Vacheron Constantin Delivers a Vintage Line of Timepieces to New York

The prestigious Swiss watch manufacturer, Vacheron Constantin, which is a brand of the Richemont group, are now bringing a vintage selection of timepieces to their Madison Avenue boutique in New York. This rare Vacheron Constantin timepiece selection, also known as Les Collectionneurs, was culled from private collectors, auction houses and even the Swiss watchmaker’s own archival department.

Vacheron Constantin Ref. 11761 from 1951 (Priced at $362,000)

Les Collectionneurs belongs to a traveling offering of unique timepieces that has made stops in key cities such as Singapore, London and most recently, at Manhattan’s jewelry boutique, Material Goods, of which specializes in luxury gems and timepieces. The collection will continue its journey around the world after they finish their exhibition in New York, thereby debuting Les Collectionneurs in several more key cities along the way.

“The passion from Vacheron Constantin collectors is absolutely amazing,” says Selmoni. “Their deep knowledge of our vintage creations is at times even challenging for me!”

Vacheron Constantin Ref. 11561 from 1993 (Priced at $412,000)

Though each time they arrive at a new destination, it is inevitable that timepieces in the collection will decrease, however, the Swiss watchmaker continues to seek replacements as the traveling offering reaches the next city. The collection is currently on display at the newly refurbished 729 Madison Avenue Vacheron Constantin boutique, where a total of 13 vintage pieces are available that date all the way back to 1928 to as late as 1993 with prices for minute repeaters ranging from at least $12,000 to as high as $500,000.

“There is a strong desire for legendary Vacheron Constantin designs from the past, such as the Chronomètre Royal, the “Cioccolatone” model, and the famous chronograph reference 4072,” states Selmoni. “We also offer some very rare minute-repeater wristwatches from the ’40s to the ’60s—in particular the reference 4261, which is to me the most exceptional design of Vacheron Constantin from both an aesthetic and technical angle. The 4261 from 1951 in yellow gold is a sublime example of Vacheron Constantin watchmaking art.”

Vacheron Constantin Ref. 11993 from 1957 (Priced at $20,800)

With around 1,100 people worldwide, which are primarily based in the manufacturing plants in Geneva and Vallée de Joux, Vacheron Constantin serviced each timepiece in the traveling offering by their traditional specialists in Geneva so that they would look immaculate. In addition, each of these timepieces are given a certificate of authenticity from the manufacturer as well as a two-year warranty, which is shocking because it’s not possible available even when collectors acquire them through vintage dealers or other consignors.

Vacheron Constantin Ref. 12074 from 1945 (Priced at $12,800)

“We began to sell vintage Vacheron Constantin timepieces some 10 years ago,” says Vacheron Constantin Style & Heritage Director, Christian Selmoni. “However, we did it with a very limited focus and external communication behind it.” Selmoni says that the watchmaker has now changed its vintage-timepiece pace from “passive mode” to “push mode”.”

Vacheron Constantin is taking the vintage and pre-owned markets by storm now that vintage timepieces have been trending in the watchmaking industry. Demonstrating their over two-centuries worth of history and incredible insight, the brand has overtaken its competitors, whether it be either heavyweights or independent names in the watchmaking industry, who are just beginning to put their hands in this market, and left them in the dust with the traveling offering of Les Collectionneurs.

“Vacheron Constantin started to create its own collection of vintage, historical timepieces in the early 20th century,” says Selmoni.

Vacheron Constantin Ref. 11757 from 1928 (Priced at $80,500)

Though Vacheron Constantin boutiques will not be supplying a steady stock of vintage timepieces, this traveling offering will remain ongoing and include special events surrounding the collection during each visit to a key city. Each timepiece in the collection was manufactured at least 20 years or more ago, however, the heart of Les Collectionneurs has pieces that were produced around 60 to 80 years ago.

This vintage line-up of Vacheron Constantin timepieces will be available at their boutique on 729 Madison Avenue until August 17th, and soon afterwards it will travel from its New York boutique to its Japan location.

