Vacheron Constantin blows out 270 candles at Watches and Wonders and surprises everyone by breaking the mold, winning another record with the world’s most complicated watch. The new Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication, represents the watchmaking tradition of the Geneva-based maison, which over the centuries has mastered complications by constantly pushing the limits.
Features of the new Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication
To celebrate its 270-year history, Vacheron Constantin has just unveiled the world’s most complicated watch. A mix of art and technique that teaches us how watchmaking still has much to give and to discover. This “Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication” was expertly crafted in line with the brand’s motto“Do better if possible, and it is always possible.” Among its 41 complications, we find 5 rare astronomical complications and 1 Westminster minute repeater, all in 1521 movement components.
The challenge for the Maison’s watchmakers was to make the watch as comfortable as possible, since usually large complications like this have very bulky and heavy cases. In this case, thanks to the technical skill of the Maison’s maîtres d’art, it was possible to enclose 1521 components in a very small white gold case, 45 mm in diameter and 14.99 mm thick, a truly incredible achievement in which the miniaturization of the components played a key role.
The caliber 3655 with 41 complications of the new Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication
Inside this masterpiece, we find the brand new caliber 3655 developed especially for this model, which took up to eight years of research and development, reaching the record figure of 41 complications represented on the dial and on the visible case back. It would take all day to point them out and explain them individually, we can in any case divide them into six major families:
- Time measurement functions
- Moon phases
- Perpetual Calendar
- Astronomical functions
- Solar astronomical functions
- Chronograph functions
Reading the dial, we can find the functions referring to time at three o’clock, where a universal calendar is shown, while at nine o’clock we find the indications for the moon phases. At twelve o’clock we find the counter dedicated to the perpetual calendar, and at six o’clock is the 5 astronomical phases indicator, which shows the seasons, equation of time, zodiac signs, and the position of the sun in real time, a tough challenge for the designers who had to combine readability and functionality.
Through the back of the watch it is possible to observe a totally new and never-before-seen complication, namely the tracking of celestial bodies. This function combines a split-seconds chronograph with a representation of the celestial vault, which makes it possible to calculate the time required for a constellation or a particular star to appear in the center of the observer’s field of view.
Another important innovation lies in the minute repeater complication, which alone accounts for 7 of the 13 patents filed for this watch. This feature, in fact, requires space to allow the gongs to move freely, but at the expense of the subtlety of the movement.
To remedy this problem, Vacheron Constantin’s engineers developed a Westminster carillon with four really thin gongs and four hammers by placing them on either side of the base plate, allowing space inside to be recovered for other elements. It all fit perfectly inside, thanks in part to strong work on the miniaturization of the components, achieved with regard to the Maison’s continuing desire to raise its standards.
The movement is a riot of beauty, including aesthetically. In fact, we find so many types of finishes that help to enhance the beauty of the caliber. This is not a trivial factor, since the miniaturization of the components makes it really very complicated to perform work on them, given the very small thickness.
The technical skill of Vacheron Constantin’s watchmakers goes beyond this, so we find nine different types of finishes such as beveling, perlage, brouillage, satin finish, and soleil. Among the details, the minute repeater hammers are mirror-polished, and the bridges are all angled and polished, showing that this timepiece approaches a true work of art, in which every detail is made to stand out as synonymous with excellence.
Conclusions
Vacheron Constantin celebrated these 270 years in style, presenting a truly unique model with mechanical complexity, technical innovation, and aesthetic refinement, because as the house teaches us, “doing better if possible, and it is always possible.” What is most fascinating is how extreme the engineering and attention to detail is in this watch. To fit 41 complications into 14.99 mm in diameter is something truly incredible, a truly daunting challenge on a technical level that only maisons like Vacheron Constantin can accomplish.
Visit our Youtube channel to experience the best of the world of watchmaking firsthand.
For all real-time updates follow us on Instagram.
