Vacheron Constantin releases the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery Moon Dust as part of La Quête series celebrating the manufacture’s 270th anniversary. The double-sided watch houses the Calibre 2755 GC16 with 16 complications including tourbillon regulator, minute repeater and multiple astronomical functions across both dial sides. The 47mm white gold case receives extensive hand engraving, guilloché work and gem-setting using 200 baguette-cut diamonds totaling approximately 9 carats plus 165 brilliant-cut diamonds adding 0.92 carats across nine different sizes.
The movement builds on research from the Tour de l’Ile created for Vacheron Constantin’s 250th anniversary in 2005. The tourbillon completes one rotation per minute within a Maltese cross shaped cage referencing the brand emblem while serving as small seconds indicator. The minute repeater uses a rotating regulator with two weights generating centripetal force to control striking speed, producing clear rhythmical chimes for hours, quarters and minutes on demand.
The front dial displays perpetual calendar across three counters showing date at 3 o’clock, day at 9 o’clock and month at 12 o’clock. The calendar accounts for Gregorian irregularities without correction until 2100. Equation of time appears on the upper left gauge, measuring the difference between solar and civil time ranging from minus 16 to plus 14 minutes depending on season. Sunrise and sunset indicators flank the tourbillon aperture at 6 o’clock.
The caseback shows sidereal time through a rotating disc engraved with Northern Hemisphere constellations completing a 23 hour 56 minute 4 second rotation. A central hand tracks date, solstices, equinoxes, zodiac signs and seasons across concentric circles. A smaller central hand indicates moon age counting days since last new moon.
The 839 component movement measures 33.90mm diameter and 12.15mm thick, beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour with 58 hour power reserve. Gem-setting required 230 hours using rail-setting for baguette diamonds on bezels and clasp with snow-setting across case middle and lugs. Hand engraving consumed 180 hours creating taille-douce work depicting sunrays breaking through clouds toward Earth on one side and lunar surface view of planets on the opposite. The front dial receives hand guilloché in radiating pattern under blue PVD coating.
