VACHERON CONSTANTIN – LES CABINOTIERS Minute Repeater Tourbillon Skeleton Gold - Unique Piece

VACHERON CONSTANTIN – LES CABINOTIERS Minute Repeater Tourbillon Skeleton 45mm Gold - Unique Pièce 2026 

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Mechanical complexity laid bare 

    A single piece edition revealing the beauty of the legendary Calibre 2755 TMR SQ with tourbillon and minute repeater 

    One year of development dedicated to skeletonizing the movement 

    Components enhanced by Haute Horlogerie finishing  

Calibre 2755 is one of Vacheron Constantin's emblematic movements. Designed to accommodate the noblest complications of Haute Horlogerie, it integrates a tourbillon regulator and a minute repeater mechanism. True to its spirit of innovation, the Maison now presents a skeletonized version of this movement, an achievement that required one full year of development. 

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To highlight both the skeletonization and the finishing work, the single piece edition Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Skeleton features an exterior design of striking restraint. Its 18-carat (4N) gold case measures 45 mm in diameter and 12 mm in thickness. The bezel and caseback are subtly concave, enhancing the perception of slenderness. Inside, a transparent sapphire dial offers an unobstructed view of the tourbillon. This dial is complemented by two peripheral silver-toned gold rings. The first, with a circular satin finish, serves as a flange. The second, finer ring is fluted and concentric. The ink-filled minute track on the sapphire appears in a deep blue hue, echoed by the circular satin-finished ring surrounding the tourbillon for the seconds display. Eleven precisely applied 18-carat gold baton-type hour markers complete the composition. 

A grand complication calibre

Developed for Vacheron Constantin's 250th anniversary in 2005, Calibre 2750 gave rise to the Tour de l'Île, the most complicated serially produced wristwatch of its time, uniting 16 complications. This tourbillon movement subsequently underwent several years of research and development to adapt its architecture for the integration of major Haute Horlogerie complications. In 2007, these efforts culminate in the launch of the Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2755, equipped with a tourbillon, minute repeater and perpetual calendar — at the time the most complex model in the Vacheron Constantin catalogue. Building on this development, Vacheron Constantin introduces in 2026 the Calibre 2755 TMR SQ with tourbillon and minute repeater in a skeletonized version. 

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The striking mechanism is based on the original flying centripetal regulator developed for Calibre 2755. This regulator controls the musical sequences so that the notes chimed for hours, quarters and minutes are heard distinctly and harmoniously. Without this device, the sequence would run too quickly, driven by the free unwinding speed of the repeater barrel spring. To optimise the mechanism, Vacheron Constantin replaced the traditional anchor system — noisier and more prone to friction — with a completely silent centripetal regulator. This system features two inertia blocks that create a braking effect on the regulator's pivot axis, thereby smoothing the energy released by the barrel. The presence of a tourbillon completes the regulating system, ensuring the precision of this movement beating at 2.5 Hz. 

Skeletonization, from ancestral craft to contemporary aesthetics

The practice of skeletonization dates back to the late 18th century, when watchmakers began hollowing out plates and bridges to reveal the gear train in motion. During the 19th century, as watchmaking profited from advances in metallurgy, the technique became increasingly refined and was complemented by elaborate engraving and meticulous finishing. 

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Although temporarily set aside in the early 20th century with the advent of the wristwatch, skeleton models regained prominence in the 1970s in response to the rise of electronic watches. With the revival of mechanical watchmaking in the early 1990s, skeleton watches established themselves as one of the contemporary symbols of horology. 

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Vacheron Constantin perpetuates this tradition for more than a century, through rock crystal pocket watches, shaped models of the 1920s, ladies' watches from the second half of the 20th century, and more recent complicated timepieces. This heritage also includes the skeletonization of ultra-thin movements such as the manually wound Calibre 1003 (1.64 mm thick) and the automatic Calibre 1120 (2.45 mm thick). 

