Vacheron Constantin has created a watchmaking masterpiece. Seven years of work and 6,293 components.
Seven years of work, 6,293 mechanical components, and 1,020 case components… Vacheron Constantin has outdone itself. Someone knows how to celebrate a birthday properly!
In 1755, Jean-Marc Vacheron opened his watchmaking workshop in Geneva . It didn't take long for his name to become famous, even abroad.
270 years later, Vacheron Constantin is one of the most renowned and oldest continuously operating Swiss watch manufacturers in the world.
Such an anniversary requires appropriate celebration!
Vacheron Constantin Heritage Director, Christian Selmoni. Photo: Press materials / Vacheron ConstantinWhat could the best watchmakers do for their birthdays? A clock, of course. But not just any clock. La Quête du Temps impresses with its size, rich decoration, and the brand's extraordinary creativity. It took seven years to create this giant.
"At Vacheron Constantin, the pride and excitement we feel with each new project stems from the freedom and passion of creation, driven by the pursuit of excellence and innovation. The fruit of seven years of work, this exceptional team project has breathed life into a wondrous object— a mécanique d'art that connects humanity with the cosmos in an unprecedented cultural and artistic statement," says Laurent Perves , CEO of Vacheron Constantin .
At the heart of the clock is an automaton in the form of a humanist astronomer , whose choreography indicates the time. The manufacturer created it in collaboration with François Junod , considered the world's most distinguished mechanical maker.
La Quête du Temps, an exceptional Vacheron Constantin watch. Photo: Press materials / Vacheron ConstantinThe machine performs three sequences, lasting a total of one and a half minutes, during which the Astronomer can indicate day and night symbols, point to stars on a star map, and indicate the current time on randomly arranged hour and minute scales. Each sequence can be activated on demand or programmed up to 24 hours in advance . The melodies accompanying the movements were specially composed by Woodkid.
See the Vacheron Constantin clock at the LouvreThe clock also depicts the night sky, celestial movements, and the 12 signs of the zodiac. The Vacheron Constantin team spared no expense in creating this masterpiece. The artists utilized techniques such as bronze casting , grand feu enamel , gemstone setting , and mother-of-pearl inlay.
As Vacheron Constantin states in a press release, several teams collaborated to create the new caliber 9270 , which is the heart of this extraordinary timepiece. Even on paper, the advanced nature of this movement is evident: 2,370 components , 23 complications , and a staggering 15 patent applications .
Quête du Temps watch by Vacheron Constantin Photo: Press materials / Vacheron ConstantinLa Quête du Temps , which can undoubtedly be called a work of art, became part of the exhibition "Mécaniques d'Art" at the Louvre in Paris, which can be visited until November 12, 2025.
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