For the average watch wearer, complications do not mean have much significance. Beyond basic features like time, date, chronograph and alarm functions, most complications have little use in daily lives. However, for watch enthusiast, complicated watches are the holy grail. This was the case for an anonymous watch enthusiast who challenged Vacheron Constantin to produce the worlds most complicated watch. And so the story begins…
Vacheron took on this challenge but it was no easy feat. The previous most complicated watch was the Patek Philippe Calibre 89, boasting 33 different complications. After 85 prototypes, 10 patents and 8 years of assembly, Vacheron Constantin introduced the worlds most complicated watch in 2015 with 57 functions.
This remarkable watch, crafted from 18ct white gold, took the form of a pocket watch, measuring 2 inches in diameter and weighing approximately 2 pounds. Within its intricate design it houses 57 distinct complications, 2,826 individual components, 242 precious jewels and 31 hands.
Functions
The watch features 57 different functions:
- 6 time measurements functions,
- 7 perpetual calendar functions
- 8 Hebrew calendar functions
- 9 Astrological calendar functions
- 8 Westminster carillon striking functions
- 7 Alarm functions
- A Lunar calendar function
- A Religious calendar function
- 3-Column wheel chronograph with 4 functions
- 6 miscellaneous functions
Box
This piece doesn’t end with the watch, VC went the extra mile and produced a beautiful box.
Price
Now, with all this information, you might be curious about its value. The agreed-upon price between VC and the client remains confidential, but numerous speculations place it somewhere between $5-10 million. To provide context, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication, a watch with 24 complications, fetched $24 million at auction. Although it’s unlikely that the 57260 will be available at auction anytime soon, drawing parallels to the Patek, a conservative estimate would place its value at no less than $20 million. If you ask me, this watch is truly priceless.