Vacheron Constantin has once again asserted its position at the zenith of haute horlogerie with the introduction of the Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface. This timepiece is not merely an addition to their esteemed collection but a profound statement on the synthesis of mechanical ingenuity and aesthetic artistry. It represents a confluence of historical savoir-faire and forward-thinking technical application, a piece designed for the most discerning connoisseurs who appreciate the intricate dance of gears and levers that measure the passage of our lives. This watch is a testament to the brand's relentless pursuit of horological perfection, a single-piece edition that encapsulates centuries of watchmaking tradition within its modern framework.
The very name, Les Cabinotiers, evokes the spirit of the highly skilled watchmakers of 18th-century Geneva. These artisans, working in light-filled workshops at the tops of the city's buildings, were the masters of their craft, creating bespoke timepieces for an elite international clientele. Vacheron Constantin proudly carries this heritage forward, with its Les Cabinotiers department dedicated to creating unique and custom-ordered watches of the highest complexity. The Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface is a direct descendant of this legacy, a modern masterpiece born from the same principles of innovation, craftsmanship, and exclusivity that defined the original cabinotiers.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
At the heart of this creation lies a formidable challenge: the combination of a minute repeater, a split-seconds chronograph, and a tourbillon regulator within the confines of a wristwatch. While this trio of complications has appeared in larger pocket watches, its successful integration into a wearable format is a feat of miniaturization and engineering that few watchmaking houses have mastered. Each complication presents its own set of technical hurdles, and their harmonious coexistence within a single movement requires a level of expertise that Vacheron Constantin has cultivated for nearly 270 years. The successful execution of this horological triumvirate places the Temporis Duo in a rarefied echelon of timekeeping instruments.
The lineage of this timepiece is deeply rooted in the Maison's own archives. Vacheron Constantin’s journey with complex mechanisms began early. The manufacture produced a pocket watch with a quarter repeater and an independent deadbeat seconds mechanism as far back as 1819. This early device, which allowed the seconds hand to be stopped and started independently, is widely considered the precursor to the modern chronograph. This historical foundation in precise time measurement laid the groundwork for the sophisticated split-seconds chronograph featured in the Temporis Duo, a mechanism that allows for the timing of intermediate intervals with impeccable accuracy.
Similarly, the Maison’s history with chiming watches is extensive and storied. The first recorded Vacheron Constantin striking watch, a gold quarter-repeating pocket watch, dates to 1806. This expertise evolved over the centuries, leading to milestones like the ultra-thin Calibre 4261 minute repeater from the 1940s and the monumental Reference 57260, which includes a grande et petite sonnerie with Westminster chimes among its 57 complications. This profound understanding of acoustics and mechanical striking is evident in the crisp, clear tones produced by the Temporis Duo’s minute repeater.
The tourbillon, that captivating mechanism designed to counteract the effects of gravity on a watch's regulating organ, also has a long history with the brand. The first mention of a tourbillon in Vacheron Constantin's records was for a custom order in 1901. Since then, the Maison's watchmakers have continuously refined and evolved the tourbillon, developing multi-axis versions and incorporating advanced materials. The tourbillon in the Temporis Duo is not just a nod to this history but an advancement, featuring a spherical hairspring for enhanced isochronism, demonstrating a commitment to not just including complications, but perfecting them.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
For this new iteration, the watchmakers of Les Cabinotiers developed the Calibre 2757 S, a new version of the movement first unveiled in 2022. The "S" signifies a significant upgrade: the inclusion of a spherical hairspring within the tourbillon. This three-dimensional spring allows the balance to beat with a more concentric, and therefore more regular, motion, leading to a higher degree of timekeeping precision. This technical enhancement is complemented by the decision to present the movement through an open-worked sapphire dial, transforming the watch from a mere time-teller into a dynamic piece of kinetic sculpture.
The manual-winding Calibre 2757 S is a universe in itself, comprising an astonishing 696 individual components. Despite this immense complexity, the movement maintains a remarkable thinness, measuring just 10.4 mm in height and 33.3 mm in diameter. This feat of engineering was achieved through meticulous design, with a focus on the vertical arrangement of the split-seconds chronograph components to optimize space. The result is a grand complication that sits comfortably on the wrist, adhering to the brand’s signature principles of refined proportions.
Vacheron Constantin’s watchmakers leveraged advanced materials to enhance the performance and efficiency of the calibre. Certain wheels within the gear train are crafted from titanium, a material prized for its strength and low density. Others are electroformed in nickel-phosphorus, featuring a proprietary tooth profile that ensures smoother engagement and prevents the chronograph hands from stuttering. The central chronograph seconds hands are made from aluminum, chosen for its rigidity and extreme lightness, while silicon, a material that requires no lubrication and offers minimal friction, is used for a key lever in the split-seconds mechanism. These material choices reduce energy consumption, contributing to a healthy power reserve of approximately 58 hours, even with the chronograph running.
The chronograph function itself is a marvel of precision engineering. Capable of measuring elapsed time to an accuracy of one-fifth of a second, courtesy of the movement’s 2.5Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour) frequency, its readings are displayed via two central seconds hands and a 30-minute counter at the 2 o'clock position. To ensure flawless operation, the mechanism employs a sophisticated two-column-wheel construction—one for the standard chronograph functions and a second dedicated to the split-seconds, or rattrapante, hand. This dual system provides crisp and reliable actuation, controlled by a monopusher at 2 o'clock for start, stop, and reset, and a separate pusher at 4 o'clock for the split-seconds function.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
The minute repeater complication in the Calibre 2757 S is equally advanced, featuring Vacheron Constantin’s ingenious flying strike governor. This silent regulator is crucial for controlling the pace of the chiming sequence. It utilizes two uniquely shaped weights that act as a brake on the governor's rotating shaft, using a combination of centrifugal and centripetal forces to even out the energy released from the repeater's dedicated barrel. This ensures that the chimes for the hours, quarters, and minutes are delivered at a steady, pleasing tempo, with distinct and melodious notes, free from the distracting background whirring common in lesser systems.