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Skeletonization consists of hollowing out movement components — particularly bridges and the mainplate — through the removal of material. Achieving an aerial, in-depth view of the calibre that highlights its functional structure without compromising robustness or reliability represents a significant technical challenge requiring high precision.

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The skeletonization of Calibre 2755 TMR SQ begins with 3D modelling of the movement. This stage identifies the elements to be modified and determines how far they can be lightened without compromising structural rigidity. This modelling and prototyping phase alone required one year of work. The watchmakers do not merely hollow out components; they sculpt and redesign them to create perspective and a sense of depth. 

 

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The bridges are openworked and the mainplate is reduced by 40% of its original volume. Components are shaped with specific architectural forms, curves, sharp angles, and flowing lines that guide the eye through the movement. These structures become design elements in their own right, creating visual openings that reveal the calibre's depths. Skeletonization also provided the opportunity to highlight the Maison's emblematic Maltese cross, which shapes both the hour wheel and the repeater barrel drum. 

Finishing dedicated to transparency

The skeletonized Calibre 2755 TMR SQ is enhanced by nine meticulous finishing that underscores its complexity. Compared to a traditional calibre, this stage requires four times more time due to the minute size of the movement's 473 components, housed within a thickness of just 6.1 mm. To accentuate the depth effect, components are distinguished by their tones. In addition to brass and steel parts, anthracite-treated components further enhance contrast.  

• Brushing flanks drawing (“étirage”) are created using abrasive tools to obtain fine, parallel, and uniform lines, producing a matte, homogeneous surface that contrasts with polished bevels.

• Surface straightening (“dressage”) involves levelling the upper surfaces using natural shellac stones to achieve a perfectly flat plane with a satin-bright finish.

• Bevelling of the bridges breaks sharp edges by creating a chamfer between the surface and the flanks, subsequently polished to a brilliant finish.

• Sandblasting of the bridges consists of projecting aluminium oxide at high pressure to create a matte, slightly textured surface that absorbs light.

• Rounding off of the tourbillon bar entails meticulous polishing of its semi-circular profile, including interior angles at attachment points, to achieve perfectly rounded, highly brilliant forms.

• Mirror polishing of the hammers produces vivid, shifting reflections, achieved by patiently rubbing the components against a zinc plate coated with fine abrasive.

• Circular graining, applied beneath the bridges and within recesses of the mainplate, creates overlapping circular motifs using a hand-lowered rotating abrasive peg.

• Circling of the wheels is achieved by pressing rotating components against abrasive film to produce fine concentric lines and added brilliance.

• Sunburst finishing on the crown wheel core is created by radial abrasion extending from the centre outward, producing a moiré effect reminiscent of sunrays.

Together, these finishes create plays of light and visual contrasts that highlight the movement's complexity and the quality of its architecture. 

Interview with Christian Selmoni, Style & Heritage Director 

How has skeletonization evolved over time? 

More than two centuries ago, when watchmakers first adopted skeletonization, they focused on lightening the most massive components of calibres, such as mainplates and bridges. As tools improved and metal alloys became stronger and more resilient, skeletonization gradually extended to other components including barrel covers, oscillating weights, and then wheels, hands, and levers. The depth effect is most successful when the movement's architecture elegantly underscores its complexity and when finishing accentuates the diversity of components. It is a high-wire exercise with little in common with simply openworking a dial. Compared with historical skeletonization, one must also note the evolution of design — from classical scrollwork to more geometric forms, whose contemporary character is enhanced by surface treatments unknown in earlier eras. 

What place do minute repeaters occupy within Vacheron Constantin's collections?

Striking watches form part of Vacheron Constantin's great tradition. The records mention a first repeating watch dating from 1806 and a grande and petite sonnerie piece from 1827. Archival documents reveal that the Maison steadily built a strong reputation in this field, frequently commissioned by a prestigious clientele. With the advent of the wristwatch, Vacheron Constantin perpetuated this tradition with a constant emphasis on elegance, synonymous with slender cases and ultra-thin movements. Notable milestones include reference 4261 from the early 1940s, whose minute repeater calibre measures only 3.28 mm thick — a true technical feat matched some fifty years later by Calibre 1755 of identical thickness, already offered in a skeleton version. In 2007, the first version of Calibre 2755 with tourbillon and minute repeater appears, equipped with the new centripetal striking regulator. It is followed in 2013 by Calibre 1731, which set a new thinness record in the field of minute repeaters at just 3.90 mm thick — slightly thicker than its predecessor due to an extended 65-hour power reserve. 

