Watches have evolved from merely telling time to expressing status, taste, and now even personal choices. Thanks to the experimental nature of luxury watchmakers, enthusiasts can now indulge in two passions within a single object. Case in point, quite literally, is Vacheron Constantin’s Égérie – The Pleats of Time, a concept watch unveiled at Watches And Wonders 2024. The timepiece adds a fragrant dimension to the passage of time through a sweet-smelling collaboration between the Swiss watchmaker, Paris-based couturier Yiqing Yin, and Dominique Ropion, the renowned perfumer behind popular fragrances like Paco Rabanne’s Lady Million and Frédéric Malle’s Portrait Of A Lady, as reported by Vogue.
The 37mm pink gold timepiece captivates onlookers with its feminine subtlety and a dazzling array of diamonds on the bezel, as well as the powdered lilac mother-of-pearl dial highlighting the moon phase. The dial also features the Vacheron Constantin logo at 8 o’clock, and the crown positioned at 2 o’clock in an unconventional placement to achieve the perfect balance. Beyond its alluring aesthetics, the timepiece engages the senses with a dedicated fragrance infused within the strap itself.
Ropion has crafted an original scent that interacts with the wearer randomly upon contact with the skin or during movement. In the hustle and bustle of life, the Égérie – The Pleats of Time serves as a sweet reminder while also keeping track of time. The fragrance opens with notes of lavender and orange blossom, followed by tuberose and ylang-ylang, enriching the olfactory experience.
The timepieces, featuring a mother-of-pearl dial adorned with a ‘pleats’ pattern, are complemented by an original Haute Couture strap woven with exquisite embroidery and mother-of-pearl shards; it is, after all, the world’s first perfume watch. The collection includes two timepieces: one with the perfume and the other an exclusive 100-piece limited edition bearing Yiqing Yin’s name engraved on the caseback. It also includes three interchangeable straps in color shades developed by the Haute Couture designer.
Yiqing Yin explains, ‘this work recounts the sinuous course of water in a natural landscape, unfurling its scalloped volutes, somewhere between the fragility of shed snakeskin and the elegance of abstract lace. The irregularities adorning the strap bear the imprint of the human hand, creating a visual dialogue with the pure geometry of the dial.’
The Égérie concept watch is completed with a stunning Haute Couture dress. ‘The light fabrics swirl around the body, creating a pleated, swirling showcase of supernatural hues, evoking the moiré dial diffractions. This undulating silhouette, in harmony with the body, offers a suppleness suspended in time, culminating in the wearer’s movement and the caress of the elements.’
