Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication - La Première: The Most Complicated Wristwatch Ever Made
Vacheron Constantin has long been a pioneer in horology, pushing the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking for over 270 years. Now, the Maison has unveiled its most ambitious creation yet: the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première. Featuring an astonishing 41 complications, five rare astronomical functions including a world first, and an innovative Westminster minute repeater, this double-sided masterpiece is the most complicated wristwatch ever made.
With an all-new manufacture movement, Calibre 3655, a total of 1521 components, and 13 patent applications filed, this extraordinary timepiece represents the pinnacle of miniaturization, technical mastery, and mechanical ingenuity. Let’s delve into what makes this ultra-grand complication a true landmark in watchmaking history.
Vacheron Constantin has been at the forefront of grand complication watches since its early days. The Maison’s expertise in mechanical timekeeping, astronomical indications, musical complications, and chronographs has shaped the evolution of haute horology.
From the pocket watch with 13 complications made for King Fouad I of Egypt (1929) to modern marvels like the Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 (2017), the Ode to Music (2020), and the Berkley Grand Complication (2024), Vacheron Constantin has continuously redefined complexity and innovation.
The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première follows this grand tradition, combining an array of complications into a wearable wristwatch that is as elegant as it is mechanically formidable.
At the heart of the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is the Calibre 3655, an entirely new, manually wound movement developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin.
• Diameter: 36 mm
• Thickness: 10.96 mm
• Power Reserve: Approximately 72 hours
• Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
• Components: 1521
• Jewels: 204
What makes this movement revolutionary is its ability to simultaneously track three different measures of time: civil time, solar time, and sidereal time—each with its own dedicated gear train. This is a feat of engineering rarely seen in wristwatches.
Civil time is the 24-hour legal time used worldwide, based on International Atomic Time (TAI). On the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication, it is displayed on the front dial, with central hour and minute hands, a world time function, and a second time zone indicator.
Sidereal time measures time relative to distant stars rather than the Sun. A sidereal day lasts 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds, slightly shorter than a regular day.
On this watch, sidereal time is displayed on the reverse side, with minutes shown around the fixed sapphire crystal caseback and hours indicated on a rotating disc beneath it.
Unlike civil time, which assumes the day is exactly 24 hours, solar time accounts for the fact that the Earth’s orbit is elliptical, not circular, and that its axis is tilted at 23.4°.
The watch features an Equation of Time complication at 6 o’clock on the front dial, displaying the deviation between true solar time and mean solar time, which can vary from -16 to +14 minutes throughout the year.
The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication introduces five rare astronomical complications, including a world premiere:
1. Position of the Sun – Tracks the sun’s position in the sky when the watch is correctly oriented.
2. Height of the Sun – Displays the sun’s angle above the horizon in degrees.
3. Culmination of the Sun – Indicates when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
4. Declination of the Sun – Shows the sun’s seasonal position relative to Earth’s equator.
5. Temporal Tracking of Celestial Objects (World Premiere) – A revolutionary split-seconds chronograph function that calculates when a specific star or constellation will be visible.
These complications are displayed across both sides of the watch, with four related to the Sun on the front and the groundbreaking celestial object tracking function on the reverse.
A hallmark of grand complications, the Westminster chime minute repeater in the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is a true masterpiece. This chiming mechanism, inspired by the famous Big Ben melody, strikes the hours, quarters, and minutes using a series of four gongs and hammers.
Vacheron Constantin filed seven patents for this minute repeater, improving aspects such as:
• Sound clarity and resonance
• Energy efficiency in striking
• Reduction of mechanical stress on components
This innovation ensures that the chimes are perfectly synchronized, crisp, and melodious, despite the movement’s extraordinary complexity.
While its mechanical complexity is unmatched, the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication remains an aesthetic marvel.
• Material: 18K White Gold
• Diameter: 45 mm
• Thickness: 14.99 mm
• Case Back: Transparent sapphire crystal with celestial vault metallization
Despite housing 41 complications and 1521 components, the watch maintains a sleek profile, ensuring wearability without compromising on legibility.
• Black sunray satin-finished metal
• Circular satin-finished edges
• Sandblasted counters
• Rhodium-finished 18K gold Earth appliqué
• 18K yellow gold Sun sphere
• Sandblasted white gold hour and minute hands
• Grey-tinted sapphire crystal with celestial vault representation
• Lacquered aluminum split-seconds chronograph hands
• Black technical calfskin leather with textured finish
• 18K white gold folding buckle
The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première is truly a one-of-a-kind timepiece. As a Pièce Unique, it is destined to remain in the hands of a single collector, never to be replicated.
Accompanying the watch is an exclusive presentation box, a corrector pen, and engraved markings denoting its unique status.
• “Pièce Unique”
• “Les Cabinotiers”
• AC hallmark on the caseback
• 270th Anniversary emblem on the dial
The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première is more than a watch—it is an engineering marvel, a historical milestone, and a masterpiece of mechanical artistry.
With 41 complications, a groundbreaking celestial tracking function, and a minute repeater unlike any other, this extraordinary timepiece represents the apex of high watchmaking.
For collectors and horology enthusiasts, the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is a true grail watch, a symbol of Vacheron Constantin’s enduring commitment to innovation, craftsmanship, and pushing the limits of what is possible.