"Explore All Ways Possible", Vacheron Constantin annual theme

“Do better if possible, and that is always possible”.

Vacheron Constantin's motto, originating in the writings of François Constantin in 1819, is a call to constantly push the boundaries of excellence and creativity, wherever it may lead...

Going beyond the limits of watchmaking mechanics, discovering new cultural and artistic horizons, exploring heritage and patrimony: all these are incentives for exploration undertaken by all ways possible, to look further, think differently, and unleash creative energy.

By opening itself to the world, the Maison has found its calling: to make the measurement of time a vast field of research and discovery, encompassing technical, historical, and cultural aspects.

"Explore All Ways Possible": in collaboration with Chinese artist and illustrator Shan Jiang, takes us through a wonderful and poetic journey, where exploration is a source of wonder, innovation and knowledge.

Shan Jiang, a highly acclaimed illustrator, infuses his work with the influence of his hometown, Shanghai. In his creations, he blends skyscrapers and bungalows, traditional superstitions, contemporary concepts and ideologies, and thriving subcultures. His artistic inspirations include Chinese meticulous art, Ukiyo-e, the Bauhaus, Dürer, Jean Giraud, and Eduardo Paolozzi. His artistic approach, often characterized by meticulous detail and boundless imagination, aligns with the House's values ​​of excellence and innovation, particularly through exploration. 

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TECHNICAL DATA

Collection: LES CABINOTIERS

Model:  LES CABINOTIERS Minute Repeater Tourbillon Skeleton - Unique Pièce 

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 Reference   6580C/000R-343C 

MOVEMENT
Calibre 2755 TMR SQ 
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin 
Manual-winding 
33.90 mm (14 ¾) diameter, 6.30 mm thick 
Movement power reserve: approximately 58 hours 
2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour) 
473 components 
44 jewels 
INDICATIONS
Hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon carriage 
Tourbillon 
Minute repeater (hours, quarters and minutes on request) 
Power reserve indicator 
CASE
18K 4N pink gold 
45 mm diameter, 12 mm thick 
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback 
DIAL
Sapphire crystal dial with blue minute track 
Two 18K gold silvered peripheral rings: one fluted, the other with circular satin finish  
18K 4N pink gold seconds track ring with blue circular satin finish  
11 18K 4N pink gold baton-shaped hour-markers 
STRAP
Blue technical calfskin leather strap with a textured effect 
Clasp
18K 4N pink gold folding clasp 

Polished half Maltese cross-shaped 

Box & accessory
Les Cabinotiers model 

Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece 

Single-piece edition  

"Pièce unique", "Les Cabinotiers" and "AC" hallmark engraved on the back of the timepiece   

🔴 Price  On request💰

• #VacheronConstantin
• #OneOfNotMany
• #OverseasTourbillon

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Press Release - 2026
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Vacheron Constantin
Press Department
10, Chemin du Tourbillon
P.O. Box 95
CH-1228
Plan-les-Ouates/Geneva
Tel. +41 22 930 20 05
Fax +41 22 930 20 06
press@vacheron-constantin.com
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VACHERON CONSTANTIN – OVERSEAS Tourbillon Titanium Red Dial Automatic

VACHERON CONSTANTIN – OVERSEAS Tourbillon Titanium 42.5mm Deep Red Dial Automatic 2026

A NEW AESTHETIC HIGHLIGHTED BY TITANIUM

•     First model in the Overseas collection combining titanium and a deep red dial
•     Three straps, one in titanium and two in rubber, interchangeable without tools
•     An ultra-thin automatic movement, calibre 2160 with peripheral oscillating weight

 Vacheron Constantin enriches its Overseas collection with a titanium tourbillon model featuring a deep red dial. A material perfectly in keeping with the sporty and elegant spirit of the collection, titanium is a marvel of robustness and lightness.

