Vacheron Constantin’s Anatomy Of Beauty On Display In NYC

Whether you’re an art lover, a timepiece aficionado, or just looking for something extraordinary to do while in NYC this summer, don’t miss The Anatomy of Beauty at the Vacheron Constantin flagship at 28 East 57^th Street. Running through September, the exhibition showcases some of the Swiss watch brand’s most enigmatic pieces, shedding new light on each within an imaginative context that relies on nature.

In recent years the New York flagship boutique has often served as a vehicle to share Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to the arts. Such American artists as Chris Burden, photographer Cory Richards, and pop artist Jojo Anavim have displayed their works here, alongside the company’s equally artful watches, resulting in an inspiring juxtaposition of aesthetics and disciplines. This summer’s exhibit includes New York artist Melissa McGill’s These Waters (2022), which serves as centerpiece. The sculptural installation was created at the invitation of Vacheron Constantin, whose support made it possible.

These Waters comprises five large-scale photographs of New York’s Hudson River on glass, with panels leaning against each other and on the wall, making them appear to be portals into the waters. Their size and placement evoke the rise and fall of the tides, which prompts the viewer to consider the preciousness of water, and the interplay of light, reflection, transparency, shadow and ephemerality suggest a oneness with nature.

So, too, coral structures and skeletonized watch movements are juxtaposed, and their respective loveliness creates a memorable intimacy. A watch movement, while mechanical, appears organic alongside the work of nature, which builds its own openwork architecture in the ocean’s coral.

Rarities on Display

A rare platinum limited edition repeating watch from 2006, with a skeletonized dial, is on special display during the exhibition. This 37mm Skeleton Minute Repeater is powered by the caliber 1755, with 330 parts and a thickness of just 3.30 mm; its wheels and bridges are hand engraved to perfection.

Moving forward in time, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar is a stunning contemporary example of the company’s expertise in skeletonization. The gold timepiece is powered by the ultra-thin perpetual calendar caliber 1120 QPSQ/1.

An exquisite yellow gold pocket watch (ca. 1822) set with amethyst in a delicate wave pattern is an example of Vacheron Constantin’s passion for beauty and its proficiency in gem setting. Its gold dial has an engine-turned center and 12 Roman numerals, as well as an outer minute track. A contemporary example of this métier d’art is the diamond-set Égérie ladies collection on display. The signature of the Égérie is an off-centered subdial revealing the date or moon phase, and its dial pattern is inspired by a tapestry technique. The crown is engagingly placed on the case at 1:30 o’clock.

Another limited edition, “Les Masques,” created in 2007, recounts a thousand years of history across four continents: twelve masks from the Barbier-Mueller Museum’s collection are depicted via a sculpted gold plate on each watch dial. The timepieces are equipped with the caliber 2460 G4.

The Anatomy of Beauty, Vacheron Constantin’s flagship boutique, 28 E. 57th St., New York, now through September 2022.