‘Pioneers of the Exceptional’ at Harrods exhibition
To coincide with Harrods’ 175th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin is hosting ‘Pioneers of the Exceptional’, an immersive experience hosted in a 20-seat cinema within the iconic department store. The star of the show is a pièce unique, Les Cabintotiers Armillary Tourbillon, a marriage of Haute Horlogerie and Haute Joaillerie, executed in Harrods’ green.
Vacheron Constantin will also exhibit some of its private collection, including historic watches and pocket watches from the late 1800s. The ‘Pioneers of the Exceptional’ runs from 19 June – 21 July (pre-booking is recommended). Angus Davies begins this feature by looking at Geneva, home of Vacheron Constantin and the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking, a place that has made this exhibition possible.
The birthplace of Swiss watchmaking
If you happen to find yourself in Geneva, craving a spot of retail therapy, then I recommend that you visit Rue du Rhône, a shopper’s paradise where luxury labels abound. However, should you have the time to look beyond the designer clothes and jewellery-filled shop windows, may I suggest you venture into the ‘Old Town of Geneva’.
It does necessitate walking up steep, cobbled streets, but once you’ve caught your breath, you will discover abundant quaintness and a vibrant café culture. But don’t pause for too long, one apéro is enough for anyone. And, just before you’re tempted to sample the nearby culinary delights, walk to the old city walls of Geneva to take in the views of neighbouring France. The nearby nation almost encircles Geneva and has often influenced the city’s history.
In the latter part of the 17th century, French Protestants (Huguenots), fleeing persecution from Catholic France sought sanctuary in England, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and, most notably, Switzerland. Between 1680 and 1689, approximately 30,000 refugees settled in Geneva, partly due to its close proximity to France and also because of John Calvin (1509 – 1564).
Calvin, a French Protestant and famous theologian, fled his home nation and arrived in Geneva in July 1536 where he was warmly received by the small Protestant community. Although he was expelled from the city in 1538, spending time in Strasbourg, at the time a German Protestant city, he was later invited back to Geneva in 1541 where he governed the city with a rod of iron. Morality was strictly enforced. In particular, adultery, dancing, gambling, swearing and even the use of religious names was forbidden. Furthermore, the consumption of alcohol was restricted.
Many of the French refugees were accomplished craftspeople, known for making wonderful pieces of jewellery. However, in Calvin’s Geneva, lavish expenditure was frowned upon. Moreover, the rules governing jewellery forbade the making of ‘crosses, chalices and instruments of popish idolatry’. As a result, this group of talented artisans repurposed their talents for the making of watches. It is against this political and religious backdrop that Geneva became the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking. Ultimately these skills migrated to other parts of Switzerland, typically French-speaking regions, but everything began in Geneva; the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking.
Vacheron Constantin depuis 1755
‘Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watch Manufacture in continuous production for nearly 270 years’ and has had a constant presence in the city since 1755. The Maison’s story began when Jean-Marc Vacheron, a master watchmaker, just 24 years of age, recruited his first apprentice.
Over the years, the esteemed Maison has become known for crafting highly complicated timepieces. Indeed, the Reference 57260, released in 2015, is the most complicated watch ever made (a total of 57 complications). Throughout its history, the Swiss marque has created watches for the great and the good, including aristocrats, royalty, prominent political figures, etc.
A name often associated with Haute Horlogerie, Vacheron Constantin has also amassed expertise in several complementary artistic disciplines, termed métiers d’art. At its modern-day facility, located on the outskirts of Geneva, artisans enrich watches with intricate hand-engravings, hand-guilloché, enamel dials, as well as expertly applied gems. Each discipline is performed with notable patience and skill.
Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers
Les Cabinotiers is the ultimate expression of exclusivity where one-off creations are crafted over many months, sometimes years, for the delectation of purists. The aforementioned Reference 57260 was the product of a client’s imagination, brought to life by a team of highly talented master watchmakers over eight years.
The name ‘Les Cabinotiers’ is a reference to the tall buildings, some with five or six floors, that punctuated Geneva’s skyline back in the 18th century. The attics within these buildings, termed ‘cabinets’, featured large windows that drank in natural light, illuminating the workbenches. The craftspeople working in the attics were termed ‘cabinotiers’ and comprised of the finest watchmakers, enamellers, engravers and goldsmiths.
Incidentally, if you ever find yourself in Geneva, I suggest that while walking along Rue du Rhône, you make a short detour and pop around the corner to Tour de I’ile, a tower set on an island. This tall building was home to Vacheron Constantin from 1844 to 1875 and provides a wonderful example of Geneva’s architectural past.
Vacheron Constantin in Harrods
For those individuals who may not have time to visit Geneva, Vacheron Constantin is providing a taste of its watchmaking expertise in Knightsbridge. To coincide with the 175th anniversary of Harrods, the Swiss marque is staging an extraordinary event at the prestigious department store in London.
The event, titled ‘Pioneers of the Exceptional’, provides an insight into the work of the Maison and its relationship with Harrods over the years. The temporary exhibition will showcase some of the Manufacture’s rare, historically significant watches. Harrods and Vacheron Constantin also invite horophiles to visit a special ’20-seat cinema room’, created speficially for the event, and immerse themselves in a ‘multi-sensory 4D VR experience’.
Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon x Harrods
Marking Harrods’ 175-year anniversary, Vacheron Constantin has created a pièce unique, Les Cabintotiers Armillary Tourbillon; a high complication platinum watch enriched with 671 brilliant cut diamonds. The timepiece is dressed in verdant hues, a respectful nod to the London-based retailer and its favourite hue. Recesses in the mainplate and bridges have been created to accommodate green-toned mother-of-pearl inlays.
This is not the first time that Vacheron Constantin has made an Armillary Tourbillon. Indeed, my colleague Mark McArthur-Christie wrote about the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Armillary tourbillon perpetual calendar-Planetaria a couple of years ago. Unlike most tourbillons that feature one cage, the armillary employs two cages to counter the adverse influence of gravity on the rate. The watch also incorporates a cylindrical balance spring which promises superior isochronism and thereby outstanding accuracy.
Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon is endowed with the Calibre 1990, a movement that features cutting-edge silicium components and some of the brand’s revolutionary patented inventions, first seen on the aforementioned Reference 57260.
‘Pioneers of the Exceptional’ – additional information
- Screenings take place every 30 minutes
- Monday to Saturday: 10:30am – 8:30pm
- Sunday: 12:00pm – 5:30pm
- Bookings available at: https://xydrobe.com/products/harrods-x-vacheronconstantin