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Certified with the Hallmark of Geneva and equipped with the ultra-thin calibre 2160, only 5.65 mm thick, the watch features a tourbillon regulator and fits comfortably on the wrist.

A TECHNICAL AND SPORTY MODEL

Titanium is a material that proves particularly well-suited to watchmaking requirements, notably for its robustness, lightness, and the sporty spirit it conveys. 

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This metal is indeed 30% stronger than steel and weighs half as much. Vacheron Constantin introduced titanium in 2009 for certain components of the Overseas collection, and then, from 2019, for the Everest models developed in collaboration with photographer and explorer Cory Richards. In 2022, a new milestone was reached with an Overseas tourbillon skeleton watch made entirely of titanium. Two years later, another titanium tourbillon model features a blue dial.

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The finishes of the deep red dial, characterized by a sunburst satin-brushed and a lacquered flange, highlight the model's highly horological character, particularly its tourbillon. This same attention to aesthetics is evident in the finishing touches of the grade 5 titanium case. The bracelet features polished link angles and a vertical satin-brushed finish, a detail also found on the case face. 

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 In contrast, the bezel, whose profile evokes the Maltese cross, has a circular satin-brushed finish on a sandblasted ring. This combination accentuates the slim profile of this ultra-thin model, measuring just 10.39 mm thick.

ONE WATCH, THREE STYLES

Suitable for all types of activities thanks to its lightness case and slim profile, the model comes with an integrated titanium bracelet featuring a triple-blade folding clasp equipped with a comfort-adjustment system. This system allows for a 4 mm increase in wrist circumference. 

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To further adapt the watch's style, two additional straps in deep red and white rubber are available. They are equipped with interchangeable grade 5 titanium folding clasp that can be changed without tools.

AN ULTRA-THIN MOVEMENT

Thanks to its automatic tourbillon calibre 2160, with a profile of just 5.65 mm and a diameter of 31 mm, this Oveseas watch is distinguished by its remarkably thin case, guaranteeing optimal comfort on the wrist. 

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This ultra-thin movement, incorporating a tourbillon cage, features bidirectional winding, ensured by a peripheral oscillating weight with a guilloché 916/1000 gold segment, giving it optimal performance and an 80-hour power reserve. This type of construction offers a dual advantage: it provides an unobstructed view of the movement and integrates the oscillating weight at the bridges, resulting in a significant reduction in thickness.

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With this same focus on slimness and efficiency, the openworked tourbillon cage incorporates a peripheral drive, eliminating the need for a central pinion. This configuration ensures optimal energy transmission from the mainspring barrel to the balance wheel.

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Designed to highlight the complexity of the timepiece, the movement’s finishes offer subtle plays of light on its 188 components, elegantly underscoring its sophistication. The calibre features a circular-grained mainplate, the bridges are decorated with Côtes de Genève and hand-beveled, the tourbillon shank is delicately cradled, the wheels are grained, and the screws are chamfered and polished: all details that testify to meticulous craftsmanship.  

INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIAN SELMONI,
STYLE AND HERITAGE DIRECTOR

Has titanium become an essential material in the Overseas collection?

Vacheron Constantin’s attraction to titanium dates back some fifteen years. Initially, this material was preferred for the case components, helping to reinforce the collection’s sporty and robust character. 

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The last four years have been marked by the emergence of timepieces made entirely of titanium with integrated bracelets, which have established themselves as a preferred alternative to the steel watches in the Overseas collection. Titanium is particularly prized for its inherent qualities: hypoallergenic, lightweight, and possessing high mechanical and corrosion resistance. In short, it is a material perfectly suited to the Overseas spirit, a watch designed to withstand the rigors of travel.  Is a tourbillon model, known to be fragile, compatible with the concept of a sports watch?

