Vacheron Constantin Teams Up with The MET for ‘Masterpiece on Your Wrist’ Program

Classical works of art emerge as miniature masterpieces in a new collaboration between Swiss luxury watchmaker Vacheron Constantin and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET) in a harmonious union of artistry and horology.

Rooted in the legacies of both institutions as patrons of the arts and cultural preservation, the Masterpiece on your Wrist program celebrates craftsmanship and creativity.

Originally conceived in 2019, the concept centers around inviting patrons to commission one-of-a-kind timepieces, featuring reproductions of iconic artworks.

The project’s latest expansion in 2023 brings in renowned pieces from The MET’s collection, including works by Claude Monet, Winslow Homer, Vincent van Gogh, and Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

An extended experience is offered to clients as part of the package, with private tours of The MET and Vacheron Constantin’s Geneva Manufacture, where master artisans craft each unique timepiece.

“We are delighted to partner with Vacheron Constantin and are grateful for their support of The MET’s mission, which aligns with the esteemed watchmaker’s own longstanding efforts to celebrate creativity and preserve artistic traditions,” says Max Hollein, The MET’s Marina Kellen French director and CEO.

Two distinct techniques, miniature enamel painting and grisaille enameling, bring these masterworks to life on the watch dials.

Miniature enamel painting, an extremely rare craft mastered by only a few artisans worldwide, involves meticulous hand-painting onto a layer of baked enamel. The technique allows intricate details and brushstrokes to be captured in vivid color, making it ideal for reproductions of iconic works such as Monet’s Water Lilies and van Gogh’s A Wheatfield, with Cypresses.

The art of grisaille enameling, meanwhile, employs the building of translucent, monochromatic layers on a dark enamel base to evoke a light and shadow effect. The method creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, perfectly suited to create the illusion of sculpture such as the statue Diana by Saint-Gaudens.

“We look forward to collaborating on a number of unique projects that build on our mutual commitment to education and the arts,” Hollein says.

The first of several planned projects in the collaboration, the Masterpiece on your Wrist partnership embodies a shared passion for conserving cultural heritage, and enriching the artistic landscape for generations to come.