Vacheron Constantin Unveils the World’s Most Complicated Wristwatch

A Swiss watchmaker has raised the bar in the world of horology with the unveiling of what is now officially the most complicated mechanical wristwatch ever created. Vacheron Constantin’s latest masterpiece, the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication, is packed with groundbreaking features and boasts an astonishing 41 complications — a record in the world of high-end watches.

The timepiece, revealed at the Watches and Wonders trade fair in Switzerland, is not just a watch; it’s an engineering marvel. This one-of-a-kind wristwatch offers a variety of functions that go far beyond traditional time-telling, including tracking the sun’s position in the sky, chiming with the sound of four miniature gongs, and even predicting when certain stars will be visible from Earth.

In the world of horology, a “complication” refers to any feature that extends beyond basic timekeeping, such as a calendar or moon phase display. Vacheron Constantin’s Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is a record-holder, with a staggering 41 such functions. The watch includes three distinct measures of time: standard 24-hour time, sidereal time (the time it takes for Earth to complete a full rotation, which is about four minutes shorter than a regular day), and the solar day, which accounts for the Earth’s elliptical orbit around the sun.

Additionally, this extraordinary timepiece includes a host of astronomical features, such as tracking the sun’s position, height, and trajectory relative to Earth’s equator. For star-gazers, the watch even features a rotating display of the zodiac’s 13 constellations, which can be adjusted to show when each will be visible in the night sky.

The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is the culmination of eight years of painstaking work. Vacheron Constantin has filed 13 patent applications to protect this innovative creation, with seven patents specifically related to its chime function, which uses miniature hammers striking four gongs to produce a rich, melodic sound.

The watch’s case is made from 18-karat white gold and contains more than 200 jewels, including several sapphire discs, giving it a striking and luxurious appearance. In a nod to the brand’s legacy, this single-model watch is a true work of art — both in design and execution.

While Vacheron Constantin also holds the record for the most complicated pocket watch — the Berkley Grand Complication, with 63 horological functions — the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication presents its challenges on a smaller scale. The pocket watch may have more complications, but it’s much larger than the wristwatch, which is just 45 millimeters in diameter. Creating a timepiece small enough to wear comfortably while still incorporating such complex features was no small feat.

Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin’s director of style and heritage, emphasized the brand’s meticulous approach to miniaturization. The components were arranged in the most logical and compact way possible, allowing the brand’s horologists to combine timekeeping, calendar, chronograph, and chiming functions onto a single base plate. Astronomical functions were placed on an additional plate to ensure the watch remained balanced and harmonious in proportion.

This unprecedented timepiece isn’t just a watch; it’s a “masterpiece of innovation” that showcases the ultimate in watchmaking craftsmanship. It exemplifies the dedication, creativity, and technical prowess of Vacheron Constantin, a brand that has been at the forefront of Swiss watchmaking since its founding in 1755.

With the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication, Vacheron Constantin has set a new standard for what is possible in the world of luxury watches, combining state-of-the-art complications with the elegance and functionality that the brand is known for.