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Since the invention of the tourbillon in the early 19th century, watchmaking technology has undergone major advancements. These advancements concern not only materials science but also crucial elements such as shock-absorbing systems that protect the regulating organs. These two elements combined now make it possible to create tourbillon watches suited to an active lifestyle with a sporty elegance unthinkable just a few decades ago. Add to that a case made entirely of titanium, and you have a slim, lightweight, and robust watch with exemplary precision thanks to its tourbillon regulator, which compensates for the effects of gravity.

Why this deep red color?

The Overseas watches form a collection that lends itself beautifully to new color explorations. This became clear when the Maison introduced a pink hue on certain women’s models and, more recently, intense green or gold dial colors. From there, it was interesting to continue by introducing new variations that bring a touch of originality. The deep red color, elegant and intense, fits perfectly into this vision. 

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TECHNICAL DATA

Collection: OVERSEAS

Model:  OVERSEAS Tourbillon Titanium

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Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece

Reference  6007V/210G-B955

MOVEMENT
CALIBRE 2160
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding, peripheral rotor
31 mm (13½’’’) diameter, 5.65 mm thick
Approximately 80 hours of power reserve
2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
188 components
30 jewels
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
INDICATIONS
Hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon carriage (color screw)
Tourbillon
CASE
Titanium Grade 5 
42.5 mm diameter, 10.39 thick
Soft iron casing ring ensuring anti-magnetic protection
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistant tested at a pressure of 5 bar (approx. 50 metres)
DIAL
Deep red dial, sunburst satin-finished base with velvet-finished flange
18K white gold hour-markers and hours & minutes hands highlighted with blue Super-LumiNova®
BRACELET
Titanium Grade 5 (half Maltese cross-shaped polished and satin-brushed links) Secured by a titanium Grade 5 triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and comfort adjustment system 

Available only through the Vacheron Constantin Boutiques.

Price: MSRP: EUR 170'000 / US $ 180,700 / CHF 160'000

 

• #VacheronConstantin
• #OneOfNotMany
• #OverseasTourbillon

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Press Release - 2026
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Vacheron Constantin
Press Department
10, Chemin du Tourbillon
P.O. Box 95
CH-1228
Plan-les-Ouates/Geneva
Tel. +41 22 930 20 05
Fax +41 22 930 20 06
press@vacheron-constantin.com
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VACHERON CONSTANTIN – CELESTIA ASTRONOMICAL GRAND COMPLICATION – Homage to Ptolemy & Copernicus - Unique Piece

 

VACHERON CONSTANTIN – LES CABINOTIERS CELESTIA ASTRONOMICAL GRAND COMPLICATION – Homage to Ptolemy & Copernicus - Unique Piece 2025

Two double-sided watches, each a single-piece edition
23 astronomical complications
Hand-engraved with the champlevé technique

Two Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication single-piece editions created to honour the theories
of heliocentrism and geocentrism
A manufacture movement, Calibre 3600, 514 components, 23 astronomical complications
Intricately hand-engraved representations of the universe as envisioned by the scholars Ptolemy
and Copernicus

Vacheron Constantin celebrates its 270th anniversary and its quest for excellence with a new series of Les Cabinotiers watches entitled ‘La Quête’, which pays tribute to astronomy and the odysseys of ancient times. Representing significant technical and aesthetic challenges, these watches highlight Vacheron Constantin’s expertise in creating grand complication watches enhanced by the decorative crafts. 

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The Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication - Homage to Ptolemy and - Homage to Copernicus, are powered by the Manufacture movement Calibre 3600, first presented in 2017 in the Les Cabinotiers Celestia watch. Five years in development, the movement comprises 514 finely adjusted and meticulously decorated components and incorporates 23 astronomical complications. The double-sided calibre represents not only a significant technical achievement but also, with a thickness of only 8.7 mm, a notable feat of miniaturisation.

