First Vacheron Constantin Auction Beating World Records

Vacheron Constantin replica watch

The world records were the following:

• More than 18.1 million Swiss francs ($15 million), the biggest amount ever raised in a thematic watch auction.
• Sale of the King Fouad I pocket watch (1929) for 3,306,250 Swiss francs ($2.7 million) that was named the most sought after Vacheron Constantin pocket watch and the 5th most sought after in the world.
• Sale of the Tour de I'lle, a new double-faced astronomic watch containing visible tourbillion for 1,876,250 (more than $1.5 million), a world record for a modern wristwatch.
• The sale of Saint-Gervais, a very special gentleman's watch in platinum made to symbolize the company's quarter millennium including an incredible 250 hour power reserve, one minute tourbillion regulator and perpetual calendar, sold for 446,250 Swiss francs ($374,000).

This sale undoubtly confirms Vacheron Constantin's importance in the world of watch collecting qnd reasserts its place in the top of watch manufacturers. Vacheron Constantin officials consider it to be the start of a new direction for the highly-respected watchmaker which promised to be more active in the world of fine watch auctions.

Vacheron Constantin has also taken part in the 15th biggest annual luxury watch show SIHH, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva. This is probably the best-known Swiss luxury watch show in the global trade. It was closed April 10 with its largest attendance and great business results for its participating brands. Geneva, the Swiss city, a tradition center of fine watchmaking, is becoming an annual home to a growing number of events organized for retailers of luxury timepieces from around the world, especially the United States.

Vacheron Constantin Replica

The invitation-only show greeted about 11,500 visitors (including 1,100 journalists) coming from more than 30 countries. That was 15% more than 2004. Most were from Europe, including eastern Europe, but there were also more visitors from the United States and from Brazil and Mexico showing increasingly strong interest. There was also quiet a big number of visitors from Asia and Japan. Among the famous celebrities invited to the show were international singing star Seal, some 30 international film, TV, and sports celebrities including Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett of Australia, international tennis champion Boris Becker of Germany, and international track and Olympic champions Edwin Moses and Michael Johnson of the United States.

This year’s SIHH took part in larger quarters in a new hall in Geneva’s Palexpo convention center that offered it 24,000 square meters that is 20% more than its former site in another hall. Substantial investments by the show and its exhibitors made it possible for the new site to have a totally new and more spacious layout with considerable areas for each exhibitor, avenues, nice and convenient eating areas and coffee bars, a business center, and even an exhibition on the chronograph. It provided the best possible conditions for working and building contacts.

Most of SIHH’s 16 exhibitors are owned by Richemont, the major Swiss luxury goods group which started SIHH 15 years ago. Several of its brands are on the show committee; others are well-known independents. Besides Vacheron Constantin the vendors included Van Cleef & Arpels, Baume & Mercier, Montblanc, Piaget, IWC, Panerai, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne, Dunhill, Parmigiani, Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux, Roger Dubuis, and Jean Richard. All of them were really satisfied with contacts and orders at the end of the show’s week.

Everybody witnessed some great news at the SIHH.

Vacheron Constantin debuted the Tour de l’Ile, the world’s most complicated wristwatch and Baume & Mercier (175 years).

Italian watchmaker Panerai announced a new licensing agreement with the Formula One Ferrari racing team, as a result it will produce and sell a line of watches for Ferrari. The first should go on sale in 2006.

Audemars Piguet, which had sales totaling 240 million francs in 2004, produced 21,000 watches. It is aiming for more than 270 million in sales and a production of 24,000 watches in 2005. The Swiss luxury watch brand also aims to expand its facilities at Brassus, Switzerland.

SIHH has proved to be a veritable city of fine watches and the center of prestigious watchmaking. The show, which originally began with five exhibitors, has become a major international event in Geneva, second only in economic impact to the Geneva Motor Show.