It’s not easy when you have more than 270 years of history to do something brand new. But that sort of creative daring is what has kept Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watchmaker in the continuous existence, at the top of the game. This year, the brand released a vibrant line-up of novelties at Watches and Wonders that pairs a fresh perspective on its impressive heritage. The feminine highlight of the year is the Égérie Moon Phase Spring Blossom, which honours artisanal crafts and the dialogue between haute horlogerie and haute couture.
This limited-edition timepiece elevates and brings the Égérie collection’s haute couture inspiration into a new dimension. Crafted in pink gold, this 100-piece edition is the first watch by Vacheron Constantin to feature a hand-painted leather strap. The design of the watch evokes with dreamy romance the plush colours of springtime, expressed on the calfskin strap with delicate motifs of printemps blooms. Each is unique thanks to its hand-painted nature.
Vacheron Constantin has a long history of working with métiers d’art techniques, but that spirit of finding new avenues of expression means it never sits still. Sandrine Donguy, the brand’s product and creation director, describes the maison’s role in this regard as “a guardian of traditional decorative handcrafts”. First, by taking an established form such as miniature hand-painting; and second, she says, “by applying it in a way not previously done—to the strap, rather than the dial or case”. The value of ingenuity like that, says Donguy, contributes to the artistic forms of watchmaking “not only in using them but also ensuring their continuity and relevance by innovating, experimenting and evolving them in new directions”.
The result is a timepiece that expands its artistry beyond just the dial and case. That’s not to say the rest of the watch isn’t artfully conceived as well. The design of the Égérie Moon Phase Spring Blossom transforms the collection’s signature details with the aesthetics of spring’s elegance. Lustrous mother-of-pearl clouds and a golden moon paint a picture of a night sky in the moon phase window, which is framed delicately in gold and with diamonds, and placed asymmetrically at 1.30 on the watch. The crown, positioned to match the moon phase display, is set with a moonstone cabochon with a milky, celestial look. The dial is crafted from pink mother-of-pearl, with the Égérie collection’s signature pleated motif at its centre that recalls the plissage of haute couture creations.
And just as in couture where you might change an outfit to match your mood, the Égérie Moon Phase Spring Blossom comes too with two additional pairs of easily interchangeable straps to transform and modulate the look: shiny pink alligator leather for a classical feel, and blush pink grosgrain fabric that pairs swimmingly with evening silks. But it is the hand-painted calfskin strap with pink spring blossoms that is most unique, and which elevates this timepiece to a complete object of beauty and artistry.
The July/August 2026 ‘Audacity’ edition of Vogue Singapore is available to pre-order online.