In the spirit of discovery, a tribute to the great astronomers

The observation of the stars, the cycle of seasons and the alternation of day and night have always aroused human curiosity and, from very early on, mankind has sought to model these rhythms. Thanks to the first astronomical observatories, space-time became a more concrete concept, as it could be explained in terms of measurable rhythms. 

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Ptolemy, the 2nd-century astronomer from Alexandria, imagined a universe in which Earth remained motionless at the centre, with the stars and planets revolving around it in perfect harmony. Many centuries later, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus identified the Sun as the centre, returning to the long forgotten heliocentric theory first proposed by Aristarchus of Samos in the 3rd century BC, he overturned opinions that had prevailed for 1500 years and thus paved the way for a new interpretation of the sky.

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The case of each watch expresses a different vision of the cosmos, engraved with an illustration of the movement of the planets according to their respective systems: that of Ptolemy, placing the Earth at the centre of the universe, and that of Copernicus, symbolising the solar revolution that gave rise to modern astronomy.

Three readings of the time

The Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication watch is distinguished by its display of three times – civil, solar and astral – each driven by its own gear train. Civil time and solar time are indicated by central openworked hands on the front dial. Due to Earth’s elliptical orbit around the Sun and the 24° inclination of its axis, the time that elapses between two passages of the Sun at its zenith differs slightly each day throughout the year. 

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This difference between the solar (true) day and the 24-hour civil (mean) day, known as the equation of time, ranges from -16 to +14 minutes depending on the time of year and coincides only four times annually, at the solstices and equinoxes. As these variations are identical from one year to the next, they can be programmed mechanically using a cam that controls the display of the time differential. An added complexity of this calibre is that the differential is represented as a running equation of time, in which solar time is indicated by a minute hand tipped with a ‘sun’ that is coaxial with the hands that display civil time. This hand enables an instantaneous reading of both times, as it moves ahead of or behind the mean-time hand as the year progresses.

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Sidereal time is shown on the back of the watch by means of a celestial map formed by two superimposed sapphire discs – a fixed upper disc marked with the constellations and a mobile lower disc. As Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun, the time it takes to complete a full 360° rotation relative to a fixed star in the sky is approximately four minutes less than a calendar day. Known as a sidereal day, its duration is exactly 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds. The sidereal time scale is marked around the edge of the mobile lower disc, which rotates four minutes faster than civil time each day and the current date is indicated by a triangular yellow pointer. 

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On this rotating disc, an off-centre blue ellipse serves as a background sky, indicating which of the constellations marked on the upper disc are visible from a given location on Earth in real time – a constantly changing astral ballet. A white elliptical line indicates the celestial equator (a projection of Earth’s equator inclined at 24°) and a red elliptical line indicates the ecliptic (the plane of Earth’s orbit).

Astronomical mastery

As well as civil time and the equation of time, the front dial displays seven additional complications, arranged on a grained background of 18K white or pink gold, depending on the model. A perpetual calendar displays the days and months in windows at 1 o’clock, and leap years in a small circular window set above a counter at 3 o’clock on which the date is indicated by a serpentine hand. 

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This perpetual calendar, programmed until 2100 – a non-leap year – is complemented by a precision moon phase indicator. This function, which requires only one day’s correction every 122 years, is displayed at 9 o’clock by means of two superimposed discs, an upper, transparent disc bearing a laser-engraved representation of the moon and a lower disc shaded to indicate day and night. The age of the moon, or number of days since the last new moon, can be read around the edge.

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The lower part of the dial displays sunrise and sunset times, indicated by slender hands on graduated scales, as well as the length of day and night on a gauge between them. At 4 o’clock, a rotating annual disc bears the astronomical signs of the zodiac, the seasons, the solstices and equinoxes. At 11 o’clock, a mareoscope or tide gauge – a rare watchmaking complication – completes the ensemble of astronomical complications. 

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Its display combines a tidal level indicator and a three-dimensional representation of the Earth-Moon-Sun alignment. This alignment precisely controls the amplitude of tides, which have the highest range when the three celestial bodies are on the same axis, namely at New Moon and Full Moon. 

