Vacheron Constantin Solaria: the world’s most complicated watch, its functions and its price

They inspire, fascinate and sometimes intimidate. The very complicated watch poses a simple question: what’s the point of putting so much know-how on the wrist? Recent events have put the subject back on the table, with a record that stimulates both curiosity and passion.

The most complicated watch: milestones and background

Vacheron Constantin’s 57260 had set a very high bar in 2015, with 57 complications. Since then, the quest for functions has not slowed down – quite the contrary. Now, a pocket model signed by the same company boasts 63 complications, an unprecedented and verifiable total. This advance reopens the debate between technical virtuosity and everyday use.

This breakthrough did not come out of nowhere. The Les Cabinotiers workshops bring together master craftsmen capable of assembling extreme mechanisms. What’s more, each module is added without blocking the others, requiring years of fine-tuning. As a result, commissioning must remain reliable, adjustable and safe.

A comparison with the market’s leading models helps us to understand what’s at stake. The general public is familiar with chimes, calendars and tourbillon, but is often unaware of volume and energy constraints. Yet each function draws from the reserve, like an orchestra sharing the same breath. This is where the watch reveals its rational magic.

“Assembling dozens of complications only makes sense if legibility, stability and emotion are preserved.”

What this new bearing means for the watch

Vacheron Constantin – Berkley Grande Complication. This pocket watch boasts 63 complications, setting a new benchmark for haute horlogerie. The pocket format provides space for the striking train and multiple displays.

From a practical point of view, the challenge lies in adjustment and ergonomics. In addition, the controls must remain intuitive despite the mechanical density. On the other hand, the acoustics of a repeater require optimized gongs and casing. The watch becomes a listening object as much as a reading one.

• Record complications claimed: public and verifiable figures
• Balance between energy, volume and internal inertia
• Legibility and hierarchy of indications on the dial
• Controlled acoustics for ringtones and timbres
• Key role of craftsmen and finishers

Three ways to reinvent the watch in 2024

Vacheron Constantin – Solaria Ultra Grande Complication La Première. A wristwatch with 41 complications, the Solaria Ultra Grande Complication is aimed at portable astronomy and the art of long timekeeping. The name indicates a celestial ambition, but no price details are given.

This approach emphasizes equations of time, cycles and displays designed for clarity. What’s more, micromechanics have to contend with a case that’s more compact than a gusset. As a result, every tenth of a millimeter counts in the stacking of cams and gears. The desired result remains the natural reading of key indications.

Recent progress has also been made in materials and friction reduction. Ringing gongs, for example, are becoming purer with dedicated alloys. Safety solutions also limit handling errors. In short, technical synthesis serves user serenity.

When sport, alarm and calendar meet in a watch

Vacheron Constantin – Overseas Grande Complication Openface. Elegantly sporty, it combines minute repeater, perpetual calendar, tourbillon and power reserve. The open architecture showcases energy and the measurement of time.

The open bridges make it easier to read the gear trains. The caseband also enhances clarity and sound diffusion. On the other hand, a sports watch imposes shock and water-resistance tolerances. Consequently, the machining and joints are designed for robustness without visual compromise.

Haute joaillerie and heritage: the watch as jewel

Vacheron Constantin – Grand Lady Kalla. This jewellery/pendant watch is inspired by the iconic Kalla 1980 and Kallista 1979. The design combines stone-cutting, light and the expression of time.

The setting requires micron-level precision. What’s more, the compact movement must remain regular despite the weight of the gems. Wearing a pendant, on the other hand, changes the relationship to gesture and reading. As a result, the piece becomes an object of style and transmission.

Collectors and enthusiasts alike see different paths to the same passion. Some seek extreme engineering, others jeweled grace. Patience and after-sales service also structure this type of acquisition. In short, each choice is a way of experiencing time.

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