For more information visit: Vacheron-Constantin.com

Photos Courtesy of: Vacheron Constantin

TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith Showcase Their Latest Creations

This year during the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, better known as SIHH, multiple makers from the LVMH group displayed some of their most magnificent new creations alongside each other, captivating the minds of both professionals and members of the public alike. The watchmakers included Zenith, TAG Heuer, as well as Hublot. Below we have put together a collection of some of our favorites from the show, which were revealed onboard the LVMH boat that was docked at the Rotonde des Pâquis across from the Beau-Rivage Palace hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland.

ZENITH

During the exhibit, Zenith introduced several new models, which happened to include a range of special editions of the Defy El Primero, initially launched in 2017. Included among these new editions was the stunning Defy 21 Black Ceramic, combining it’s ceramic bracelet with casual rubber, and the 44mm rose gold Defy 21, which features a black open-worked dial.

TAG HEUER

TAG Heuer has just expanded their range of connected watches with the addition of two new models of the widely popular Connected Modular timepiece in preparation for this year’s upcoming Baselworld. TAG’s all new Modular 41 offers an elegant 41mm diameter, yet retains all of Connected Modular 45’s functionality. The instantly recognizable Formula 1 Lady collection also received several updates and new options which now include a wider range of dial choices and interchangeable straps. In addition, TAG also presented the most extravagant version of their connected series, a white gold watch featuring 23.35 carats of paved baguette cut diamonds.

HUBLOT

Hublot showcased several new models during SIHH, including the Big Bang Meca-10 Blue Ceramic, which reflects the Maison’s well regarded technical and aesthetic mastery, by blending state of the art mechanics and ultra strong materials.

A highly anticipated release is the Big Bang Ferrari Magic Gold, which will be limited to just 250 pieces and was designed over a seven year close collaboration between the Italian automaker and Hublot. The Big Bang Ferrari Magic Gold is reminiscent of the iconic Big Bang Unico, reimmagined with a 45mm case and a bezel crafted of 18k polished Magic Gold.

Other models included the Classic Fusion Italia Independent, the Big Bang One Click Sapphire 39mm, and the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Berluti; which was created in coordination with menswear house Berluti, who is also owned by LVMH and is well regarded for their expertise in leather finishing.

For more information visit: Zenith.com, TAGHeuer.com, Hublot.com

The “Paul Newman” Daytona Sells at Phillips Auction for $17.7 Million

Paul Newman was renowned for his prominent career as an entrepreneur, movie star and race car driver, who also gave a great deal of time into his work as a philanthropist. And just recently at Phillips auction house in New York City, Paul Newman’s 1968 Rolex Daytona made him one of the greatest figures within the watch world when it sold for a record-breaking $15.5 million at auction. Hosted by Phillips in collaboration with Bacs & Russo auction, the Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239, also acknowledged as the “Paul Newman”, not only fetched for $15.5 million but with the buyer’s premium of 12.5%, the timepiece reached an astronomical price of $17,752,500.

The "Paul Newman'' Daytona Sells at Phillips Auction for $17.7 Million

The night of the auction had more than 400 people gathered together at Phillips’ New York headquarters at 57th and Park Avenue in order to participate in the Winning Icons auction. After approximately 12 minutes of bidding, the “Paul Newman” Rolex Daytona was sold to one of the bidders on the telephone, which resulted in it setting a new world record for a Rolex ever sold at auction, with it even achieving the highest price for a wristwatch sold through auction. The previous record for the most expensive wristwatch at auction by Phillips was $11 million for a Patek Philippe ref. 1518 timepiece. Another record holder for a Rolex sold at auction was the Bao Dai Rolex that was sold for over $5 million and once belonged to the last emperor of Vietnam.