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On the reverse side of the watch, the display of sidereal time is complemented by a peripheral power reserve indicator, with a duration of three weeks ensured by six barrels mounted in series. Held by asymmetrical fixing bars, the one-minute tourbillon also appears on the back of the watch, a design decision made to leave sufficient space for the astronomical indications on the front. Counteracting the effects of Earth’s gravity by constantly shifting its position, the tourbillon cage takes the form of a Maltese cross, Vacheron Constantin’s emblem since 1880.

Métiers d’Art take centre stage: champlevé engraving

Ptolemy’s geocentric system is illustrated by a hand engraving of the planets orbiting the Earth in the form of a planisphere surrounding the crown. The master engraver’s work began by drawing the ellipses corresponding to the planets’ trajectories using drypoint. 

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As these ellipses extend onto the lugs and bezel, it was especially challenging to maintain symmetry and regularity of line to ensure that there are no visual breaks between the components of the case. This was followed by hollowing out the spaces between the ellipses using the champlevé engraving technique, to a depth of just 1/10th of a millimetre on the bezel and 2/10ths on the case and lugs. The hollowed areas were then finely hand-chased to create a ‘sandblasted’ appearance, creating a striking contrast with the polished ellipses on the surface. To accentuate the effect of depth, the planets are subtly domed and finely textured to reproduce their appearance in the cosmos and Earth, also in relief, features hand-polished continents.

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Illustrating Copernicus’ heliocentric theories, the crown symbolises the Sun radiating its rays onto the case and lugs, while the planets move through their respective orbits. The champlevé engraving technique, which involves chiselling the hollows and polishing the ridges, was also used on this piece, the design of which presented an additional challenge: the geometric centres of the planetary orbits, positioned on the left side of the case, are outside the frame of the case. 

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This feature required the creation of a special tool to draw circular arcs with a compass, an exercise made all the more complex by the curved surface. The planets are engraved in relief to create a domed effect and polished to contrast with the texture of the chased background. 

The engraving of each watch represents 240 hours of work by the master engraver in Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art workshop.

Questions to Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Patrimony

What do these two Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication watches represent in the world of Vacheron Constantin?

The launch of the Celestia in 2017 followed two years after that of the Reference 57260, a legendary pocket watch celebrating Vacheron Constantin’s 260th anniversary. The aim was to create a wristwatch that brought together all of the Maison’s expertise in astronomical functions, not only in terms of complications but also miniaturization. It took five years of development to achieve this. In this sense, the Celestia watch, with its 23 complications integrated into the 8.7 mm-thick Calibre 3600, set a new milestone in the long story linking Vacheron Constantin to astronomy and won the award for Mechanical Exception at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2017. This technical mastery, confirmed by the Geneva Hallmark, is the foundation on which the new 2025 Les Cabinotiers ‘La Quête’ series, a collection dedicated to astronomy, is based.

What role do the métiers d’art play in these creations?

The artistic crafts are as essential to all Les Cabinotiers watches as the technical challenges. The vision here is bold: to give both watches a historical, even philosophical dimension by illustrating two major scientific theories that have marked the evolution of astronomical observations. As it was impossible to alter the dials, the focus was on engraving the case, lugs, bezel and crown. The Maison’s master engraver succeeded in representing these two cosmologies with the Sun, Earth and planets on a small surface, barely 13 millimetres high.

What were the greatest challenges presented by this project?

From a technical standpoint, the main challenge is to combine multiple complications in a small space while ensuring a harmonious layout and optimal readability. This is especially true given that these pieces feature rare functions, such as a tide gauge coupled with Earth-Moon-Sun positioning, which is fundamental to the tidal cycle. Such a high level of mechanical complexity, with more than 500 integrated components, makes the decoration, finishing and assembly stages particularly complex. As these are double-sided watches with a celestial map, the movement remains hidden, with the exception of the opening on the tourbillon. However, all components, even those that are invisible, are finished to the standards of fine watchmaking, which follows an initial dry assembly of the calibre to ensure that it is functioning properly. Final assembly and adjustment take place at the end of a process that takes weeks of work.

