Vacheron Constantin joined Watch Advice in Brisbane for the first time, bringing together a group of prominent collectors and more than 30 readers for two exclusive evenings celebrating the Maison’s watchmaking.
Bringing some of the world’s most respected watch brands to the minds of Australians and giving our readers the chance to experience their watches in person is a big part of what we’re trying to build with Watch Advice. So, when the opportunity came to host Vacheron Constantin in Brisbane for the first time, we were pretty excited to make it happen.
Over two evenings, we brought members of our Collectors Circle together at the penthouse at W Brisbane. The first night was a more intimate dinner with a small group of experienced and high-profile collectors, while the second saw us welcome more than 30 Watch Advice readers for an evening of cocktails and conversation.
With views overlooking the Brisbane River, South Bank and West End, it was a great setting to bring together the local watch community and spend some time with a selection of the Maison’s latest releases and some of the brand’s more complicated timepieces.
Joining us from Vacheron Constantin were Quentin Chalier, Brand Director Oceania, and Valentin Tremaud, Regional Training Manager, who flew in from Singapore just for the event, alongside several members of the Maison’s Sydney boutique team.
Across both evenings, guests had the opportunity to meet the team, learn more about the watches and, most importantly, get hands-on with some pieces that you don’t often get the chance to see together in one place.
An Intimate Dinner With Brisbane Collectors
The first evening was a more intimate affair, with both Chamath and I joining a handful of prominent collectors for dinner in the penthouse at W Brisbane.
With the city lights and river views providing the backdrop, it was a chance to sit down with fellow enthusiasts and spend some time talking watches. Vacheron Constantin has a history stretching back to 1755, and its catalogue covers a considerable amount of ground, from the more contemporary Overseas collection through to traditional dress watches and some of the most complicated movements in modern watchmaking.
Having representatives from the Maison there also gave the evening a more personal feel, with collectors able to hear directly from the people who work with the watches and discuss the different collections in greater detail.
The smaller dinner set the scene for the following evening, when we welcomed a larger group of Watch Advice readers to continue the experience…
A Night With Vacheron Constantin At W Brisbane
The second evening brought the entire Watch Advice team together with more than 30 readers and collectors for a cocktail night in the penthouse. The evening began with cocktails and canapés, followed by opening remarks from Chamath Gamage, Quentin Chalier and Valentin Tremaud before guests had the chance to explore the watches on display.
With the Vacheron Constantin team on hand throughout the evening, there was plenty of opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the pieces and try them on. The selection covered quite a range, including the South (brown) and East (blue) Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points, pieces from the Traditionnelle and Patrimony collection, high-end perpetual calendars and an Égérie with a fully gem-set dial, case and bracelet, among others.
The Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points models were among the highlights, particularly for anyone who enjoys a sportier watch with a useful complication; plus, these were one of the standout releases from Watches & Wonders this year, and one collection that has garnered a lot of attention, as did the wider Overseas collection.
For those who prefer something more traditional, the Traditionnelle and Patrimony collections offered a different side of the Maison. The classical design and emphasis on fine watchmaking provided a contrast to the sportier Overseas, while the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin, alongside the Overseas Tourbillon Titanium in Deep Red, Vacheron Constantin released at the start of the year, demonstrated the more technically demanding work taking place within Vacheron Constantin.
Then there was the Égérie, which offered something quite different from the rest of the selection, with its fully gem-set dial, case and bracelet, and another rare piece, the Metiers d’Art Tribute to the Celestial “Virgo”, both of which brought a jewellery-focused and artisanal element to the evening and showed another side of Vacheron Constantin’s offering.
Getting Hands-On With The Watches
One of the things we enjoy most about hosting events like these is watching people get their hands on watches they’ve been following, sometimes for years, and finally seeing how they wear in person.
Photographs and specifications can tell you a lot about a watch, but they don’t always give you a proper sense of its proportions or how it wears and feels on your wrist. Having the opportunity to compare different models side by side is also useful, especially when you’re looking at watches from several collections with very different designs and purposes. If you are in the market for a new watch, this is a collector’s conundrum: what to get next? What do I need vs. what do I want?
Throughout the evening, guests moved between the different pieces, trying on the full range of pieces on display, of which there were about 20 watches from the team at Vacheron Constantin to get acquainted with.
Having Quentin, Valentin and members of the Sydney boutique team there to talk through the watches added another layer to the experience. It meant guests could ask questions and learn more about the thinking behind each piece while sharing their own impressions with other collectors.
That’s really what the Watch Advice Collector’s Circle is about. We want to create opportunities for people to come together, meet others who share their interest in watches and experience these pieces in a more personal setting. And if you are in the market for a new watch, then what better way to shop for a potential new piece than a relaxed evening with a brand?
A Special First For Brisbane
Hosting Vacheron Constantin in Brisbane for the first time across two evenings was a great experience for everyone involved. The intimate dinner gave a small group of collectors the chance to spend time with the Maison’s representatives, while the following night’s cocktail event opened the experience up to more collectors and gave them a chance to see watches that aren’t readily available in Brisbane, which, from the feedback on the night, they all loved.
Having such a varied selection of watches in one place made it particularly worthwhile, as outside of a boutique, it is hard to gather a collection that spans a vast array of collections and high complications, especially from the likes of a Holy Trinity brand like Vacheron Constantin.
A big thank-you to the Vacheron Constantin team for making both evenings possible. We’d also like to thank everyone who attended and helped make the events such an enjoyable experience.
For us at Watch Advice, it’s another step in bringing Australia’s watch community closer to the brands and watches we all enjoy. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on that with more events across the country, so keep an eye on Watch Advice and our Collector’s Circle for what’s coming next.
If you want to come to more events like these across the country, then join our Collectors Circle and stay tuned for more events and get-togethers.