Vacheron Constantin has made the world‍‍`s most complicated wristwatch

Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest continuously operating Swiss watch brand, has unveiled the most complicated wristwatch ever created. The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is a double-sided timepiece that took a single master watchmaker eight years to develop, featuring a record-breaking 41 complications while maintaining a remarkably compact 45mm diameter.

At the heart of this masterpiece is the Caliber 3655 movement, composed of an astonishing 1,521 hand-assembled and hand-finished components. The complexity of the movement required nearly a year of meticulous assembly. Vacheron Constantin has filed 13 patents for the Solaria, with seven of them dedicated to its specially designed minute repeater with a Westminster chime. This mechanism, which features four hammers striking four gongs in different tones, allows the watch to sound the time on demand.

Encased in 18-karat white gold, the Solaria remains impressively wearable at just 14.99mm in thickness. According to Christian Selmoni, the brand’s style and heritage director, the watchmaker was given a clear directive: "Create something extraordinary, but in a compact wristwatch." The result is a marvel of miniaturization, fitting an unprecedented number of complications into a wristwatch without sacrificing wearability.

The Solaria’s complications extend far beyond traditional timekeeping. It includes five astronomical functions, among 14 total astronomical complications, offering unique insights into celestial movements. The watch tracks the tides, the sun’s position, and the moon’s phases while also displaying a Gregorian perpetual calendar. One of its standout innovations is a world-first celestial sky chart that enables the wearer to locate a specific star or constellation at any given time.

The watch offers three distinct methods of timekeeping: civil time (a standard 24-hour day), sidereal time (the 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds it takes for Earth to rotate relative to distant stars), and solar time (the time it takes for the sun to return to a specific position in the sky). The difference between these times, known as the equation of time, is also displayed.

A tourbillon escapement enhances precision by counteracting gravitational errors, while a split-seconds chronograph allows for timing multiple events with different end times. Additionally, the Solaria features a second time zone and a world-time display.

One of the Solaria’s most groundbreaking advancements is its "plug and play" servicing system. While not counted among the 41 complications, this system simplifies maintenance by allowing certain components to be detached without removing multiple hands, dials, or complications. "This was designed to save days of servicing time," Selmoni explained.

Despite its complexity, the Solaria maintains exceptional readability. Every dial and indicator was carefully designed for clarity, requiring a complete rethinking of traditional watch layouts, new cam systems, and a custom case to house the movement precisely.

Vacheron Constantin has a long history of creating ultra-complicated timepieces. Just last year, the brand introduced the Berkley Grand Complication pocket watch with 63 complications. Previous wristwatches, such as the Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 (2017) with 23 complications and the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Split-Seconds Chrono Tempo (2020) with 24 complications, were larger in diameter and thickness.

However, the Solaria sets a new benchmark, not only for Vacheron Constantin but for the entire watchmaking industry. While it is a one-of-a-kind piece, Selmoni hinted that future variations could be made with different case materials or dial colors.

As for the price? Vacheron Constantin remains tight-lipped, but considering previous models with fewer complications have sold for over $2 million, the Solaria is undoubtedly one of the most valuable watches ever crafted.