To mark its 270th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin unveils two remarkable creations within its Les Cabinotiers collection: the Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication – Homage to Ptolemy and – Homage to Copernicus.
Part of the new La Quête (“The Quest”) series, these masterpieces pay tribute to humankind’s enduring fascination with the heavens — and to the great astronomers who shaped our understanding of the cosmos.
Each timepiece presents a distinct vision of the celestial order: Ptolemy’s Earth-centred universe and Copernicus’s heliocentric revelation. The cases, in 18K gold, are exquisitely engraved using the champlevé technique, their surfaces transformed into intricate planetary orbits. The result is both scientific and poetic — a sculptural representation of cosmic harmony, brought to life through over 240 hours of engraving in Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art atelier.
At the heart of both watches beats the Calibre 3600, a double-sided hand-wound movement composed of 514 components and boasting 23 astronomical complications — all within a remarkably slim 8.7 mm profile. Five years in development, it is a triumph of mechanical miniaturisation and celestial precision.
Three distinct readings of time — civil, solar, and sidereal — are displayed across the two dials.
- On the front, central openworked hands indicate civil and solar time, linked by a running equation of time that captures the subtle variations between the two.
- The reverse reveals a rotating celestial chart, showing constellations visible from Earth in real time — a poetic reminder of the watch’s astronomical inspiration.
Complementing these are a perpetual calendar, precision moon phase, sunrise and sunset indicators, zodiac disc, tide gauge, and a one-minute tourbillon shaped as Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese cross — each complication harmoniously choreographed across the dial.
Every detail of the Celestia celebrates the union of art and science.
- The Homage to Ptolemy depicts the geocentric cosmos, its orbits etched around the Earth in bas-relief.
- The Homage to Copernicus radiates outward from a solar crown, the planets engraved in graceful, polished arcs.
These celestial engravings, alive with depth and contrast, reaffirm Vacheron Constantin’s mastery of Métiers d’Art — where engraving, astronomy, and haute horlogerie converge.
The Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication embodies Vacheron Constantin’s unwavering pursuit of knowledge, beauty, and precision.
A tribute to the astronomers who redefined our place in the universe, it stands as a horological cosmos in miniature — where mechanics become poetry, and time itself becomes an act of discovery.
Technical Specifications:
Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication – Homage to Ptolemy
Reference
97A0C/000G-304C
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Calibre
3600
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual winding
36 mm diameter, 8.7 mm thick
Movement power reserve: approximately 3 weeks
2.5 Hz (18’000 vibrations/hour)
514 components
64 jewels
23 complications
Indications
Hours, minutes, perpetual calendar, day/night indication, precision Moon phase, age of the Moon, running equation of time, sunrise and sunset time, day and night length, seasons, solstices, equinoxes and astronomical zodiac signs, tide level indication, Sun-Earth-Moon conjunction, opposition and quadrature, celestial chart for the Northern hemisphere with indication of the Milky Way, the celestial ecliptic and equator, sidereal hours and minutes, tourbillon, 3-week power reserve, indication of power reserve
Case
Hand-engraved 18K white gold
45 mm diameter, 13.91 mm thick
Double-sided
Water resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approximately 30 metres)
Dial
Grained 18K white gold
18K white gold appliques for hour-markers
18K white gold hands
Strap
Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Clasp
Hand-engraved 18K white gold folding clasp
Presentation box & accessory
Les Cabinotiers model
Delivered with a corrector pen
Price
Upon request
Unique timepiece Single piece edition
« Pièce unique », « Les Cabinotiers » and « AC » hallmark engraved on the back of the timepiece
Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication – Homage to Copernicus
Reference
97A0C/000R-290C
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Calibre
3600
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual winding
36 mm diameter, 8.7 mm thick
Movement power reserve: approximately 3 weeks
2.5 Hz (18’000 vibrations/hour)
514 components
64 jewels
23 complications
Indications
Hours, minutes, perpetual calendar, day/night indication, precision Moon phase, age of the Moon, running equation of time, sunrise and sunset time, day and night length, seasons, solstices, equinoxes and astronomical zodiac signs, tide level indication, Sun-Earth-Moon conjunction, opposition and quadrature, celestial chart for the Northern hemisphere with indication of the Milky Way, the celestial ecliptic and equator, sidereal hours and minutes, tourbillon, 3-week power reserve, indication of power reserve
Case
Hand-engraved 18K 5N pink gold
45 mm diameter, 13.91 mm thick
Double-sided
Water resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approximately 30 metres)
Dial
Grained 18K 5N pink gold
18K 5N pink gold appliques for hour-markers
18K 5N pink gold hands
Strap
Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Clasp
Hand-engraved 18K 5N pink gold folding clasp
Presentation box & accessory
Les Cabinotiers model
Delivered with a corrector pen
Price
Upon request
Unique timepiece Single piece edition
« Pièce unique », « Les Cabinotiers » and « AC » hallmark engraved on the back of the timepiece
For more information please visit Vacheron Constantin