We are thrilled to be at Watches and Wonders 2024. The Swiss watch industry’s premier annual trade show has finally returned this week to Geneva, offering an even more extensive lineup of public programming compared to last year. Here’s what you can look forward to at Watches & Wonders 2024. It once again takes center stage in the watchmaking world this week, as Watches and Wonders 2024 transforms the city into a paradise for watch enthusiasts. This annual trade show stands as the highlight of the Swiss watchmaking calendar, often marked by major announcements and releases from renowned brands. Among them, the esteemed Vacheron Constantin stands out—a name synonymous with rich history, tradition, and exceptional craftsmanship.
It has once again introduced new models, with the renowned Égérie series being among them.
Named after Egeria, the Roman water nymph, Égérie is Vacheron Constantin’s famous exclusive women’s collection. Evoking classic temperament and drawing inspiration from Haute Couture, Égérie features elegant, pleated designs on the dial. Originally introduced in 2003 with a curvaceous, tonneau-shaped case and slanted Arabic numerals, the collection has evolved since then. The new Égérie moon phase, launched in collaboration with Yiqing Yin in 2020, further enhances the collection’s style credentials in Haute Horlogerie for women, reflecting Yin’s creative universe.
This ‘Watches & Wonders 2024, two watches have emerged from the collaborative effort between Vacheron Constantin and its “One of Not Many” talent, Yiqing Yin. One of them is a concept watch that blends Haute Horlogerie, Haute Couture, and Haute Parfumerie, while the other is an exclusive limited edition of 100 pieces, featuring Yiqing Yin’s name engraved on the caseback.
This collection offers a diverse palette of dial colors, including black, blue, silver, ice blue, and green, complemented by stainless steel or 18k red gold cases. Additionally, there is a two-tone variant available ONLY for the Automatic model. The full-gold versions are labeled Origins, indicating responsibly sourced gold in alignment with the Swiss Better Gold Association’s environmental and social standards.
Égérie – The Pleats of Time, a concept watch
The Pleats of Time is a unique creation, an innovative concept watch housed in a diamond-set pink gold (18k 5N Pink Gold) case. It features a lilac mother-of-pearl dial adorned with a ‘pleats’ pattern and a bespoke Haute Couture strap woven with intricate embroidery and mother-of-pearl shards. This horological masterpiece not only tells time but also creates an immersive experience that seems to pause time itself. Yiqing Yin collaborated with master perfumer Dominique Ropion to develop a dedicated fragrance encapsulated within the strap, released subtly with wrist movements. This creation harmoniously merges three realms: Haute Horlogerie, Haute Couture, and Haute Parfumerie. The 37mm pink gold case, having a Bezel set with 58 round-cut Diamonds , showcases the ‘pleats’ pattern on the powdered lilac dial, complemented by an asymmetrical layout featuring the Maison’s name at 8 o’clock diagonally opposite the moon phase and crown (set with a Moonstone) at 2 o’clock. These elements form a sophisticated and distinctive feminine silhouette, infused with Yiqing Yin’s aesthetic charm that stimulates the senses. The absence of hour-markers on the dial invites a more intuitive and emotional engagement with time. Crafted from mother-of-pearl, the dial exhibits a ‘pleats’ pattern unfolding in two stages across its surface, accentuated by delicate gold ‘pearls’ encircling the center and extending to the edges. The Moon phase complication is within a 18K 5N pink gold ring set with 34 round-cut diamonds. Indications are Hours, minutes, centre seconds with Moon phases complication with 18K 5N pink gold moons behind mother-of-pearl clouds.
This Timepiece is a “Single-piece edition & not for sale”
Égérie moon phase
The Égérie moon phase watch embodies the aesthetic essence of Yiqing Yin’s creative universe, featuring three interchangeable straps in color shades developed by the Haute Couture designer. This timepiece, merges the refinement of Haute Couture with Vacheron Constantin’s heritage. This too is a 37mm pink gold (18K 5N pink gold) case, adorned with a gemset bezel, with 58 round-cut Diamonds embedded embraces subtle lilac hues while staying true to the collection’s aesthetics. The mother-of-pearl dial, either smooth or adorned with a pleated motif with a circular track with applied 18K gold ‘pearls showcases 18K 5N pink gold applied Arabic numerals. The moon phase having a circular 18K 5N pink gold ring set with 34 round-cut diamonds, is elegantly integrated into a subtle diagonal line formed by the Vacheron Constantin logo and the crown set with a moonstone. The delicate interpretation of the moon phase, featuring lilac mother-of-pearl and diamonds, adds a dreamlike quality, with 18K 5N pink gold moon.
Craftsmanship is evident throughout the watch, from the meticulously crafted pleated pattern on the mother-of-pearl dial to the transparent caseback revealing the in-house Calibre 1088 L with its hand-crafted Côtes de Genève motif. Yiqing Yin’s signature is engraved on the back of the watch, denoting its exclusivity as part of the limited edition.
The versatility of the Égérie moon phase watch is enhanced by its interchangeable straps, allowing wearers to experiment with textures and colors, from lilac alligator leather for an elegant tone-on-tone effect to night blue satin-effect calfskin or powder pink grained calfskin leather for contrasting styles. Each strap is equipped with an 18K 5N pink gold pin buckle.
This timepiece is in a Limited Edition of 100 pieces, individually numbered and engraved.
Both the above timepieces are powered by the Self-Winding Calibre 1088L having approx. 40 hours of power reserve. In both the pieces, the Total diamond-setting is 92 Diamonds totalling approximately to 1.10 carats (guaranteed minimum carats)
The Égérie – The Pleats of Time, a concept watch, is a unique piece manufactured by Vacheron Constantin and not available for sale. As for the Égérie moon phase limited edition, limited to 100 pieces, those lucky 100 women who acquire it will be its fortunate wearers. Unlike other Vacheron collections like the Overseas or Patrimony, which are unisex, Égérie has been distinctly crafted for women.
