Vacheron Constantin

In the auto business, they devote a lot of attention to NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) as a subjective component of the customer's decision to purchase.  The targets change over the years and currently they have sound engineers fiddling with the exhaust to create just the right sounds.  They've done similar engineering with steering wheel feedback, road noise, etc., etc., even to change the NVH value of a component shared between models to suit sporty or luxury pretensions.  This is all contrived and not related to actual performance.  I view your comments about the feel of the winding mechanism in the same light.  I have watches that feel stiff, and others that feel silky, while some let you know every click of the ratchet wheel.  Performance is what counts; reliability and accuracy.  

With regards to performance, I would rage alongside you about the unreliability you've experienced with your watch.  3X in for service and you are left without confidence in the reliability of this very expensive watch.  Damn right you should be heard!  If you have access to the 1994 Antiquorum auction catalog, The Art of Vacheron Constantin, you may be slightly amused to read that the salesman Francois Constantin back in 1820 was constantly communicating back to the factory the need to improve reliability as this was the foremost complaint of his customers.  "Do better if possible, and that is always possible".  Makes a nice slogan but until VC comes up with customer service performance guarantees, it remains a slogan.  Another favorite of mine from the savvy Mr. Constantin in 1821 while in Italy: "let us concentrate on reliability, for these splendid watchmakers have no taste for a fine watch that stops; they prefer an ordinary one which does not stop".

Keep in mind, the Geneva Seal criteria ends once the watch leaves the factory and, like COSC, provides no guarantees to the customer.

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