Les Cabinotiers Grande – The Design & Complications
While the center of attraction here is the grand complication, you just cannot get there without talking about the impressive design. The high-end timepiece has hand engraving and a gem setting on its 18k pink gold case. All of this was made possible by making the case relatively bigger and thicker.
This double-faced grand complication is an example of excellent craftsmanship. While the design itself is pretty mesmerizing, the technical engineering that went behind this masterpiece is also fascinating. The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Bacchus is a tribute to the Greek God wine. It features a dark brown alligator strap with a pink gold folding clasp. Enriching it further, the clasp comes engraved with vine leaves and the signature half Maltese cross.
Overwhelming Complications on the front
In total, the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande showcases a whopping 16 complications. This makes the watch one of the most complex watches produced by the company. The complications are powered by the manual-winding calibre 2755 GC16. It also comes with a tourbillon regulator.
The complications present on the champagne-colored dial are easy to read and super helpful once you get the hang of it. As soon as you look at the watch, what steals your attention first is the one-minute tourbillon. On both sides of the tourbillion, there are sub-dials with numbers 5-8 and 17-20 corresponding to the sunrise and sunset time, respectively.
There are three sub-dials on the top half of the dial that showcase day, month and date. Interestingly, the day of the week sub-dial has two hands as the striking one indicates the power reserve available. If that one was not amusing, the perpetual calendar function on the Bacchus timepiece has been calibrated in such a way that it does not need to be adjusted until the year 2100.
Complications on the back side
It is not just the front side where you can see all the complications. Vacheron Constantin has also taken advantage of the backside of the watch. There is a wine red colored rotating disc that depicts the Northern hemisphere night sky and its corresponding constellations. The disc performs rotations on the basis of the sidereal time, which is displayed on the periphery, opposite the date.
There is also a large central hand that reads the date. Besides indicating the date, the hand also tells the zodiac sign, the season and the four dates corresponding to the solstices and equinoxes. As for the shorter hand, it reveals the age of the Moon.
Calibre 2755 GC16 – Powering everything
The Bacchus draws its power from the specially designed Calibre 2755 GC16. The manual-winding movement takes its inspiration from the 2005 Tour de l’Île, which was the most complicated wristwatch of its time. As the name suggests, the Calibre is able to power 16 complications of the watch and still deliver a surprising 58-hour power reserve. The Calibre comprises a total of 839 parts, and it is measured at 33.90mm in diameter, and it is about 12.15mm thick.
The beefy movement not only has the perpetual calendar and other information, but it also has a minute repeater that chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand. Overall, the watchmaker has given extra attention to detail, and that can be seen in the finishings everywhere around the timepiece. The wristwatch also gets the Hallmark of Geneva.
Should you buy the most complicated wristwatch?
If you are a true watch collector and enthusiast, then the straightforward answer would be – Yes! This is the pinnacle of watch craftsmanship and it deserves a spot in your watch collection. Vacheron Constantin has not revealed the price of the superlative timepiece but it is available on request.
Once you do buy the watch, you will get it in a prestige box with a corrector pen. Alongside that, the company also provides a magnifying glass and a winding box giving you the rich feeling that comes with a watch like this. In case you are wondering, the magnifying glass is there to help you see the artwork closely.