[photo credits: Vacheron Constantin / vacheron-constantin.com]
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A Legacy of Grand Complications
Vacheron Constantin has been at the forefront of grand complication watches since its early days. The Maison’s expertise in mechanical timekeeping, astronomical indications, musical complications, and chronographs has shaped the evolution of haute horology.
From the pocket watch with 13 complications made for King Fouad I of Egypt (1929) to modern marvels like the Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 (2017), the Ode to Music (2020), and the Berkley Grand Complication (2024), Vacheron Constantin has continuously redefined complexity and innovation.
The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première follows this grand tradition, combining an array of complications into a wearable wristwatch that is as elegant as it is mechanically formidable.
Calibre 3655: A Masterpiece of Innovation and Miniaturization
At the heart of the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is the Calibre 3655, an entirely new, manually wound movement developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin.
Technical Specifications of Calibre 3655
• Diameter: 36 mm
• Thickness: 10.96 mm
• Power Reserve: Approximately 72 hours
• Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
• Components: 1521
• Jewels: 204
Three Readings of Time: Civil, Solar, and Sidereal
1. Civil Time – The Standard Measure
Civil time is the 24-hour legal time used worldwide, based on International Atomic Time (TAI). On the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication, it is displayed on the front dial, with central hour and minute hands, a world time function, and a second time zone indicator.
2. Sidereal Time – Measuring the Stars
Sidereal time measures time relative to distant stars rather than the Sun. A sidereal day lasts 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds, slightly shorter than a regular day.
On this watch, sidereal time is displayed on the reverse side, with minutes shown around the fixed sapphire crystal caseback and hours indicated on a rotating disc beneath it.
3. Solar Time – The True Movement of the Sun
Unlike civil time, which assumes the day is exactly 24 hours, solar time accounts for the fact that the Earth’s orbit is elliptical, not circular, and that its axis is tilted at 23.4°.
The watch features an Equation of Time complication at 6 o’clock on the front dial, displaying the deviation between true solar time and mean solar time, which can vary from -16 to +14 minutes throughout the year.
Five Rare Astronomical Complications, Including a World First
The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication introduces five rare astronomical complications, including a world premiere:
1. Position of the Sun – Tracks the sun’s position in the sky when the watch is correctly oriented.
2. Height of the Sun – Displays the sun’s angle above the horizon in degrees.
3. Culmination of the Sun – Indicates when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
4. Declination of the Sun – Shows the sun’s seasonal position relative to Earth’s equator.
5. Temporal Tracking of Celestial Objects (World Premiere) – A revolutionary split-seconds chronograph function that calculates when a specific star or constellation will be visible.
An Innovative Westminster Chiming Minute Repeater
A hallmark of grand complications, the Westminster chime minute repeater in the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is a true masterpiece. This chiming mechanism, inspired by the famous Big Ben melody, strikes the hours, quarters, and minutes using a series of four gongs and hammers.
Vacheron Constantin filed seven patents for this minute repeater, improving aspects such as:
• Sound clarity and resonance
• Energy efficiency in striking
• Reduction of mechanical stress on components
This innovation ensures that the chimes are perfectly synchronized, crisp, and melodious, despite the movement’s extraordinary complexity.
Design and Construction: Elegant, Yet Incredibly Complex
While its mechanical complexity is unmatched, the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication remains an aesthetic marvel.
Case and Dimensions
• Material: 18K White Gold
• Diameter: 45 mm
• Thickness: 14.99 mm
• Case Back: Transparent sapphire crystal with celestial vault metallization
Despite housing 41 complications and 1521 components, the watch maintains a sleek profile, ensuring wearability without compromising on legibility.
Dial Design
Front Dial
• Black sunray satin-finished metal
• Circular satin-finished edges
• Sandblasted counters
• Rhodium-finished 18K gold Earth appliqué
• 18K yellow gold Sun sphere
• Sandblasted white gold hour and minute hands
Reverse Side
• Grey-tinted sapphire crystal with celestial vault representation
• Lacquered aluminum split-seconds chronograph hands
Strap and Buckle
• Black technical calfskin leather with textured finish
• 18K white gold folding buckle
A Single-Piece Edition: The Ultimate Collector’s Watch
The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première is truly a one-of-a-kind timepiece. As a Pièce Unique, it is destined to remain in the hands of a single collector, never to be replicated.
Accompanying the watch is an exclusive presentation box, a corrector pen, and engraved markings denoting its unique status.
Engravings Include:
• “Pièce Unique”
• “Les Cabinotiers”
• AC hallmark on the caseback
• 270th Anniversary emblem on the dial
Final Thoughts: A Defining Moment in Watchmaking
The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première is more than a watch—it is an engineering marvel, a historical milestone, and a masterpiece of mechanical artistry.
With 41 complications, a groundbreaking celestial tracking function, and a minute repeater unlike any other, this extraordinary timepiece represents the apex of high watchmaking.
For collectors and horology enthusiasts, the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is a true grail watch, a symbol of Vacheron Constantin’s enduring commitment to innovation, craftsmanship, and pushing the limits of what is possible.
[photo credits: Vacheron Constantin / vacheron-constantin.com]
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