The "Paul Newman'' Daytona Sells at Phillips Auction for $17.7 Million

The Daytona received high praise thanks to it’s “square lollipop” ends on the sub-dial markers and for the piece’s Art Deco inspired dial, the uniqueness of the timepiece later earned it the alias “Paul Newman” Daytona. Newman’s Daytona was a gift to him from his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, while she had also engraved the words “Drive Carefully Me” onto the case back.

Paul Newman’s Daytona is considered the most iconic wristwatch of the 20th Century, which is further proved by the fact that the highest price paid for a Rolex Daytona (also known as Rolex’s most collectable model) only reached $3.7 million at auction last spring. The timepiece features a conflicting colored seconds scale along the edge of the dial and a Daytona signature over the lower sub-dial rather than having it under the upper sub-dial; an aspect customarily seen on most other Daytonas. Newman’s Daytona is known as the Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Daytona, the model was produced in six separate series between early 1960s and late 1970s, but later went on to be discontinued due to poor sales; hence the rarity of this Daytona made its value skyrocket.

Paul Newman (Photo by Douglas Kirkland/Corbis via Getty Images)

“It’s a whimsical, art deco style dial,” said Paul Boutros, Phillips Senior Vice President and Head of Watches for the Americas. “There are about 2,000 to 3,000 of this type of dial in the world.” Since the 1980s “everyone has been searching for Paul Newman’s Paul Newman,” Boutros noted. In 1984 Paul Newman gave his Daytona as a gift to James Cox, former boyfriend and currently close friend of Paul Newman’s daughter Nell. “At the time that Newman gave the watch to James Cox, the watch was selling for about $200,” Boutros noted.

James Cox gave a significant portion of the earnings from the “Paul Newman” Daytona towards the Nell Newman Foundation, which is a charitable foundation that provides support for organizations in the fields of education, animal welfare and human services as well as a dedication to her father’s philanthropical ideals and remembrance. In addition, another portion of the proceeds has been distributed towards Newman’s Own Foundation.

For more information visit: Phillips.com

MB&F’s nautically inspired Horological Innovation

Swiss watch brand Maximilian Büsser and Friends, also known as MB&F, teamed up with Swiss high-end clock manufacturer L’Epée 1839 to create yet another horological masterpiece. The result of this collaboration, which marks their seventh partnership together, is the new Octopod desk clock (35,000CHF). MB&F’s latest innovation was inspired by key aspects of an octopus such as its eight integrated legs as well as a spherical “head” that harbors its intricate clockwork complications and “face” displaying the time of day.

This nautically inspired timepiece shelters a manual wound movement that extends an 8-day power reserve from only a single barrel running at 18,000 vibrations per hour. Evocative of the Ulysse Nardin Freak, the escapement of the Octopod braces onto the minute hand; headlining an extremely unique feature to the piece.

The Octopod is actually not the first sea inspired innovation from Max Büsser’s firm that centralizes on oceanic life, but the second consecutive timepiece they have produced. MB&F released the acclaimed HM7 Aquapod, a wrist watch sporting a jellyfish-inspired figuration and external diver’s-style bezel, as their first ever nautically influenced timepiece.

The unique nautical design of the Octopod does not merely conclude at its cephalopod contour. The head of the desk clock relates to the device that holds the ship’s gyroscope in place. This bears a similar resemblance to how the ship’s chronometers were originally like in the past, which acquiesces them to concatenate in benefit of the ship’s movement.

MB&F’s new aquatic desk clock received its transparent bubble evoking recollection of the bathysphere from James Cameron’s The Abyss; an 1989 American science fiction film. Because the Swiss watch brand mainly aimed their attention on robots and outer space for inspiration on their timepieces, MB&F are changing their heading and focusing on adapting a far more expansive array of nautically inspired timepieces in the years to come.

The octopod desk clock will be in a limited production of only 150 examples, which include 50 with legs in palladium, 50 in blue, and 50 in black PVD.

