These new Vacheron Constantin watches feature actual constellations (and take 43 hours to make by hand)
The storied watchmaker puts the zodiac on your wrist
IN A NOVEL COMBINATION of fusion of horology and mythology, Vacheron Constantin has launched “Métiers d’Art Tribute to The Celestial” – a series of 12 super-artistic watches, each celebrating a zodiac sign and its constellation.
Each one is crafted by hand – a collection of a dozen watches that elevates the starry sky to wrist-worn art.
Each 39mm timepiece is set in 18ct white gold, encircled by 96 baguette-cut blue sapphires and a dial adorned with hand guilloché zodiac imagery.
The principal stars of each constellation are represented by brilliant-cut diamonds.
“The challenge was to capture not just the visual form of the constellations, but their emotional resonance,” according to Sandrine Donguy, Vacheron Constantin’s product & innovation director.
The watches are powered by the storied Swiss watchmaker’s calibre 2160 – an ultra-thin, self-winding tourbillon movement that’s just 5.65mm thick.
Despite comprising 188 components, it offers an 80-hour power reserve and a clear view of the movement through a sapphire case-back, thanks to a 22ct gold peripheral rotor.
“It’s a beautiful synergy between engineering and elegance,” Donguy says. “Slimness is not just aesthetic; it’s an engineering feat that demands absolute precision.”
Each dial takes over 16 hours to engrave plus an additional 27 hours to gem-set, employing a figurative guilloché technique pioneered in-house.
“This method transforms guilloché from a decorative craft into a narrative form,” Donguy says.
“We are telling the stories of the zodiac – not just with symbolism, but with texture, reflection, and relief.”
Notably, signs depicting human figures – eg: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Aquarius – feature additional opaline detailing for expressive clarity.
“We wanted to reflect the human element in both material and myth,” says Donguy.
“There’s an intimacy in these signs that felt important to convey.”
The series draws inspiration from both Western astrology and ancient sky-mapping traditions.
“Until the 17th century, the astronomer and astrologer were often one and the same. We see no contradiction in combining precision with poetry,” Donguy says.
“This project is a celebration of that unity.”
Each timepiece is limited in production and available exclusively through Vacheron Constantin boutiques. Price is very much “POA”.
“We’re not just making watches,” says Donguy.
“We’re continuing a 270-year legacy of blending the measurable with the mystical – and bringing the heavens a little closer to Earth.”
This story originally appeared on Esquire UK.
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