A timeless celebration of art and precision marks the re-opening of the Vacheron Constantin Dubai boutique

24 September 2014, Dubai–Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest Haute Horlogerie manufacture with almost 260 years of uninterrupted history, commemorated the grand re-opening of its boutique in the Mall of the Emirates (MOE), Dubai. A true celebration of the essence of the watchmaker, the event took place at the Presidential Suite in the Kempinski Hotel, MOE, and was graced by Mr. Yann Bouillonnec, Vacheron Constantin’s International Director and Yassin Tag, Vacheron Constantin’sRegional Brand Director, in addition to select media and esteemed guests from the region.

As guests arrived, they were provided with a fitting welcome that is characteristic of the distinguished brand in the form of 21precision-filled heritage timepieces that were on display from Vacheron Constantin’s illustrious heritage collection in Geneva. The compilation is a flawless depiction of the quintessential craftsmanship that the brand has built a reputation on and possesses a diversity of historical watches including pocket-watches dating back to the 1700s while other pieces belonged to more recent years.In town to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Dubai boutique, these striking heritage timepieces were also part of an exclusive exhibition that took place subsequent to the boutique inauguration. A highlight among the heritage timepieces that graced the occasion was the exceptional Pocketwatch presented to Egyptian Monarch, King Fouad in 1929, one which is credited as Vacheron Constantin’s second most complicated pocket watch.  Another special feature was the Tour de l’Ile timepiece that was especially created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the historical brand.

Speaking out on the occasion, Mr. Tag said, “The re-opening of the Vacheron Constantin Dubai boutique is a proud moment for all of us. The revamped boutique has captured the spirit of Vacheron Constantin and followed the same design and decor standards that have been appreciated in our boutiques worldwide. Our internal boutique commits itself to serving our valuable clientele even better than ever and we look forward to nurturing our relationship with the discerning watch connoisseurs of the UAE, and the region.”

Vacheron Constantin’s newly reopened boutique in Dubai boasts of the same refined and sophisticated ambiance that its counterparts around the world do. A perfect blend of aesthetics and comfort, the boutique is a welcoming space that radiates an air of luxury and warmth to suit the tastes of its discerning clientele. Echoing the precision found in its collections is the architecture and décor of the boutique which also boasts of clean lines and beautiful design. Elegant showcases house the beautiful timepieces along with seven boutique exclusives that have been dedicated to the Dubai boutique. The beautiful boutique exclusives include among them the limited-edition Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day tourbillon open worked.

Traditionnelle 14-day tourbillon openworked model
Vacheron Constantin illustrates an unexpected encounter between tradition and modernity in its Traditionnelle 14-day tourbillon openworked model. Combining the tourbillon complication with the art of openworking, both of which were born at the dawn of the 19th century, the Manufacture transcends the codes of these ancestral skills to offer an eminently contemporary composition. Playing with a double three-dimensional effect stemming both from the architecture of the 2260 SQ movement and from its Gothic inspiration, the model displays impressive depth highlighted by components featuring cleverly destructured lines. At Vacheron Constantin, excellence and concern for detail are not confined to the movement, however exceptional it may be and revolves around the timepiece as a whole. 

Tour de l’Ile
Of all the wristwatches imagined and produced by Vacheron Constantin to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the Tour de l’Ile is a study in superlatives. It took the Vacheron Constantin design-engineers and the watchmakers over 10,000 hours of research and development to create this sheer masterpiece of horological technique, named in reference to one of the historical sites of the venerable firm, located next to the current Maison Vacheron Constantin on the Quai de l’Ile. Calling this a “Grande Complication” model is a dramatic understatement: it is fact the world’s most complex watch ever made, with its original combination of 16 complications that can be read off on a double-face display. Its design-engineers have developed a calibre, no less than 834 parts are housed within a case measuring 47 mm in diameter, smoothly integrating a series of grand horological complications and astronomical indications in order to make it a genuine wristwatch that is perfectly suited to and comfortable on the wrist.

The Fouad
It was in 1927 that Francis Peter, president of the Cairo Joint Tribunal and a Swiss citizen, visited Vacheron Constantin’s workshop in a bid to find a gift to be presented to King Fouad I of Egypt, a known collector of watches. Vacheron Constantin had already begun working on an exceptional timepiece with an array of complications and eight hands. Once completed, Francis Peter chose this movement and had it encased in yellow gold. Its case back was decorated with the royal coat of arms and its perimeter trimmed with diamonds, while the day and month indications were changed from English to French. The timepiece was presented to King Fouad in a sandalwood box decorated with the royal crown and the king’s monogram in Arabic. Inside the box, the year 1929 was inlaid in gold and flanked by the Swiss escutcheon and the Egyptian royal coat of arms painted on enamel. The inside of the double back cover of the pocket watch—known in watchmaking parlance as the cuvette—was engraved with the following words: A Sa Majesté Fouad 1er Hommage de la Colonie Suisse d’Egypte, which translates as “To His Majesty Fouad I Tribute from the Swiss Colony of Egypt. 

Boutique Exclusives
The boutique exclusives that can be found in Vacheron Constantin’s Dubai boutique include the following: Traditionnelle Lady, Traditionnelle Chronograph, Patrimony, Traditionnelle manual-winding and Patrimony Date Self-winding.