The tourbillon, prominently displayed at the 6 o'clock position, is a visual and technical anchor for the dial. Its cage, intricately shaped in the form of the Maison’s Maltese cross emblem, performs a full rotation every 60 seconds. A hand mounted to the cage axle indicates the running small seconds. The tourbillon is held in place by a beautifully hand-beveled bridge, a testament to the level of finishing lavished upon even the smallest components. The inclusion of the spherical hairspring within this rotating cage is a mark of the brand's dedication to pushing the boundaries of mechanical accuracy.
Visually, the timepiece is a feast for the eyes, presented in a substantial 45mm case crafted from 18K 5N pink gold. The warm hue of the gold provides a rich frame for the mechanical spectacle within. The case's polished and satin-finished surfaces create a subtle play of light, drawing the eye inward toward the dial. The overall thickness of 16.40 mm is assertive yet balanced, a necessary dimension to house the depth and complexity of the Calibre 2757 S.
The true aesthetic signature of the watch is its transparent sapphire dial. At just 0.5 mm thick, this crystal canvas provides an unobstructed view into the heart of the movement. The dial is a complex work of art in its own right, featuring a sophisticated interplay of polished and frosted finishes on the sub-dials. These counters are encircled by 5N pink gold rings, which are applied through a metallization process to the underside of the sapphire. The hour markers are treated with a contemporary grey NAC (N-acetylcysteine) coating, while the chronograph markings are meticulously engraved and inked, ensuring legibility without obscuring the mechanics below.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
A striking touch of color is introduced through the chronograph hands. Both the 30-minute counter hand and the two central seconds hands are rendered in a distinctive olive green, achieved through a PVD coating on the lightweight aluminum. This unexpected color choice adds a modern flair and is harmoniously matched by the deep green of the Mississippiensis alligator leather strap. The strap itself is a work of art, featuring large square scales and a saddle-finish, hand-stitched to perfection. It is secured to the wrist with an 18K 5N pink gold folding clasp, polished into the shape of a half Maltese cross.
The see-through sapphire caseback offers a second, equally breathtaking view of the calibre. Here, the watchmaker's decorative artistry is on full display. The bridges are treated with a black NAC coating, creating a dramatic contrast with the golden-toned gears and wheels. The surfaces of these blackened bridges have been hollowed and then painstakingly sandblasted by hand to achieve a fine, uniform grain, bordered by a mirror-polished chamfer. This technique, known as anglage, requires an exceptionally steady hand and is a hallmark of the finest watchmaking.
The level of detail is obsessive. The sinks for the jewels and screws are also mirror-polished, catching the light and creating brilliant points of reflection against the dark bridges. This meticulous finishing is not merely decorative; it is an integral part of the watchmaking tradition, a way of honoring the mechanism by beautifying every single part, even those hidden from view. The striking governor is engraved with the initials "JMV," a tribute to the founder Jean-Marc Vacheron, and is held by a semi-circular bridge that has been round-polished by hand—a process that alone requires eight hours of dedicated work.
It is a telling fact that the hand-finishing of the 696 components took twice as long as the entire process of assembling and regulating the movement. This dedication to craft is a core tenet of Vacheron Constantin. In the spirit of the original cabinotiers, a single master watchmaker is responsible for the entire timepiece, from the initial finishing of the components to the final assembly, adjustment, and casing of the calibre. This holistic approach ensures a seamless integration of technique and artistry and represents a living continuation of watchmaking knowledge passed down through generations.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
In an interview with Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin's Style & Heritage Director, he reinforces the significance of this piece. Christian explains that the choice of an open-worked sapphire dial was deliberate, intended to showcase the full complexity of the Calibre 2757 S, especially the mesmerizing ballet of the tourbillon which was concealed in the previous version. He emphasizes the focus on performance, highlighting the in-depth research into materials to optimize the chronograph's reliability and energy efficiency, all essential for meeting the stringent criteria of the Poinçon de Genève (Hallmark of Geneva).
As a "Pièce unique," or single-piece edition, the Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface is the definition of exclusivity. The caseback is engraved with the words « Pièce unique » and « Les Cabinotiers, » signifying its special status. This is not a watch that will be found in a display case; it is a singular creation for a singular collector. As such, the price is available only upon request, a discreet acknowledgment that for a work of this magnitude, the value lies not just in its material composition, but in its unparalleled artistry, its historical significance, and the immense human skill poured into its creation.
Case: 18K 5N pink gold, 45 mm in diameter and 16.40 mm thick, with a transparent sapphire crystal caseback.
Movement: Manual-winding Calibre 2757 S, 33.30 mm in diameter and 10.40 mm thick, containing 696 components and 61 jewels. Features a power reserve of approximately 58 hours, a frequency of 2.5Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour), and is Hallmark of Geneva certified. Complications include a split-seconds chronograph, minute repeater, tourbillon, and a power reserve indicator on the back.
Dial: Transparent sapphire crystal with 18K 5N pink gold hands for hours, minutes, and seconds. The chronograph and split-seconds hands are green.
Strap: Green Mississippiensis alligator leather with a hand-stitched, saddle-finish. Features an 18K 5N pink gold folding clasp shaped like a polished half Maltese cross.
Price: Price on request.
Reference Number: 9750C/000R-215C
Notes: This is a single-piece edition. A single master watchmaker was in charge of all component finishing and assembly. The hand-finishing of the components took twice as long as the assembly and regulation of the calibre.