The quest for watchmaking excellence
As part of a year-long global tour, a Vacheron Constantin public exhibition is stopping over in Singapore this weekend
SINCE its founding in 1755, Vacheron Constantin has occupied a singular position within the rarefied ranks of high watchmaking. The maison’s enduring philosophy, encapsulated in its historic motto adopted in 1819 – “Do better if possible, and that is always possible” – forms the bedrock of its 270-year quest for watchmaking excellence.
To mark this significant anniversary, Vacheron Constantin is bringing The Quest: 270 years of Seeking Excellence to Singapore. The stop is part of a year-long global journey for this travelling exhibition.
Taking place on Oct 25 and 26, at Groundseesaw Singapore at Parkview Square, the immersive experience is designed as an experiential journey celebrating the core values that have defined the maison’s identity.
It invites visitors to fully understand the significance of this pursuit, revealing how Vacheron Constantin balances technical ingenuity and mechanical brilliance with artistic vision and fine craftsmanship.
For the maison, the true value of a timepiece lies not only in the science of its mechanics, but also in its aesthetic beauty, craftsmanship and the meticulousness of its finishing, both visible and invisible.
The educational itinerary is defined by a succession of compelling themes: The Beginning, Artistic Crafts and Finishes, High Watchmaking and Grand Complications, and The Quest.
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A chronology of craft
The journey commences with The Beginning, revealing how the quest for excellence took root with Jean-Marc Vacheron in 1755. Visitors can examine historic timepieces, documents, photographs and artifacts drawn from the maison’s remarkably rich archives.
A pivotal display is the facsimile of the Maison’s founding act: the contract signed with Jean-Marc Vacheron’s first apprentice. Since its inception, Vacheron Constantin has constantly pushed existing boundaries in timekeeping.
Moving into the realm of artistry, the Artistic Crafts and Finishing section celebrates the highly skilled men and women responsible for countless watchmaking masterpieces.
Visitors will discover the age-old techniques mastered by Vacheron Constantin today, including miniature painting, grisaille enamelling, engraving, gem-setting and guilloche work.
This display showcases ancestral skills via a seemingly endless ribbon of knowledge reflecting the passage of time.
The summit of complication
A significant area is devoted to high watchmaking and grand complications, where guests are invited to explore the intricate workings of complex movements up close.
Special displays reveal the full beauty of these mechanisms and their microscopic components, allowing visitors to enlarge the view for appreciation in a manner impossible to the naked eye.
The technical highlight of this section is the immersion into the heart of the most complicated timepiece in the world at its launch in 2024: Les Cabinotiers – The Berkley Grand Complication. A dedicated wall pays tribute to this magnum opus, which features 2,877 components and 63 horological complications, notably including the world’s first Chinese perpetual calendar.
The experiential journey culminates in The Quest, an immersive area dedicated to contemplation and reflection. This setting evokes the centuries-old ties between astronomy and watchmaking.
Visitors are invited to reflect on their own pursuits while being immersed in awe-inspiring views of the Milky Way and distant skies – a gateway linking the infinitely large scale of astronomy to the infinitely small size of a minuscule watch component.
To ensure an enhanced guest experience, priority will be given to visitors with reservations. Sign up at https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/sg/en/maison/events/singapore.html
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