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Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo and Vacheron Constantin have named 34 finalists for the inaugural Concours d’Élégance Horlogère. A 14-member jury reviewed watches dating from 1755 to 1999; the finalists will be exhibited in Geneva from November 4–8, with category winners announced November 10, 2026.
Vacheron Constantin and Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo have named 34 finalist watches for the inaugural Concours d’Élégance Horlogère, a competition focused on the Swiss watchmaker’s historic timepieces. A 14-member jury selected the pieces from more than 550 entries; the finalists will go on public display in Geneva before the winners are announced on November 10, 2026.
The submitted pocket watches and wristwatches were made by Vacheron Constantin between 1755 and 1999. The organizers said the Maison’s master watchmakers and Heritage experts first authenticated and evaluated the entries. Of the more than 550 submissions, 95 advanced to jury review, which narrowed the selection to 34 finalists.
The competition has seven categories: Chronographs, Métiers d’Art, Chronomètre Royal, Astronomical Complications, Multiple Complications, Design and Chiming Mechanisms. The selection includes a steel Reference 4072 chronograph from 1940, a one-of-a-kind platinum rectangular watch from 1957 with a full calendar and moon phase, and a unique 1940 “Don Pancho” minute repeater with a retrograde full date.
Other finalists include cloisonné enamel watches depicting maps of the Americas and Europe, as well as later skeletonized perpetual calendars and world timers. The organizers say the jury considers factors including originality, aesthetics, technical significance, rarity and historical context, rather than judging solely by price or complication count.
A Broader Measure of Watch Heritage
The finalist list puts the focus on the historical and cultural value of individual watches, alongside their technical features. By drawing on private collections and inviting public viewing, the event offers a way to present pieces that may otherwise be little known outside collector circles. The stated judging criteria also give the competition a framework beyond market value, although the organizers have not published individual scores or a ranking among finalists.
The selection spans more than two centuries of one manufacturer’s output, from early pocket watches to late-20th-century wristwatches. For collectors and visitors, the exhibition provides an opportunity to see how designs, complications and decorative techniques changed across that period. The competition also gives Vacheron Constantin a public platform to connect privately held objects with its institutional account of the company’s history.
Vacheron Constantin vintage watches
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From Hundreds of Entries to 34
The competition was announced earlier in 2026 and invited owners around the world to submit historically significant Vacheron Constantin watches. The organizers describe it as the first Concours d’Élégance devoted exclusively to haute horlogerie; that description is their characterization of the event.
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is organizing the concours with Vacheron Constantin. The jury is co-chaired by Aurel Bacs and Christian Selmoni and includes watchmakers, historians, collectors, journalists and industry figures. Named members include Felix Baumgartner, Benjamin Clymer, Nicholas Foulkes and Alexandre Ghotbi. The 34 finalists represent the reduced field after authentication, expert evaluation and jury review.
“The competition is described as the first-ever “Concours d’Élégance” devoted exclusively to haute horlogerie.”
— The event organizers, as reported by Hypebeast
Judging Results Still Pending
The organizers have announced the finalists but have not identified the winners or provided a public ranking of the 34 watches. They also have not said whether the additional Best in Show—Jury’s Special Prize will be awarded; the source says it may be given. Individual jury assessments and the weighting of each judging criterion have not been disclosed.
The available report does not provide detailed provenance or condition information for every finalist. While the organizers say entries underwent authentication and expert evaluation, the public material summarized so far does not explain the findings for each watch. Those details may become clearer during the exhibition or when the winners are announced.
Geneva Exhibition and Awards
The 34 finalists are scheduled to be exhibited at the Hôtel Président Wilson in Geneva from November 4 through November 8, 2026, during Phillips’ Geneva auction week. The seven category winners are due to be announced on November 10. The organizers may also award the Best in Show—Jury’s Special Prize, but have not confirmed whether they will do so.
The exhibition will be the next opportunity for the public to view the selected watches together. The awards announcement should identify which pieces the jury considers strongest in their respective categories; until then, the announced finalist status is the only confirmed competition result.
Key Questions
How many watches reached the Concours d’Élégance Horlogère final?
Thirty-four watches were named finalists from more than 550 submissions. Ninety-five entries advanced to jury review after authentication and evaluation by Vacheron Constantin experts.
When and where can the finalists be seen?
The finalists are scheduled for public exhibition at the Hôtel Président Wilson in Geneva, November 4–8, 2026.
When will the winners be announced?
The seven category winners are due to be announced on November 10, 2026. The organizers say a separate Best in Show—Jury’s Special Prize may also be awarded.
What kinds of watches are included?
The entries include Vacheron Constantin pocket watches and wristwatches made from 1755 to 1999, including chronographs, calendar watches, minute repeaters, enamel pieces and world timers.
How were the finalists judged?
The organizers say a 14-member international jury considered originality, aesthetics, technical significance, rarity and historical context. They say the watches were not judged solely on market value or complexity.
Source: rss
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