Vacheron Constantin showcased two Égérie timepieces born of the creative collaboration between the Maison and its “One of Not Many” talent Yiqing Yin. One is a concept watch combining Haute Horlogerie, Haute Couture and Haute Parfumerie; the other is an exclusive 100-piece limited edition.
In 2018 the Maison launched a communication campaign, the ‘One of not Many’. It has brought together personalities whose different forms of art reflect the values dear to Vacheron Constantin. The Chinese-born, Paris-based Haute Couture designer Yiqing Yin is one of them, since 2020. She graduated from the ENSAD (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs) and she had her first fashion show during the Haute Couture Fashion Week of Paris in 2011. Since 2015 she is the official member of the Fédération Française de la Couture.
The two novelties stem from an artistic collaboration between her and Vacheron Constantin.
Égérie – The Pleats of Time, a concept watch
The first exciting creation orchestrates a dialogue between three worlds: Haute Horlogerie, Haute Couture and Haute Parfumerie.
The 37mm diamond-set pink gold Égéire watch is a one-of-a-kind creation, dressed up with a pleats patterned lilac mother-of-pearl dial. Yiqing Yin chose a soft lilac colour, ‘a feminine, evanescent shade like a delicate embodiment of a daydream’. She also has designed an exclusive strap with exquisite artistic embroidery, in which mother-of-pearl shards are inlaid between silk threads.
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Vacheron Constantin - Égérie - The Pleats of Time, a concept watch
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According to the designer, ‘this work recounts the sinuous course of water in a natural landscape, unfurling its scalloped volutes, somewhere between the fragility of shed snakeskin and the elegance of abstract lace. The irregularities adorning the strap bear the imprint of the human hand, creating a visual dialogue with the pure geometry of the dial.’
The watchmaking Maison and the Haute Couture designer also called on Dominique Ropion to craft an original fragrance that is encapsulated in the watch strap. Ropion is a French star perfumer, who has worked with several fragrance brands, including Christian Dior, Thierry Mugler, Lancôme, Givenchy, Issey Miyake, Yves Saint Laurent, Paco Rabanne or Frédéric Malle. He is a master perfumer at IFF, American leading corporation specialised in bioscience, chemistry, flavours and fragrances.
Ropion created a scent, dedicated to this unique cooperation. As he explains, it was about ‘creating a fragrance that would be universal, like time itself. A mineral scent with pastel, wintry, powdery and iridescent notes, playing with the sun and wisps of smoke.’ The final fragrance has ‘mineral and marine accord of ozonic notes and galbanum; notes of lavender and orange blossom; winter freshness based on a honeysuckle and immortelle accord; iridescent highlights with tuberose and ylang-ylang; sunshine in a bottle conveyed by orange and lemon; wisps of time passing through incense (olibanum, myrrh, opoponax) and oud’.
Due to an innovative process by a French company specializing in nanoencapsulation, the droplets of fragrance concentrate were encapsulated. Each component of the strap (lining, loop, embroidery, etc.) was then steeped in these encapsulations. The perfume contained in the nanocapsules is released randomly, as the strap rubs against the skin and in step with wrist movements.
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Vacheron Constantin booth set for the Égérie - The Pleats of Time watches, with Yiqing Yin dress
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Égérie moon phase – exclusive 100-piece limited edition
The latest Égérie line debuted in 2020 in pink gold, white gold and in stainless steel – we shot a few great pieces back then.
The 2024 novelty co-designed with Yiqing Yin has a 37 mm diamond-set pink gold case, with a crown at 2 o’clock aligned with the moon phase and the Vacheron Constantin inscription at 8 o’clock. The lilac-coloured mother-of-pearl dial alternates smooth surface and pleated motif decoration.
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Vacheron Constantin Égérie moon phase
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The Égérie moon phase opts for interchangeable straps; lilac alligator leather for an elegant tone-on-tone effect, night blue satin-effect calfskin or powder pink grained calfskin leather. At the caseback we can see the 1088 L mechnical, self-winding Manufacture calibre and Yiqing Yin name, which is engraved on the back, along with the number of this highly exclusive 100-piece limited edition.
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Vacheron Constantin Égérie moon phase
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Vacheron Constantin Égérie moon phase
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Photo credits: Loupiosity.com
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