The pleasures of collecting

Jul 29, 2014,12:07 PM
 

One of the chief pleasures in collecting Vacheron Constantin lies not with the watches themselves but with the books and other ephemera produced by the brand.

I just had the good luck to add a book published by VC in 2002 to my growing bookshelf of watch-related volumes.








The book is titled, and is indeed about, Horological Complications.




Among the pages we can read the statement by Francois Constantin that we are all so familiar with...in English translation...



...or more poetically, perhaps, in French:


The book is full of fabulous illustrations, drawn, painted and photographed.




There are special pages such as this cut out window page (I am sure there is a technical term for it) that overlays atop the image of the skeleton Malte Tourbillon. 




The text of the book is very interesting, presenting an overview of complications and how they and the basic movements of watches work.  It is fairly educational and very entertaining.  There are several profiles of individual collectors inside that are interesting to read as well. 

One of the things I admire about Vacheron Constantin is their publishing practice.  I am unaware of any other brand that has produced or continues to produce on a comparable level the often lavish and gorgeous books, large and small, that VC does.  These volumes have definitely added to my enjoyment of the watches, while providing something else to collect that is, well, less taxing on my bank account.  I hope that VC will uphold this publishing tradition, and it seems judging by the printed products of the past several years, that they have every intention of doing so. 

I am a happy reader.

Best,

respo


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Happy reading, my friend! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : July 29th, 2014-12:13
VC always makes such a nice books! :) Best Blomman

Fun fun! I collect vintage AP catalogs...

 
 By: Ancienne Le Brassus : July 29th, 2014-12:31
not as elaborate as the VC things... but I DO understand the draw!! Thanks for posting! S

I had best not get started with AP...

 
 By: respo : July 29th, 2014-13:15
...oops! Too late, I am afraid. What a great idea to collect vintage AP catalogs. Best, respo

;)

 
 By: Ancienne Le Brassus : July 29th, 2014-14:03
yes! The 80s stuff is easy to come by, but the earlier things... very very difficult!! I really love vintage AP's so... its great to see some of the late 40s, early 50s things! Thanks for sharing again! HAGD, S

I really enjoy the accesories and books.....

 
 By: WHL : July 29th, 2014-12:35
which make a nice sideline to collecting the watches. The gray VC wool scarf made the miserable weather of this past winter a bit more bearable. Bill

The scarf is both warm and elegant

 
 By: respo : July 29th, 2014-13:11
I love mine, too! But you know better than anyone my fetish for VC "stuff." ;-) Best, respo ...  

This is indeed the kind of goodies which makes you enjoy better your watches.

 
 By: amanico : July 29th, 2014-12:46
Have a lot of pleasure reading this one, my friend. Nicolas

Thanks, Robert, great photos!

 
 By: yesjb : July 29th, 2014-12:48
It's a great little book. Vacheron does a magnificent job on these publications. The other two you may like is the Patrimony in English and French and the 250th Anniversary masterpieces. Both are excellent with superb illustrations. They do have very nice... 

Is this the one?

 
 By: respo : July 29th, 2014-13:07
Thanks for looing, Joseph. I have the 250th Anniversary Masterpieces volume, and it is lovely (a similar size to the Horological Complications book I showed): I think I have the Patrimony book, too. Is this the one to which you are referring, Joseph? It i...  

Do you have the small....

 
 By: WHL : July 29th, 2014-14:25
Hallmark of Geneva book? All the info is on the VC site, but it's nice to have the criteria well-defined and in one place. Bill

Bill, I think the one you refer to is here

 
 By: respo : July 30th, 2014-05:30
Is it the one in the upper left corner of the photo below? The other books above are nice, too. There is one for the Quai de l'Ile, one for the Overseas, and one for the Metiers d'Arts. Each one is small but very nice. Best, respo ...  

Thanks for confirming!

 
 By: respo : July 30th, 2014-06:46
I would not want to have missed a VC publication that I have a chance of getting my hands on. ;-) Next up (soon): It is time for an update of one of my favorite kinds of threads -- a thread on the VC ephemera other than books. Best, respo

Yes, those are the ones!

 
 By: yesjb : July 30th, 2014-10:03
I thought you might already have them. They are all very well put together. Best, Joseph

Books, past catalogs and accessories

 
 By: bsbg : July 29th, 2014-15:14
Are indeed a great adjunct to the collection, while (usually) keeping the wallet happy until the next watch. Enjoy!

Yes, it is kind of a survival strategy...

 
 By: respo : July 29th, 2014-18:20
...between watches. ;-) Best, respo

I have a few of these books, Respo

 
 By: docsnov : July 29th, 2014-15:30
I have not paid for any of them, they have been gifts from VC. This is an added level of customer service/appreciation that I have only received from VC. The watches have to be first and foremost exceptional, but the added perks give me incentive to conti... 

When you explain it that way

 
 By: respo : July 29th, 2014-18:26
I can see that this is all part of VC's evil plan to keep us hooked. ;-) But I agree with you, Stewart, these kinds of publications presented as gifts are a really nice additional touch that helps to educate the consumer about the products and feel good a... 

Agree Respo that VC is not just a very respected watchmaker...

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 29th, 2014-19:46
but also a very respected watch literature publisher. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have a few watch books from various brands but haven't had the time to properly read them yet! Now I feel inspired! :) Cheers robin

Like you, I have more than I can read...

 
 By: respo : July 30th, 2014-05:26
The stack on my bedside table keeps growing. Thanks for looking, Robin. Best, respo

Respo, I could not agree with you more. I too have

 
 By: kpk : July 30th, 2014-08:21
amassed a considerable amount of VC literature, a lot of it thanks to a certain Mr. Ghotbi, and Rishab, a great guy who is VC Country Manager in the country I live in. I am actually planning to get a bookshelf made to house my mini-watch (more specificall... 

Well, please show us a picture of your bookcase when it is done

 
 By: respo : July 31st, 2014-08:33
Here are a few pics of the Patrimony book. It is a slim volume and more of a catalogue for the Patrimony line, but nice nonetheless. Best regards, respo ...  

Respo, will do so. It may take some time though. Thanks

 
 By: kpk : July 31st, 2014-09:17
for the picture of the Patrimony book. Among the three, which is your Collectors Island?

Not sure I understand the question

 
 By: respo : July 31st, 2014-13:25
Collectors' Island is a topic for another day, however. Best respo