aesthetics.
Multiple Complications
Commissioned in 1935 by Chilean collector Francisco Martinez Llano (“Don Pancho”) and delivered in 1940, this unique yellow-gold tonneau wristwatch pairs a minute repeater with an avant-garde retrograde date. Long considered a mythical lost treasure after vanishing in 1947, it was rediscovered decades later and meticulously restored by Vacheron Constantin’s Heritage workshops as a monumental milestone of bespoke Haute Horlogerie.
Design
This 1957 universal time wristwatch features a Cottier system integrated seamlessly into an automatic movement. Acquired directly from Anna Colombo’s celebrated collection in Miami, it represents a remarkable intersection of innovative mid-century design and international horological utility.
Chiming Mechanisms
This 1926 pocket watch represents a deeply personal legacy, having belonged first to the owner's grandfather, then to their father, and finally ending up in their own hands. Beyond its classical chiming mechanics, it serves as a cherished generational anchor for the family.
Best of Show
Taking home the prestigious ‘Best of Show’ Special Jury Prize, this 1962 minute repeater watch is spectacular in its case design, unique in its origins, and exemplary in its state of preservation. The timepiece marks a true milestone in Vacheron Constantin’s patrimony, offering the Maison's experts a rare opportunity to examine and handle such an extraordinary model at close quarters.
Ultimately, as Legacy and Style Director Christian Selmoni noted, the evening served as a powerful reminder that time is about far more than measurement, it is about the history we cherish and share.
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An event held on November 10, 2026, in Geneva by Phillips and Vacheron Constantin to celebrate heritage watches and their stories.
Seven category winners were announced, plus an eighth special 'Best of Show' prize.
A pristine 1962 minute repeater watch praised for its spectacular case design and unique origins.
