Vacheron Constantin is celebrating its 270th anniversary, a milestone that few accomplish. The legacy watch brand was founded in 1755, after Blancpain (1735) and Favre-Leuba (1737). Since its founding, the brand has never ceased its quest for horological marvels. On this historic occasion, Vacheron Constantin has unveiled two timepieces - La Quête du Temps (The Quest of Time), an astronomical clock, and Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Quest of Time wristwatch.

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La Quête du Temps (The Quest of Time) astronomical clock

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With seven years of development and seven filed patents, the La Quête du Temps is an astronomical clock featuring 23 complications. The timepiece is made of a total of 6,293 parts forming the movement and 1,020 parts for the rest of the clock. This clock will be kept as a centrepiece of the “Mécaniques d’Art” exhibition at the Louvre Museum from 17th September to 12th November 2025. It is limited to just 20 pieces and has been developed in collaboration with automatier François Junod, casemakers from L’Épée 1839, the automators of the Geneva Observatory, and master artisans specialising in engraving, enamel, marquetry, miniature painting, and gem-setting.

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Standing over one metre tall and weighing around 250 kilograms, the clock is crafted from cast bronze gilded with 18k 3N gold and set with 122 diamonds. It performs 144 different gestures powered by 158 cams. The automaton can be activated on demand or programmed in advance, and it incorporates musical sequences produced by a metallophone and four wah-wah tubes.

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The clock’s manual-wound calibre runs at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz) with a 15-day power reserve stored across five barrels, plus an additional barrel for the retrograde moon display. The complications include civil time, a 24-hour rotating display, three-dimensional retrograde hours and minutes, a one-minute tourbillon, a perpetual calendar with leap-year cycle, a moon-phase indicator accurate for 110 years, sunrise and sunset indications, celestial vault with zodiac signs, sidereal time, seasons, solstices, and equinoxes. The mechanism also incorporates multiple safety systems, an adjustable magnetic brake, and dedicated barrels for rapid corrections.

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Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Quest of Time wristwatch

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Alongside the clock, Vacheron Constantin has introduced the Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Quest of Time wristwatch, also limited to 20 pieces. Developed over three years with four patents, this timepiece is composed of a total of 512 parts. The watch is a bras-en-l’air or “arms in the air” type of automaton, where a character’s raised arms tell the time. This figure, made in gold-treated titanium, stands on the front dial with double sapphire construction, against the backdrop of the constellations in Geneva on the day of the Maison’s founding in 1755, and enhanced by a 3D precision moon phase at 12 o’clock. The reverse side features a sky chart that tracks real-time constellations over Geneva and displays the sidereal day.

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The wristwatch features a 43 mm × 13.58 mm white-gold case, with water resistance up to 30 metres. Driving it is the new manually wound calibre 3670, with a 5 Hz frequency and a six-day power reserve, displayed via a double retrograde system on both sides of the figurine. Functions include double retrograde hours and minutes in continuous or on-demand display, a 3D moon phase with age of the moon, and a sequential double retrograde power reserve indicator.

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The watch is completed with a dark blue alligator strap, lined in alligator leather, and secured with an 18k white-gold folding clasp. Each piece carries the Poinçon de Genève hallmark and is individually numbered.

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