Vacheron Constantin, celebrating its 270th anniversary, has created a new Grand Complication. It is a masterpiece with 41 movements housed in a wristwatch-sized case. Although we have not yet seen the actual watch, let's take a look at its profile from previous documents.
Edited by Yuto Hosoda (Chronos-Japan)
[Article published in the July 2025 issue of Kronos Japan]
A grand complication packed with 41 mechanisms in its case
Just as this magazine hits bookstores, Watches & Wonders will be held in Geneva. The ultra-complicated watch from Vacheron Constantin, "Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grande Complication - La Première," will be officially unveiled there. This year marks the 270th anniversary of the company's founding. This timepiece will undoubtedly rival and surpass the "Tour de l'Ile" from the 250th anniversary and the "Ref. 57260" from the 260th anniversary.
The hand-wound base movement features a tourbillon, split-seconds chronograph, and minute repeater with Westminster carillon, and the new striking mechanism alone encompasses seven patents.
The hour and minute display, which also includes GMT and world time, appears to have separate adjustment mechanisms using differential gears. The hour and minute display mechanism has its own dedicated gear train for civil time, sidereal time, and solar time, and these are all displayed simultaneously using dials on both the front and back.
The highlight of the Cal. 3655 installed in the La Première is likely the module that combines the astronomical display mechanism and the Gregorian perpetual calendar. This module not only displays the position of the sun, its altitude, culmination, and declination, but also makes it possible to "track celestial time" using the back dial. At first glance, it appears to be an astronomical display using a regular sky chart, but the window that cuts out the star chart is positioned off-center, and this itself may rotate. As it is a world first, it can be considered an astronomical display with an entirely new concept. I would like to report on this further after my visit to Geneva.
This ambitious piece condenses 41 ultra-complex movements into a wristwatch-sized piece. Featuring a newly developed striking mechanism, the 2.8mm-thick celestial module is connected to the base movement via a patented "plug and play" system. Manual winding (Cal. 3655). 204 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve of approximately 72 hours. 18K white gold case (45mm diameter, 14.99mm thick). Unique piece.
