Vacheron Constantin introduce the Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial, a series of 12 references with each dial featuring a hand-guilloché illustration of one of the zodiac signs and its associated constellation.
Presented in an elegant 39mm white gold case set with baguette-cut blue sapphires to complement the blue dials, the watches are powered by the ultra-thin self-winding manufacture movement with a tourbillon, Calibre 2160.
The Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial watches showcase Vacheron Constantin’s mastery of hand-guillochage and gem-setting, a tradition passed down for 270 years. Each of the 12 dials features a hand-guilloché zodiac sign and its constellation, with stars marked by brilliant-cut diamonds. Human figure signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius) include opaline accents.
Developed by the Maison’s master guillocheur, the figurative guilloché technique transforms traditional patterns into detailed illustrations using precisely angled, hand-crafted triangles—each zodiac sign takes about 16 hours to complete.
The blue dial is enhanced by 96 baguette-cut blue sapphires (˜3.87 carats) set on the bezel, crown, lugs, and buckle in a 27-hour gem-setting process. Channel-setting creates a seamless circle of floating sapphires. White gold indexes with ribbed patterns echo the geometric precision of both the guilloché and sapphire settings.
Creating each dial involves a precise eight-step process, where every artisan must preserve the work of those before them. It begins with marking constellations and zodiac signs on a thin 18K 5N gold disc. A sunburst finish is applied, followed by opaline details for the three human signs. The zodiac sign is then hand-guilloché engraved, after which the tourbillon aperture is cut and the blue color added.
Next, the constellation map is revealed by machining fine lines through the blue layer to expose the gold base. A protective varnish is applied, followed by the transfer of minute markers, Vacheron Constantin’s name, application of white gold indexes, the Maltese Cross, and finally, setting of diamonds to represent the principal stars—aptly reflecting the Latin root of ‘constellation’, meaning ‘set with stars’.
The Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial series exemplifies this philosophy, uniting hand-decorated dials with the ultra-thin, self-winding tourbillon Calibre 2160.
Comprising 188 parts and just 5.65 mm thick, the movement operates at 2.5 Hz, displaying hours, minutes, and small seconds via the tourbillon. A 22K gold peripheral rotor winds the 80-hour power reserve while revealing the beautifully finished movement.
Decorative details include perlage, hand-bevelled bridges with Côtes de Genève, chamfered screws, and a Maltese Cross-shaped tourbillon cage. The watch bears the Poinçon de Genève, certifying precision, origin, and exceptional finishing.
Since ancient times, humanity has been captivated by the night sky, interpreting celestial patterns through cultural and mythological lenses. Around 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, astronomers began naming constellations—many of which were later adapted by Greek and Roman civilizations. Other cultures, including Chinese, Indian, and Native American, developed their own constellation systems.
Today, 88 constellations are officially recognised—36 in the northern sky and 52 in the southern—catalogued over centuries from Ptolemy to 16th-century Dutch navigators. Among them are the 12 zodiac constellations, aligned with the Sun’s path along the ecliptic, used since antiquity to mark the seasons and define the year. The term zodiac comes from the Greek zoidiakos, meaning “circle of animals.”
In this tribute, Vacheron Constantin celebrates the enduring link between astronomy and astrology—once inseparable disciplines practiced by early scholars like Galileo and Kepler—blending myth, science, and craftsmanship.
The Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial series features 12 watches, each honoring a zodiac constellation and astrological sign. It draws inspiration from a 2021 one-of-a-kind piece by Les Cabinotiers: the Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart Leo Constellation Jewellery, which introduced figurative guilloché into celestial-themed dials.
Vacheron Constantin has long embraced astronomical influences in both technical and artistic watchmaking. Highlights include a 1927 Art Deco zodiac table clock made with Verger Frères, the 1996 Mercator Ref. 43050 with Chinese zodiac enamel, and the ongoing Legend of the Chinese Zodiac series launched in 2012. Other notable creations include the 2005 L’Esprit des Cabinotiers mystery clock and single-piece masterpieces like Les Cabinotiers Astronomica (2014), Ref. 57260 (2015), and The Berkley Grand Complication (2024).
Technical Specifications:
MÉTIERS D’ART TRIBUTE TO THE CELESTIAL
References
6007A/000G-H042 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Aries
6007A/000G-H043 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Taurus
6007A/000G-H044 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Gemini
6007A/000G-H045 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Cancer
6007A/000G-H046 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Leo
6007A/000G-H047 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Virgo
6007A/000G-H048 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Libra
6007A/000G-H049 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Scorpio
6007A/000G-H050 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Sagittarius
6007A/000G-H051 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Capricorn
6007A/000G-H052 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Aquarius
6007A/000G-H053 Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial – Pisces
Calibre
2160
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding, peripheral rotor
Tourbillon
31 mm (13½’’’) diameter, 5.65 mm thick
Approximately 80 hours of power reserve
2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
188 components
30 jewels
Indications
Hours and minutes; small seconds on tourbillon carriage
Case
18K white gold case
39 mm in diameter, 10.7 mm thick
96 baguette-cut sapphires set on the bezel, lugs and crown ˜ 3.87 cts
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)
Dial
5N gold dial base
Hand-guilloché motif depicting each of the 12 zodiac signs and corresponding constellation
Stars set with brilliant-cut diamonds
18K white gold Maltese Cross applique
Railway minute-track
Hour markers and hands
18K white gold applied hour-markers with ribbed texture
18K white gold bi-faceted sword-shaped hour and minute hands
Strap
Dark blue alligator leather with alligator lining
18K white gold folding clasp set with 16 baguette-cut sapphires ˜ 0.53 cts
Price
Upon request
‘Poinçon de Genève’ certified timepiece
Limited production
Available only through Vacheron Constantin Boutiques
For more information please visit Vacheron Constantin