Vacheron Constantin's Rarest Watches: The Ancient Art AI Can't Replace | Inside the Archives Ep. 2

Watches are instruments. Until they're not. In Episode 2 of Vacheron Constantin: Inside the Archives – our deep-dive series into the untold stories of the world's oldest watchmaker — Andrew McUtchen sits down with Vacheron Constantin's Chief Heritage and Style Officer Christian Selmoni and collector Justin Hast to explore the ancient decorative arts that define what Vacheron truly is: not just a watchmaker, but a guardian of a disappearing intelligence. We're talking enamel. Engraving. Guillochage. Gem-setting. Four crafts that nearly died in the 1970s and '80s — and the small group of people, led in no small part by Christian, who brought them back. On the table: a 1915 pendant watch with an ivory case and cameo you'll never legally see made again. A 1950 cloisonné dial so coveted at auction, it's essentially a six-figure pipe dream. The Angels & Demons Infinite Universe — a tessellation so subversive, Vacheron locked the prototype in a safe for a year before releasing it. And the jaw-dropping second chapter of the Louvre Ancient Civilizations collection, 15 pieces per execution, using original-source stones from the same regions as the artworks that inspired them. Christian makes an argument you won't hear anywhere else: that the hand has its own intelligence. That enamelling isn't just painting — it's knowing at what temperature your blue will die if your red fires hotter. That these crafts are, blessedly, untouched by AI and untouchable by it. If complications are being homogenised, métier d'art is the last frontier. But only if collectors keep showing up. Subscribe. Watch episodes 1 and 2 – two more episodes to go, but the journey's just getting started. ------------------------------- 00:00 Intro 01:14 History and archives of Vacheron Constantin 04:16 Importance of decorative crafts in watchmaking 06:44 Revival of metiers d'art in the early 2000s 10:17 Showcasing historic ladies' and men's watches 14:32 Collector insights on rare enamel and cloisonné dials 18:16 Modern artistic craftsmanship and collaboration 26:09 Great Civilizations series and modern reinterpretation 34:18 Closing thoughts ------------------------------- https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/ ------------------------------- Read more articles: https://timeandtidewatches.com Shop: https://shop.timeandtidewatches.com ------------------------------- MB01OTIXZLPJ5VH INSTAGRAM @timetidewatches TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=timeandtidewatches T+T Shop Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timetideshop/