What is this new watchmaking competition initiated by Vacheron Constantin?

Phillips and Bacs & Russo are partnering with Vacheron Constantin to launch an elegance competition dedicated to vintage watches MaisonThis event is open to the public. invites all owners of timepieces produced between 1755 and 1999 to submit their timepieces - an opportunity to have your watch's heritage recognized in Geneva's history, and perhaps even to rediscover forgotten models Maison. 

Who are they?

Vacheron Constantin, Maison historical watchmaking

Vacheron Constantin embodies 270 years of Genevan watchmaking excellence, 4 years since its creation in 1755; it is considered the oldest factory in the world still in continuous operationRenowned for its technical innovations and artistic creations, the company preserves an exceptional heritage of pocket watches and wristwatches. This competition highlights this legacy by showcasing vintage pieces held by collectors. 

Phillips

Maison international auctionSince 2015, it has established itself in the watchmaking industry thanks to its dedicated department, organizing record-breaking sales in Geneva, New York, and Hong Kong. It excels in curating historical pieces with an exceptional sales rate.

Aurel Bacs

Senior consultant and legendary auctioneerA former Christie's executive who revolutionized watch sales, he holds records such as the Rolex Daytona "Paul Newman" which sold for over 17 million CHF. He is also co-chairman of the Vacheron Constantin competition jury.

Livia Russo

Expert in antique watches, wife of Bacs and co-founder of their consulting firm. Together, they manage sales "Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo", regularly breaking vintage records

Why this competition in 2026?

This competition marks a first for Vacheron Constantin, wishing to honor enthusiasts and guardians of watchmaking heritage. It celebrates excellence, creativity and the transmission of historical timepieces up to 1999, (excluding quartz or modified models). Louis Ferla, CEO of Vacheron Constantin, sees it as a vibrant tribute to the international community of enthusiasts, these discreet guardians who transmit a quest for creative excellence unchanged since 1755. 

This competition directly addresses the rise of the vintage watch marketRare Vacheron Constantin pieces are now reaching record prices at international auctions, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for authentic mechanical watchmaking.

The enhancement of heritage This also constitutes a major strategic objective of this initiative. By identifying and archiving exceptional pieces held by private collectors, Vacheron Constantin enriches its impressive archives, which already list more than 30,000 historical movementsThis process not only allows us to document long-hidden treasures, but also to integrate them into the official heritage of the manufacture, thus perpetuating a living memory of 270 years of watchmaking innovations.

Community strengthening represents another essential pillar: by directly involving collectors and loyal customers, the Maison It forges deeper ties with its passionate base, while amplifying the storytelling around its unbroken Genevan heritage since its founding. This event transforms owners into actors in the Vacheron narrative, celebrating their role as custodians of ancestral know-how.

The seven competition categories

The Vacheron Constantin competition structures its submissions in seven specialized categories, covering the essential watchmaking expertise of the manufacture From 1755 to 1999. Each owner chooses a single category for his watch pocket or bracelet watches, excluding quartz and major unofficial modifications; in order to guarantee balanced and targeted competition.

The nine evaluation criteria

The pieces are judged on nine criteria balancing technical, aesthetic, and historical aspects, weighted equally to distinguish the finalists in each category. The jury analyzes each piece on these technical, artistic, and narrative aspects, favoring authenticity and original patina.

The competition's schedule and registration procedures

Registration is open from January 19th to April 30th, 2026. via the dedicated Vacheron Constantin website or in stores. The seven trophies, without any financial prize money, will be awarded on November 10, 2026 in Geneva. during a private ceremony integrated into Phillips' flagship auction (November, Théâtre du Léman). The 35 finalists (5 per category) travel to Geneva for exhibition and jury deliberation. This is part of a rich year: after "The Quest" (270 years, 2025), this competition extends the heritage momentum towards Watches & Wonders 2027.

An exceptional jury

The jury for the Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Élégance is co-chaired by two iconic figures: Aurel Bacs and Christian Selmoni. Together, they lead an international panel of experts combining technical expertise, historical knowledge, and market acumen to evaluate the submitted vintage watches.

Aurel Bacs, senior consultant at Phillips and Bacs & Russo

Aurel Bacs is a legend in the world of watch auctions. A Swiss national of Monegasque origin, born in 1970, he revolutionized the sector at Christie's (2001-2013), multiplying watch sales fifteenfold through narrative catalogs and a focus on provenance. At Phillips since 2015, in partnership with his wife Livia Russo, he holds absolute records such as the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman (CHF 17.8 million) and oversees the Geneva Watch Auctions with a success rate exceeding 90%. As co-chair of the jury, he brings his sensitivity to the vintage market and the "soul" of the timepieces.

Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Heritage at Vacheron Constantin

Christian Selmoni has embodied Vacheron Constantin's aesthetic heritage since 1990, rising through the ranks from sales to purchasing and then to design. Appointed Style & Heritage Director in 2017, this passionate individual with an eccentric style (colorful trousers, tartan jackets) oversees the Métiers d'Art – enamel, engraving, guilloché, gem-setting – while maintaining a balance between technical innovation and understated elegance. He preserves 270 years of archives, integrates heritage into modern creations, and champions "long-term creation" over industrial growth.