From an artistic and aesthetic point of view, the difficulty lies in the minuscule depth of the champlevé engraving, which is measured in tenths of a millimetre. Added to this are the finishes used to create the contrasts essential for the perception of the patterns. The second challenge for the engraver is to respect the overall geometry, creating equidistant ellipses and circles, despite the angles and breaks in the lines between the case, the lugs and the bezel.

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TECHNICAL DATA

Collection:  LES CABINOTIERS

Model: CELESTIA ASTRONOMICAL GRAND COMPLICATION – Homage to Ptolemy

Reference: 97A0C/000G-304C
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

🔰Unique piece 1/1

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Case
    Material: Hand-engraved 18K white gold
    Diameter: 45 mm
    Thickness: 13.91 mm thick
    Double-sided
    « Pièce unique », « Les Cabinotiers » and « AC » hallmark engraved on the back of the timepiece
    Water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial
    Grained 18K white gold
    18K white gold appliques for hour-markers
    18K white gold hands
Movement
    Calibre 3600
    Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
    Mechanical, manual winding
    Diameter: 36 mm
    Thickness: 8.7 mm
    Movement power reserve: approximately 3 weeks
    Frequency: 2.5 Hz (18’000 vph)
    Number of parts: 514
    Number of jewels: 64
    23 complications
Functions/Indications
    Hours, minutes, perpetual calendar, day/night indication, precision Moon phase, age of the Moon, running equation of time, sunrise and sunset time, day and night length, seasons, solstices, equinoxes and astronomical zodiac signs, tide level indication, Sun-Earth-Moon conjunction, opposition and quadrature
    Celestial chart for the Northern hemisphere with indication of the Milky Way, the celestial ecliptic and equator, sidereal hours and minutes, tourbillon, 3-week power reserve, indication of power reserve
Strap and buckle
    Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
    Hand-engraved 18K white gold folding clasp

🔰Edition ✅- ❱❱❱ Unique piece
🔴PRICE:  On Request💰

=====================
TECHNICAL DATA

Collection:  LES CABINOTIERS

Model:  CELESTIA ASTRONOMICAL GRAND COMPLICATION – Homage to Copernicus

Reference: 97A0C/000R-290C
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

 🔰Unique piece 1/1

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Case
    Material: Hand-engraved 18K 5N pink gold
    Diameter: 45 mm
    Thickness: 13.91 mm thick
    Double-sided
    « Pièce unique », « Les Cabinotiers » and « AC » hallmark engraved on the back of the timepiece
    Water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial
    Grained 18K 5N pink gold
    18K 5N pink gold appliques for hour-markers
    18K 5N pink gold hands
Movement
    Calibre 3600
    Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
    Mechanical, manual winding
    Diameter: 36 mm
    Thickness: 8.7 mm
    Movement power reserve: approximately 3 weeks
    Frequency: 2.5 Hz (18’000 vph)
    Number of parts: 514
    Number of jewels: 64
    23 complications
Functions/Indications
    Hours, minutes, perpetual calendar, day/night indication, precision Moon phase, age of the Moon, running equation of time, sunrise and sunset time, day and night length, seasons, solstices, equinoxes and astronomical zodiac signs, tide level indication, Sun-Earth-Moon conjunction, opposition and quadrature
    Celestial chart for the Northern hemisphere with indication of the Milky Way, the celestial ecliptic and equator, sidereal hours and minutes, tourbillon, 3-week power reserve, indication of power reserve
Strap and buckle
    Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
    Hand-engraved 18K 5N pink gold folding clasp

🔰Edition ✅- ❱❱❱ Unique piece
🔴PRICE:  On Request💰

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Press Release - 2025
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Vacheron Constantin
Press Department
10, Chemin du Tourbillon
P.O. Box 95
CH-1228
Plan-les-Ouates/Geneva
Tel. +41 22 930 20 05
Fax +41 22 930 20 06
press@vacheron-constantin.com
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