Mountaineer, photographer and storyteller Cory Richards opens up to Joshua Hendren about climbing Everest wearing Vacheron Constantin, his life travelling, the reality of exploration in a Q&A for Issue 16 – check it out below
Adventure has shaped every part of Cory Richards’ career. The iconic American explorer has spent much of his life travelling to some of the world’s most remote and unforgiving landscapes, documenting both the physical and emotional realities of exploration.
Cory’s Background
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Richards first rose to prominence in the mountaineering world for his groundbreaking ascents, including becoming one of the first Americans to summit Gasherbrum II – an 8,035-metre peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range – in the winter of 2011.
The expedition, completed without supplemental oxygen, is still regarded as one of the toughest winter climbs ever achieved. But Richards’ work has always extended beyond the summit.
As a contributing photographer for National Geographic and other major publications, he has used his camera lens to explore themes of resilience, identity and the psychological toll of life on the edge. Indeed, one of his most striking and famous images is a self-portrait of his own shocked, ice-covered face, taken just an hour after digging himself out of an avalanche on the slopes of Gasherbrum II that almost killed him and two other veteran climbers.
Vacheron Constantin Collaboration
That approach to storytelling is precisely what drew Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watchmaker in continuous production, to Richards. For the historic Swiss maison, whose Overseas collection has long been the ultimate traveller’s companion, Richards represents a modern kind of explorer, someone drawn not only to the physical challenge of adventure but also to the personal journey it brings.
Their collaboration began when Richards field-tested a prototype of what would eventually become the new Overseas Dual Time ‘Cardinal Points’ during his 2019 ascent of Mount Everest, where it was subjected to extreme cold and altitude.
Now, Vacheron Constantin has unveiled the finished watch. Crafted entirely in titanium, the 41mm Overseas Dual Time ‘Cardinal Points’ collection features four coloured dials inspired by the four cardinal directions – north, south, east and west. Inside beats the manufacture calibre 5110 DT/3, equipped with dual-time functionality, a day-night indicator and date display making it ideal for travellers navigating multiple time zones.
To celebrate the launch, we caught up with Richards to talk about exploration, the new timepiece and why the idea of the compass still holds meaning in an age when much of the world already appears mapped.
Q&A with Cory Richards
Was there ever a moment on an expedition when you needed to rely on the watch?
CR: I needed my Vacheron Constantin Overseas constantly. In extreme environments, precise time management is critical, as speed can literally mean the difference between life and death.
Did you find yourself checking the time during the night, in those long hours on the mountain?
Absolutely. I spend many late nights in the dark, and the Overseas’ Super-LumiNova ensures I can always read the time, which is vital for planning and safety.
Did the watch feel more like a piece of equipment or a connection to home?
It felt like a profound connection, much more than just equipment. This Vacheron Constantin Overseas is an expression of years of refinement and effort, reflecting my entire journey.
At 25,000 feet on Everest, what did the dual-time function represent for you?
At 25,000 feet, the Overseas Dual Time was essential for managing the complexities of the expedition, allowing me to track both local time for critical decisions and home time.
The Overseas Dual Time is designed as a travel companion – what features do you personally value most in a watch when you’re moving through extreme environments?
I value the reliability and precision of my Vacheron Constantin timepiece, as it helps me optimize time where speed equates to safety. Its craftsmanship and robust design are paramount in extreme environments.
This model is made entirely in titanium. In extreme environments, how much difference does weight and durability actually make?
The titanium components of the Overseas make a huge difference. Its lightness and robustness directly contribute to my endurance and the watch’s reliability, which can be life-saving.
Your work often captures moments of stillness in very extreme places – what makes a scene worth photographing for you?
A scene is worth photographing when it tells a story of human evolution, the willingness to embrace discomfort and the profound connection we find when pushing our limits in the wild.
As a mountaineer, which cardinal point occupies the most special place in your heart and why?
I think for me East is where I begin because so much of my work stands in the East – in the Central Asian Plateau, Tibet, Nepal, India – the places that drew me to the larger mountain ranges. Those are the places that I have longed for since I was a child. In my career since then, I’ve photographed north of the Arctic Circle, all the way to Antarctica and all the way back west.
The interesting thing is that if you go far enough North, you’ll start going South and if you go far enough East, you’ll start going West. It’s an infinite loop. And it’s not just the cardinal points; they’re only the jumping-off point to northwest, northeast, southwest and so on. Like time and like life itself, it’s a constantly revolving sphere that inevitably leads you back to yourself and to where you started.
So, any of those points are representative not only of where you go, but where you are. Because you’ll always come back to that place. But if I had to choose one, I would say East because that’s where it really started for me.
After years of exploration, what still motivates you to keep seeking out remote places?
I’m driven by the continuous journey of self-discovery and the unfolding of countless new experiences. Seeking remote places allows me to evolve and explore myself, art, and the planet, a mindset perfectly embodied by my Vacheron Constantin watch.
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