IN-DEPTH: The Most Complicated Watch Ever, the Vacheron Constantin Berkley Grand Complication

‪@vacheronconstantin‬ #vacheronconstantin #mostcomplicatedwatch #watchesandwonders #watchesandwonders2024 #monochromewatches
No fewer than 63 complications, and now including the first Chinese Perpetual Calendar...
Back in 2015, on the occasion of the brand’s 260th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin unveiled the Reference 57260, a pocket watch made-to-order for a collector considered the most complicated in the world - with no fewer than 57 complications including Gregorian, Judaic, and lunar calendars. On the occasion of Watches and Wonders 2024, the Geneva-based manufacture goes even further with another commissioned piece (by the same collector), the Vacheron Constantin Berkley Grand Complication. And by bringing together no fewer than 63 complications, including the first Chinese Perpetual Calendar, it becomes the most complicated watch ever created. Again!
Today we're talking with Christian Selmoni of Vacheron Constantin to discover everything about the all might Berkley Grand Complication with Chinese Perpetual calendar.
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[@ruzanmuhammedasher3263]

appreciating this only makes me appreciate...smartwatches even more.

[@dominickcolasanto6582]

Glad that Vacheron Constantin had such a dedicated patron of the horological arts. Without Mr. Berkley this incredible mechanical marvel and its previous monumental miniature mechanism, both examples showing the skills and capabilities of humans and the human hand.

[@MichaelAChang]

Let's hope it doesn't require a full service every 5 years!

[@ThriftyCHNR]

Great achievement and perfect way for the brand to show to the world that it deserves its place in the top level!

[@rickythomson808]

Seen this masterpiece at watches and wonders then had a private viewing of the new overseas collection (Stunning)The staff at vacheron are super friendly ❤saving now to add a vacheron to my collection.

[@Pavlandia]

Figuring out how to pay for the servicing fee must also be complicated.

[@Monochrome-watches]

People that can afford watches like this are likely to have the funds for servicing it as well ;)

[@user-wk6ec3iy4f]

I own 7 of these, i cant get enough of it.

[@Billywoo12]

Peak watch making. Congratulations VC.

[@stockwatches]

Amazing engineering!

[@salvaavlas5757]

After years of effort and seen the amount of money that we can get from them… World is changing guys, world has changed!

[@lucacadianalbert]

this is mind blowing.

[@DritteKlavier]

I want to see the real thing in person. It is a mechanical show piece and a high end watch art.

[@Night_Diver81]

I can't be the only person curious to know how much this cost. 10 million Euros? Am i close?

[@Enrico-]

I'd guess less. The Patek 5175R was 2.5M.

@@Enrico- It's around 10 million

[@Monochrome-watches]

We wouldn't know exactly, and believe it, we asked ;) But VC respects their client to the point of not mentioning a price. But it's a LOT, that much is certain.

[@mohammadkooheji1286]

Much more complicated than Patek, Philippe, 5175R

[@robertfrancois6064]

That’s nuts

[@wladan6165]

Who is the main designer?

[@Flikksverdelger]

That's a tuna can, not a watch

[@Monochrome-watches]

Or a doorstop... mighty complicated doorstop, but yes, it is rather large overall!!

[@Johnnytotal]

Does it tell the time in an easy way, or is it just to show how complex mechanical watches can get?

[@polymathica]

Well, it’s not digital, so those who can’t read analog clocks will definitely have a hard time.

[@Monochrome-watches]

It depens what you call 'easy'. The front of the watch (closed dial, Chinese symbols) shows a regulator-style display for the hours, minutes and seconds. The top subdial, with the gold Roman numerals is for the hours, the largest of the three blued central hands is for the minutes, and the blued hand in the bottom subdial is for the seconds. All have their own scale to exactly tell you what time it is. If it's easy or not, is up to you. To us, given the utter complexity of the watch and the amount of displays and indications, it's not too bad!

[@madrat5176]

How do you actually service such a piece?

[@jons6280]

Carefully and at great expense😊

[@Monochrome-watches]

Send it back to VC and be very patient ;)

[@ultrasonicradiation]

My Apple Watch has more complications.

[@polymathica]

Actually, that brings up an interesting point. I wonder just how much spring energy needs to be stored in this watch in order to keep all the functions going? It would be awfully silly to have to keep the watch hooked up to an external winder for it to keep time. On the other hand, if an Apple Watch had 63 apps running in the background without communicating with an iPhone to run code, how long would its battery actually last?

[@oshanefa]

hey . the word should be "complex" not complicated . completed is a synonym to deteriorated or detriment , the word "complex" on the other hand means - intricate , puzzling or constituting of myriad of components . cheers @georges_angeles