- Vacheron Constantin has released nine pièce unique watches, showing off its ultra-complicated movements and métiers d’art prowess
- The lineup comprises three true pièce unique watches and six references in new case materials or dial designs across two pre-existing lines
- Three of the ultra-complicated watches require two dials to showcase all their complications, while another features an oversized hand-engraved case
Vacheron Constantin has refused to ease up on the horological gas this year, spending the entirety of its 270th anniversary releasing an increasingly impressive selection of timepieces, from the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication—the most complicated wristwatch ever made—that proved the maison is more than worthy of the ‘Master of Complications’ designation to the La Quête du Temps, a haute horology clock that combines astronomical functions with an automation complication. On the daily driver side of things, we’ve also seen the release of the Historiques 222 in stainless steel and revamped Overseas models.
However, the world’s oldest watchmaker isn’t done yet. Vacheron Constantin has released nine new pièce unique watches, which showcase the maison’s technical adroitness and métiers d’art mastery. Both bold and beautiful, these are Vacheron Constantin’s new pièce unique watches for 2025.
Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon Myth Of The Pleiades
First released in 2016, the Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon is easily identifiable by its chunky case (45mm in diameter and over 20mm thick) and domed crystal with an integrated bubble housing the bi-axial tourbillon which sits within the openworked movement. The timepiece is equipped with the calibre 1990, a manually wound manufacture movement that draws upon the technical advances of the Reference 57260 pocket watch which, upon its release, was the most complicated watch ever made (Vacheron Constantin has since superseded its own record with The Berkley Grand Complication). The calibre 1990 features a bi-retrograde display of the hours and minutes, with the instantaneous return of the hands to zero at midday and midnight, as well as a bi-axial tourbillon.
For this example, Vacheron Constantin looks to the Greek myth of the Pleiades, wherein the ‘Seven Sisters’ of Greek mythology were transformed into stars in the constellation of Taurus which served as a vital navigation point for sailors in ancient times. The maison turns the 20mm width of the 45mm rose gold case into a canvas, elements of the myth engraved into the case sizes in bas-relief. The handiwork took over 450 hours, with highlights including the cloudy sky from which Orion, sword and shield in hand, emerges ready to do battle to conquer the Pleiades, and the ship Argos which bears an image of the protective goddess Athena on its sail.
Les Cabinotiers Cosmica Duo Grand Complication
With 24 complications to display, one dial isn’t enough. The Les Cabinotiers Cosmica Duo Grand Complication is a double-sided, reversible watch equipped with the calibre 2756-B1 which uses the base of the calibre 2756 presented in 2020. In addition to astronomical functions like a perpetual calendar, sideral time, and second time zone, it also houses a minute repeater and tourbillon. The 47mm case is crafted from white gold and has a blue opaline dial with blue mother-of-pearl inserts on one side and an open-worked dial on the other side.
Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery Moon Dust
Here, haute horology meets haute joaillerie. Powered by the 2755 GC16, a manually wound movement with a tourbillon, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, sidereal time, and seasons and zodiac signs, the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery Moon Dust unfolds across two dials. However, the highlight here is the 47mm white gold case, which is engraved with constellations, sunrays, and planets, with guilloché work on the dial.
Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication Homage To Ptolemy
A duo of Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complications honour the theories of geocentrism and heliocentrism by paying homage to their founders. Both timepieces are powered by the calibre 3600, a manually wound movement with 23 astronomical complications and an impressive three week power reserve.
First up, the Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication Homage To Ptolemy nods to 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, who proposed the earth as the centre of the solar system, remaining motionless as the stars and other planets revolved around it. The 45mm case is crafted from white gold and depicts Ptolemy’s theory through an engraving of the planets orbiting the Earth in the form of a planisphere surrounding the crown.
Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication Homage To Copernicus
Meanwhile, the Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication Homage To Copernicus has a 45mm rose gold case and illustrates the polymath’s theory that places the sun rather than the earth at the centre of the solar system. Nicolaus Copernicus’ heliocentric theory is illustrated through champlevé engraving that positions the crown as the sun, radiating its rays onto the case and lugs, while the planets move through their respective orbits.
Les Cabinotiers Homage To Epic Warriors Minute Repeaters
Finally, a quartet of minute repeaters honour four great warriors from different eras and cultures. Each of the timepieces has a 41mm case crafted from either white or yellow gold, which features taille-douce line engraving, and is powered by the calibre 1731, a manually wound ultra-thin manufacture minute repeater movement.
The Alexander the Great and Antar (‘Antarah ibn Shaddad) timepieces are crafted from white gold, while the Genghis Khan and Sasaki Moritsuna homages are hewn from yellow gold. All four timepieces have a yellow gold dial base, which has been hand-engraved with a battle landscape and sees each warrior depicted on horseback in the midst of battle through grand feu miniature enamelling.
Words by Theo Rosen
