To celebrate its 270th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin unveils the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust, a breathtaking expression of the Maison’s mastery in haute horlogerie and decorative arts.
Part of the La Quête (“The Quest”) series, this unique piece embodies humankind’s timeless fascination with the cosmos — a poetic voyage from Earth to the Moon rendered in gold, diamonds, and mechanical genius.
From Copernicus to Kepler, the great astronomers mapped the heavens to understand our place within them. The Moon Dust pays homage to their vision, combining 16 astronomical and horological complications within an 18K white gold case. Each side of the watch presents a miniature cosmos: one depicting the solar system from Earth, the other as seen from the Moon — a duality that captures both science and imagination.
At its heart beats the hand-wound Calibre 2755 GC16, a direct descendant of the legendary movement created for La Tour de l’Île. Comprising 839 components, this grand complication unites a minute repeater, tourbillon regulator, perpetual calendar, and equation of time.
The tourbillon, shaped as Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese Cross, performs a graceful rotation every 60 seconds, while the minute repeater chimes the hours, quarters and minutes with serene precision — its rotating silent governor ensuring smooth, harmonious tones.
Astronomical indications include sunrise and sunset times, sidereal time, moon age, zodiac cycles, and the seasons, all beautifully displayed across both sides of the dial. The result is a rare union of technical virtuosity and cosmic romance.
Three of the Maison’s métiers d’art — engraving, guilloché, and gem-setting — converge in a celestial masterpiece. The blue guilloché dial evokes the vastness of the universe, while 200 baguette-cut and 165 brilliant-cut diamonds shimmer like stardust across the case, lugs, and clasp.
The engraved decoration tells a story of cosmic perspective: radiant sunrays, planetary vistas, and lunar landscapes, realised through tailles-douce engraving requiring over 180 hours of meticulous work.
The Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust is more than a watch — it is an ode to time, light, and discovery. For the discerning collector, it represents the pinnacle of what Vacheron Constantin has pursued for over two and a half centuries: the perfect harmony of mechanical brilliance and celestial beauty.
Technical Specifications:
Grand Complication High Jewellery – Moon Dust
Reference
9717C/000G-289C
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Caliber
2755 GC16
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical manual-winding
33.90 mm diameter, 12.15 mm thick
Movement power reserve: approximately 58 hours
2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
839 components
42 jewels
16 complications
Indications
Hours, minutes, tourbillon, small seconds on tourbillon carriage, perpetual calendar, equation of time, sunrise and sunset time, minute repeater, striking mechanism torque, celestial chart for the Northern hemisphere, Moon phase, Moon age, sidereal hours and minutes, seasons and zodiac signs
Case
Hand-engraved 18K white gold set with 184 baguette cut diamonds (approx. 8.68 cts, IF-VVS, D-G) and 165 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.92 ct, IF-VVS, D-G); 47 mm diameter, 19.10 mm thick; Double-sided
Dial
Blue hand-guilloché with black opaline edge and black opaline and blue azuré counters; 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
18K white gold folding clasp set with 16 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 1.02 cts, IF-VVS, D-G)
Presentation box & accessory
Les Cabinotiers model
Delivered with a corrector pen
Price
Upon request
Unique timepiece
“Pièce unique”, “Les Cabinotiers” and “AC” hallmark engraved on the back of the timepiece
For more information please visit Vacheron Constantin