The Les Cabinotiers Moon Dust watch celebrates Vacheron Constantin’s 270th anniversary with 16 complications, exquisite craftsmanship, and celestial-inspired artistry in a unique double-sided design.

Vacheron Constantin's Les Cabinotiers Moon Dust watch

In celebration of its 270th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin has unveiled a remarkable new collection under its Les Cabinotiers series, titled ‘La Quête.’ This collection pays homage to the Maison’s enduring quest for excellence and its deep-rooted connection to astronomy and ancient odysseys. Among the standout pieces in this series is the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust, a unique double-sided timepiece that combines extraordinary technical innovation with exquisite artistry. This masterpiece encapsulates the brand’s legacy of blending horological precision with decorative craftsmanship, offering a poetic interpretation of humanity’s journey from Earth to the Moon.

This double sided timepiece pays tribute to astronomers

A Tribute to Astronomy and the Great Astronomers

Astronomy has long been intertwined with the art of watchmaking, and the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust watch is a testament to this relationship. The timepiece celebrates the role of astronomy in shaping the history of horology, paying tribute to the great astronomers who modelled the phenomena of the stars, seasons, and day-night cycles. The watch features two representations of the solar system on either side of its case, illustrating the great laws of the cosmos as described since the time of Copernicus. This celestial theme is a fitting choice for the Maison’s anniversary, as Vacheron Constantin has consistently demonstrated its expertise in astronomical complications, translating the universe’s laws into mechanical marvels.

The calibre being manufactured

The Revolutionary Calibre 2755 GC16

At the heart of the Moon Dust watch lies the Calibre 2755 GC16, a hand-wound manufacture movement that represents the pinnacle of horological innovation. Developed from the research behind the Tour de l’Ile watch created for Vacheron Constantin’s 250th anniversary, this calibre is a feat of miniaturisation, measuring just 12.15 mm thick and comprising 839 meticulously finished components. It incorporates 16 complications, including a tourbillon regulator, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, equation of time, sunrise and sunset times, sidereal time, moon phase, and more.

The tourbillon regulator, housed in a Maltese cross-shaped cage, compensates for the effects of Earth’s gravity on the mechanism, ensuring precision timekeeping. The minute repeater, a hallmark of Vacheron Constantin’s expertise, chimes on demand to indicate hours, quarters, and minutes. Its striking mechanism is controlled by a rotating regulator that operates silently, producing clear and rhythmical sounds.

The watch’s astronomical functions are displayed on both sides of the case. The front dial features a perpetual calendar, equation of time, sunrise and sunset times, and a tourbillon aperture. The reverse side showcases sidereal time, a celestial chart for the Northern Hemisphere, and the movement of constellations in real time. The calibre’s ability to display civil, solar, and sidereal time, along with the movement of the stars, underscores Vacheron Constantin’s mastery of astronomical complications.

Rail-setting on the watch bezel

Three Artistic Crafts in Harmony

The Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust is not only a technical marvel but also a work of art. Vacheron Constantin’s master artisans have employed three decorative crafts – engraving, gem-setting, and guilloche – to create a celestial narrative that evokes the great laws of the universe and humanity’s interstellar dreams. The gem-setting on the watch is particularly intricate, featuring 200 baguette-cut diamonds and 165 brilliant-cut diamonds in nine sizes, totalling approximately 9.6 carats.

Techniques such as rail-setting (where Baguette-cut diamonds are meticulously set in a linear fashion on the flat areas of the case), and snow-setting (a seemingly random arrangement of brilliant-cut diamonds of varying diameters) create a dazzling effect, with diamonds evoking the moon dust that inspired the watch’s name. The spaces between the lugs are engraved and set with diamonds to depict a comet and the Milky Way, amplifying the astral theme, the setting en masse technique.

Overall, the gem-setting process required 230 hours of meticulous work, with a total of 200 baguette-cut diamonds (~9 carats) and 165 brilliant-cut diamonds (~0.92 carats) in nine different sizes ranging from 0.7 to 2 mm. These techniques harmonize with the engraving and guilloché work to create a radiant and immersive representation of the solar system.

Engraving technique

The engraving work is equally remarkable, with sunrays shining through clouds on the crown side and a view of planets from the Moon on the opposite side. Using the taille-douce technique, the engraver creates incisions as fine as 0.1 millimetres to bring the celestial panorama to life. The guilloché work on the front dial adds visual depth to the blue PVD coating, evoking the immensity of the universe. Together, these artistic crafts transform the watch into a captivating narrative of space exploration.

Les Cabinotiers Moon Dust High Jewellery watch has 16 complications

A Unique Timepiece with Unparalleled Craftsmanship

The Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust is a one-of-a-kind creation, with the engraving “Pièce unique” on its back. The watch is housed in a 47 mm, 18K white gold case, specifically designed to enhance the sound quality of the minute repeater. The case is double-sided, allowing for the display of its numerous complications with perfect legibility.

The technical data of the watch further highlights its exceptional craftsmanship. The Calibre 2755 GC16 offers a power reserve of approximately 58 hours and beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz). The watch features 42 jewels and 16 complications, including hours, minutes, tourbillon, small seconds, perpetual calendar, equation of time, sunrise and sunset times, minute repeater, celestial chart, moon phase, sidereal time, zodiac signs, and seasons. The strap is crafted from dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather, complemented by an 18K white gold folding clasp set with 16 baguette-cut diamonds.

A Remarkable Moon Dust Watch

Sandrine Donguy, Director of Product and Innovation, describes the Moon Dust watch as a highly complicated piece that combines technical innovation with artistic excellence. “It is a highly complicated piece, both technically and aesthetically, engaging three artistic crafts,” she says. She highlights the remarkable miniaturization of the movement, which incorporates over 800 components and 16 complications within a case measuring 47 mm in diameter and 19 mm in height.

Donguy also emphasizes the importance of the artistic crafts in giving the watch its unique character. “The combination of gem-setting, engraving, and guilloché on a watch powered by this movement transforms this instrument for measuring time and astronomical observation into a fascinating narrative,” she says.

A Masterpiece

The Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust is a true masterpiece that embodies Vacheron Constantin’s 270-year legacy of excellence in watchmaking and artistry. By combining groundbreaking technical innovations with exquisite decorative crafts, this unique timepiece pays homage to the profound connection between horology and astronomy. As a celebration of the Maison’s enduring quest for creativity and innovation, the Moon Dust watch is a fitting tribute to the stars and the timeless pursuit of perfection.