In the blistering heat of southern Utah’s canyon-filled desert, Vacheron Constantin drops a group of collectors off at the ultra-high-end luxury resort Amangiri. Getting there is no small feat. If you’re not flying in by private jet, you must connect through Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Phoenix before boarding a charter to nearby Page, Ariz. On this trip, Page closed early for runway work, forcing some guests into a five-hour drive from Las Vegas, while a lucky few snagged the last helicopter transfer. It’s a hell of a journey, which only adds to its exclusivity. The trek is part of a V.I.P.-only client experience to discover the new Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points.
The big draw? New versions of a popular iteration of its Overseas model finally put into regular production at the house. The timepiece veers confidently into tool-watch territory, separating it from other precious-metal and bracelet Overseas models. It comes in lightweight, durable titanium with a GMT function, 150 meters of water resistance, anti-magnetism, and two interchangeable rubber straps and bracelet, and its even sportier take on the Overseas line marks a serious new direction for the buttoned-up brand. The prototype, a one-of-one release in 2019, was pushed to the limit on the wrist of photographer and mountaineer Cory Richards as he attempted to summit Mount Everest. A small run of a Dual Time and Chronographs followed in 2021. Many clients expressed frustration that they couldn’t get their hands on one of the 300 examples in the limited edition (150 of each version were made); now, five years later, Cardinal Points has finally arrived.
Serious horology aficionados are used to waiting—even if lead times for coveted watches have become preposterous. “I’ve been collecting for almost 20 years now, and my first Vacheron experience in New York was one of the first times I walked into a boutique, found a watch I love, bought it, walked out with it, and wore it home,” says David K., a Los Angeles–based collector who preferred not to disclose his last name. Some are even turning away from other top-tier brands due to lack of transparency. “There’s all kinds of brands that I think have perverted the concept of luxury,” Miami-based collector Jason Barker says, referring to how some companies and retailers make you buy once a quarter until you get the watch you really want. He likes Vacheron Constantin because of the attentiveness to customers, the service, the experience and, as he puts it, “They just have really fun watches.”
But anyone who has roamed in watch-collecting circles for long enough can tell you it’s almost never just about the watches; it’s about the friendships formed through the hobby. “It’s the relationship [with the brand], and it’s the people who I adore, and it’s the main reason why I’m here,” David K. says. That sentiment is evident throughout the weekend as old friendships flourish and new ones form throughout the itinerary, which includes a five a.m. sunrise meditation, a dinner set within the canyons, or stargazing during a lecture on the cosmos.
Over lunch at Camp Sarika, Richards, fresh off a guided climb with guests, brings the moment full circle. “The only thing that I dislike about watches is that too often they’re actually not serving the ultimate purpose, which is to be present,” he says. “I wear this hat that literally says, ‘Holy shit, we’re alive,’ and so… I believe the ultimate purpose of a watch is to remind us of how special this moment actually is.” Just next to him is a fellow journalist with a tattoo on his forearm that reads, “Don’t die.” Laughter ensues when a guest suggests both slogans would make excellent caseback engravings.
The idea neatly captures the spirit of the trip. Connection to people and to one’s surroundings is the point. “The real reason why we brought you here is all about exploration, but it’s not only physical exploration, but really going a little bit beyond,” Alexander Schmiedt, president of Vacheron Constantin Americas, tells guests. And, according to the clients, that philosophy is selling. $41,000