When the world’s most famous department store teams up with the world’s oldest watch manufacturer in continuous production, you know something special will be the result.
This year, Harrods is celebrating its 175th anniversary (still a veritable spring chicken compared to Vacheron’s 269 years) – and the two historic companies have teamed up for something impressively modern.
From 11 June, the pair are launching an immersive experience examining the art of high watchmaking entitled ‘Pioneers of the Exceptional’ – an accolade both brands can proudly declare.
It begins with a multi-sensory 4D virtual reality experience – ‘The Exceptional Voyage’ powered by Xydrobe – before leading to an exhibition of some of Vacheron Constantin’s most historically significant watches alongside relevant archival images from Harrods.
And the jewel of this particular crown? Vacheron has created a Les Cabinotiers timepiece especially for the celebration.
The journey starts before you even enter the store, as Vacheron Constantin is also taking over Harrods’ Hans Crescent windows with a series of thematic displays showing the story behind the brand alongside the Maison’s key collections.
Head up to the fifth floor, and you’ll begin the experience in a 20-seat cinema room inaugurated for the occasion before heading to the exhibition space inspired by rarely seen Harrods vaults, wherein you’ll be able to see the one-of-one Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon – High Jewellery watch for the first time,
Entirely set with 671 brilliant-cut diamonds, this literally unique platinum watch delivers a striking contrast between the brilliance of its precious stones and the Harrods-approved matt-green mother-of-pearl adorning the mainplate and bridges.
It’s fitted with the in-house manual-winding movement Calibre 1990, featuring an instantaneous double retrograde display of time indications coupled with a bi-axial armillary tourbillon.
Tourbillons are impressive in isolation, but the whole set-up goes intergalactic when you introduce an “armillary” sphere into the equation. The name refers to the work of Antide Janvier (1751-1835), who designed an astronomical clock with a moving “armillary” sphere – an incredible rarity in a wristwatch.
We’ve only just scratched the surface of this watch here – but if you want to know more, go and check it out for yourself before finishing your trip to Harrods at the Vacheron Constantin boutique and Harrods’ Fine Watch room on the ground floor.
When two brands share 444 years of experience, it’s well worth an afternoon of your time.
Screenings of 'The Exceptional Voyage' take place every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday: 10:30am – 8:30pm and Sunday: 12:00pm – 5:30pm. Booking is available at xydrobe.com
