Marking 270 years of uninterrupted watchmaking excellence, Vacheron Constantin unveils the Métiers d’Art – Tribute to the Quest of Time, a technically and artistically ambitious double-sided wristwatch developed over three years. Powered by the new manually wound Manufacture Calibre 3670, the timepiece is protected by four patent applications and released in a limited edition of just 20 pieces, housed in a 43 mm white gold case.
At the heart of the dial is a sculptural human figure whose arms indicate hours and minutes via a double retrograde display. A major innovation lies in its dual time-display modes:
- Active mode, where time is continuously displayed
- Standby mode, where the arms rest in a neutral position until activated on demand via a pusher at 10 o’clock
This technical solution draws inspiration from Vacheron Constantin’s groundbreaking Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar (Calibre 3610 QP, 2019), adapting its dual-mode logic to a retrograde display.
Astronomical and Celestial Complications
Conceived as an homage to the Maison’s 270th-anniversary astronomical clock La Quête du Temps, the dial backdrop reproduces the constellations as seen from Geneva on 17 September 1755, the date of Vacheron Constantin’s founding. The brand collaborated with astronomers from the Geneva Observatory to ensure historical and astronomical accuracy.
Key front-dial indications include:
- Double retrograde hours and minutes
- Double power reserve display (six days, shown sequentially from 6→3 and 3→0)
- 3D precision moon phase with exact lunar age, accurate over a 29.5-day cycle
The reverse dial features a sky chart displaying sidereal time, tracking the real-time movement of constellations with an accuracy of one day’s deviation in 9,130 years.
Calibre3670: High Frequency, Long Reserve
The Calibre 3670 combines a high frequency of 5 Hz (36,000 vph) with three barrels, delivering a six-day power reserve—a rare pairing in haute horlogerie. This architecture ensures torque stability for the energy-intensive dual-mode retrograde display while maintaining amplitude consistency.
The movement comprises 512 hand-finished components and measures just 34 mm x 7.8 mm, allowing for elegant case proportions of 43 mm diameter and 13.58 mm thickness. The entire watch is certified with the Poinçon de Genève, attesting to its technical integrity, aesthetic refinement, and finishing excellence.
Métiers d’Art Craftsmanship
The dial is constructed from two layers of sapphire crystal. The upper layer features metallised blue gradients and the historic 1755 sky chart, while the sapphire caseback is laser-engraved with celestial motifs.
Notable artisanal elements include:
- A 3D titanium human figure with golden PVD treatment and hand-applied patina
- A hand-engraved titanium moon, finished in gold and deep blue PVD to mirror lunar phases
- 18K white gold hour and minute arcs with opaline finish
- 27 applied indexes in 18K 3N yellow gold
Movement bridges are finished with circular satin brushing, deliberately chosen to reduce reflections and enhance legibility through the sapphire dials. Visible through the caseback, the main bridge bears the 270th anniversary emblem.
A Modern Expression of Time and Cosmos
With its fusion of astronomical precision, mechanical innovation, and sculptural artistry, the Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art – Tribute to the Quest of Time stands as a contemporary collector’s masterpiece—an eloquent expression of the Maison’s enduring pursuit of time, science, and beauty.
