Vacheron Constantin has introduced what may be the most complex wristwatch ever made: the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication-La Première. This extraordinary timepiece follows last year’s Vacheron Constantin Ref. 57260 pocket watch, the previous record-holder for most complicated watch. It also surpasses top wristwatches like the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 and Vacheron Constantin’s own Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600.
The Solaria features 41 complications packed into a compact caliber measuring 36 mm by 10.96 mm, all housed in a 45 mm by 14.99 mm case. The watch contains 1,521 components, an engineering feat that defies typical watchmaking limits. It was designed and assembled by Jean-Marie Bouquin, a 44-year-old watchmaker who also created the 23-complication Celestia model in 2017.
The watch took eight years to complete, with one full year devoted solely to assembling the movement. Unlike the Ref. 57260—which involved three watchmakers—Bouquin worked alone on the Solaria, managing all aspects except the finishing touches.
Among its many features, the watch includes a Westminster carillon minute repeater integrated with the tourbillon and chronograph, a Gregorian perpetual calendar, a split-second chronograph, and a sidereal time indicator. The minute repeater itself holds seven of the watch’s thirteen patents.
In short, the Solaria packs every major horological complication imaginable into one watch, showcasing a level of craftsmanship rarely seen in the industry.
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