MOVEMENT & SPECIFICATIONS

● Baseplate in transparent mineral glass, anti-reactive coating both sides
● Balance frequency: 2.5 Hz / 18,000 bph
● Power reserve: 8 days from single barrel
● Components movement: 159
● Jewels: 19
● Incabloc shock protection system protected by mineral glass
● Manual-winding: the double-depth square socket key sets time and winds movement
● Palladium-plated brass, stainless steel and nickel-plated brass

For more information about the Octopod: MBandF.com

Photos provided by MB&F

Talking Haute Horology: Interview with Geoffroy Lefebvre of Jaeger-LeCoultre

Geoffroy Lefebvre is a rising star in the Swiss Watch Industry, who prior to his instrumental role as Deputy CEO at Jaeger-LeCoultre; served in senior level positions at parent Richemont Group as well as sister firm, Vacheron Constantin. Mr. Lefebvre who had initially began his career with McKinsey & Company, possesses an unsurpassed passion for highly complex timepieces, which is evident by his Instagram account that is a must follow for any horological enthusiast. Read on to learn more about Geoffroy’s passion for watchmaking and the future of Jaeger-LeCoultre.

What initially inspired you to enter the watchmaking industry?

“A childhood fascination for mechanics which soon turned into a compulsive passion for mechanical watches. Then also, as I discovered the industry, the challenge to lead teams of talented and passionate individuals, involved into the whole chain starting from the conception of the watch in our Manufacture in Switzerland to the interaction with our customers all around the world.”

What do you believe sets Jaeger-LeCoultre apart from other top tier manufacturers, how is your company approaching the market compared to your competition?

“Jaeger-LeCoultre Maison is quite unique. Our Manufacture has always remained in its original place in the Vallée de Joux, in Switzerland, since 1833. Our Maison is renowned for the invention of many of the world’s firsts in watchmaking, be it keyless winding, the smallest mechanical movement, or the first three-dimensional tourbillon for the wrist. It is the concentration of skills of talented craftsmen and women at the Manufacture, their creativity and an incredible attention to detail that make Jaeger-LeCoultre stand apart.”

What are some of your company’s plans for the growing demand of complicated timepieces for women?

“Complicated pieces are our everyday language. All Jaeger-LeCoultre watches are distinctive because what is extremely complex inside, will always look elegant, timeless and refined on the outside. For our lady clientele, we offer a vast choice in the Rendez-Vous collection where classical complications are totally redesigned and reinterpreted in a contemporary way. This year we are celebrating the Rendez-Vous collection during the 74th Venice International Film Festival, as it has been inspired by cinema since its creation.”

In just a few words how would you describe the essence of Jaeger-LeCoultre as a brand?

“It is the very best of authentic and innovative Swiss fine watchmaking in an elegant design with a perfect blend of history and contemporaneity.”

How do you measure success at Jaeger-LeCoultre?

“Well, let’s meet again next year and discuss the new chapter that we are creating in our Maison’s history! All our colleagues are working very hard, but also very excited for what is coming next.”

Having served in senior level positions at both Jaeger-LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin, what do you believe makes a great timepiece?

“You recognize a great watch from the distance, without having to look for a brand sign. It is elegant, discreet, understated, yet full of content: complicated or not, it is deeply connected to the history of its namesake Maison, reflects its codes, its values, and the passion that the watchmaker put into making it. For every great watch, this passion reflects on the person that wears it.”

Where can we follow you?

“I like to connect to Instagram when I have a few minutes to spare, where there is a passionate community of watch lovers.”

Where to next?

“Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, to meet our customers, partners and the local teams. I strive to visit every single one of our subsidiaries at least once a year. Online connectivity is a reflex these days but will never replace face-to-face human interactions. And then certainly the big get together of our industry, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in January!”

McCall’s Motorworks Revival Celebrates its 26th-year

McCall begins their preparations for the most marvelous Motorworks Revival in its 26-year history, which is set to take place at the Monterey Jet Center during the world renowned Monterey Car Week. The grand gala invites a total of 3,000 fellow auto-moto-aero enthusiasts, while this year’s event spares no expense in offering the finest culinary and wine presentations of the evening.