The theme you have chosen this year is “From Geometry to Artistry”. What do you mean by that?
Sandrine Donguy: It’s a tribute to the development process that we have put in place at Vacheron Constantin. This theme illustrates the Maison’s creativity the journey from geometry – the basic intention conveyed by a design proposed by the creative teams – to the birth of a series-produced timepiece. This also includes the prototyping stages and the integration of artisanal expertise in order achieve technical and aesthetic prowess. This theme illustrates the staging of all creative phases through the showcasing of our in-house talents, whether artistic or technical.
“Vacheron Constantin cultivates a classic style through an extremely modern approach”
Christian Selmoni
We’re struck this year by the diversity of your new releases. What characterises Vacheron Constantin’s current collections?
SD: Watches and Wonders 2024 was a way for us to express the Maison’s capacity for innovation, through three technical feats. Firstly, the most complicated creation with The Berkley Grand Complication, its 63 complications and the introduction of a Chinese perpetual calendar, which broke the record set by Reference 57260. We also presented the first interchangeable high jewelry watch, the Grand Lady Kalla, in which we were keen to reinvent a great classic in terms of gemsetting, through the emerald cut. Moreover, for the first time ever, on the Égérie – The Pleats of Time concept model, we presented a fragrance encapsulated within a watch strap. So these are three innovations covering very different areas of expression and showcasing Vacheron Constantin’s creativity, while ensuring consistency with our heritage and our entire range of collections.
Your Heritage department has some 1,600 historical timepieces and very extensive archives. Is this an inspirational breeding ground for your contemporary watches?
Christian Selmoni: It’s a unique opportunity to have a Maison that will be celebrating its 270th anniversary in 2025 and that has been able to preserve its archives intact. That’s why it’s so important that when our designers work on tomorrow’s products, they can maintain this precious link between our history, our heritage and our contemporary creations. It’s not a question of recreating the past, but of preserving stylistic elements that are part of Vacheron Constantin’s identity. So, yes, it’s a constant source of inspiration for our designers.
SD: I would add that it’s a question of balance. Depending on the collection, we will inject a variable number of codes inspired by this heritage, or else emancipate ourselves from it to varying degrees. Yet the roadmap is truly limitless, because each time we can delve into our archives and rediscover past creations through stories, discussions and relationships with our customers. This heritage is truly a fundamental factor that no one could copy and which remains our basis of inspiration.
«Watches and Wonders 2024 was a way for us to express the Maison’s capacity for innovation, through three technical feats”
Sandrine Donguy
Vacheron Constantin is perceived as a very classic watchmaker. How are your creations rooted in the present?
CS: The perception that Vacheron Constantin is a fairly classic Maison is a great strength today. For me, classic doesn’t mean old or dusty, but rather being able to transcend fashion and time. Our watches are very contemporary in terms of their technology and size. The Twin Beat that we presented in 2019 is the perfect example of a watch that is technically very innovative and at the same time rather classic in aesthetic terms. I would say that Vacheron Constantin cultivates a classic style through an extremely modern approach. We see absolutely no contradiction in that.
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