W&W 2020: Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Split-Seconds Chronograph “Tempo”

Vacheron Constantin introduces one of the most complicated wristwatches ever produced by the Maison. This one-of-a-kind double-sided timepiece displays the chronograph hours and measurements on the front, along with a perpetual calendar. The back is dedicated to astronomical functions, including indications of solar time, equation of time, sunrise and sunset, day and night duration, as well as the age and phase of the moon. This watch featuring a tourbillon regulator is also equipped with a minute repeater.

In 2019, the Maison’s “Les Cabinotiers” department chose to pay tribute to them through one-of-a-kind models grouped under the theme “La Musique du Temps”. Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Split-seconds chronograph “Tempo” is the crowning embodiment of this approach. For the first time, the repeater watches from “La Musique du Temps” range have a unique sound print, recorded and certified by Abbey Road Studios.

Abbey Road Studios

In addition to the minute repeater function, the front side also displays timekeeping and calendar indications in addition to the split-seconds chronograph. The perpetual calendar indications are provided by the two lower subdials: one for the day and date, the other for the month and leap year. 

Front side of Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Split-seconds chronograph “Tempo”

The symmetrically placed upper subdials are dedicated to marking off time. The hours appear on the left- hand subdial with an inner 24-hour disc that can be used to display a second time zone; while the right- hand subdial shows the minutes on the outer disc and carries the chronograph 30-minute counter on the inner disc. the watchmakers of the Maison created a split-seconds chronograph equipped with a column wheel. The split-seconds system with two central hands enables intermediate (split) times to be calculated by stopping one of the two hands which, once restarted, ‘catches up’ with the first.

Reverse side of Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Split-seconds chronograph “Tempo”

On the reverse watch face, the central hands, including the minutes hand with the sun symbol, indicate true solar time. Based on the apparent displacement of the sun, the latter differs from civil time due to the inclination of the earth’s axis and the eccentricity of the earth’s orbit. The difference is what is known as the equation of time, which, on this timepiece, is of the ‘running’ variety, given the simultaneous nature of the two readings of time on either side of the watch. This information is complemented by indications of sunrise and sunset times as well as the duration of day and night, respectively positioned at 3 and 9 o’clock. 

The lowest part of the dial features a display of the age and phase of the moon by means of a retrograde hand sweeping over a semi-circular subdial. To ensure the visual harmony of this second dial, the tourbillon is placed at 12 o’clock with its carriage shaped like a Maltese cross – the emblem of the Maison – topped by the central pointer-type power- reserve indicator. 

Calibre 2756 with 1.163 components

The 24 complications are powered by the Calibre 2756 with 1.163 components that are all bedded in a 50 mm sized 18K 5N pink gold case. A split-seconds lifting-lever was especially designed to save energy for a timepiece to be able to guarantee a power reserve of 65 hours and still lasting up to 40 hours even with the chronograph activated. The two slate grey dials are finished with sunray and guilloché finishes around the circumference. 

Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Split-seconds Chronograph “Tempo” is worn on a brown Mississippiensis alligator leather strap and is a one-of-a-kind timepiece. 

PRICE: Request on demand

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