La Quête du Temps, a poetic expression of time, craftsmanship, and cosmic curiosity, leads the celebrations for the 270th anniversary of Vacheron Constantin.

Marking this extraordinary milestone, the Swiss watchmaker unveils a remarkable horological creation: La Quête du Temps — a one-of-a-kind astronomical clock that transcends timekeeping.

Equal parts timepiece, automaton, and work of art, it brings together high horology, kinetic poetry, and artistic métiers in a singular mechanical marvel.

Crafting Time

Conceived over seven years, the clock is shaped as a humanistic Astronomer, whose movements narrate not just time but humankind’s eternal fascination with the cosmos. At its core lies a tribute to the ancient quest to measure time through celestial cycles — from the Moon and stars to the rhythms of sunrise and sunset — foundations on which horology itself was built.

“Innovation at Vacheron Constantin is always driven by curiosity,” says CEO Laurent Perves. “This project brings together the emotion of craftsmanship and the human need to understand the universe. It also inspired, as always, a wristwatch like no other.”

That watch is the new Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Quest of Time — a double-sided wristwatch that mirrors the ambition and artistry of the automaton.

Housing a newly developed manual movement, the Calibre 3670, the piece features four patent applications, astronomical complications, double retrograde displays, and two distinct display modes, all encased in exceptional hand-finished detail.

An Ode To History

True to the spirit of the 18th-century Enlightenment — the same era in which Vacheron Constantin was founded — the project reflects a fascination with scientific marvels, or merveilles, objects designed not only to function but to mesmerise. These creations once dazzled salons and royal courts alike, merging science with spectacle.

La Quête du Temps continues this tradition, born from collaboration across disciplines. Teams from within the Maison worked alongside automaton master François Junod, L’Épée 1839 (for mechanical realisation), the Geneva Observatory, and an array of artisans — from enamellers to engravers — each contributing their specialist savoir-faire.

This is more than a watch or a clock. It is a philosophical and artistic statement — a mechanical ode to time’s passage, and to the imagination and ingenuity that continue to drive horology forward, even after 270 years.