Vacheron Constantin has unveiled La Quête du Temps Mécanique d’Art, a project that combines the tradition of fine watchmaking with artistic craftsmanship and astronomical research. The piece will be on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris from 17 September to 12 November 2025 as part of the Mécaniques d’Art exhibition.
The project is based on the Calibre 9270, a movement composed of 2,370 components and equipped with 23 watch complications. Among these, the activation of an automaton conceived as a functional complication stands out. The figure, in the form of a humanist astronomer, performs a choreography that indicates the time and at the same time evokes the contemplation of the celestial phenomena that have allowed humanity to measure time throughout history.
The development of La Quête du Temps brought together specialists from various fields. The watchmakers worked alongside craftsmen, designers, engineers and astronomers, with the collaboration of François Junod, a renowned automation specialist. L’Épée 1839 also participated in the construction of the case and mechanism, while astronomers from the Geneva Observatory provided a scientific basis for the astronomical narrative. The firm’s master craftsmen completed the project by artistically decorating the work.
To mark this presentation, Vacheron Constantin has also launched the Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Quest of Time watch. This double-sided model is equipped with the Calibre 3670, an in-house developed hand-wound movement, which includes four patent applications. Its features include astronomical complications, a double retrograde display and two display modes, reflecting the quest for new horizons in the technical and artistic expression of watchmaking.
The exhibition at the Louvre marks a milestone in the collaboration between the Parisian institution and Vacheron Constantin. Following previous projects focused on the dialogue between art and watchmaking, La Quête du Temps is presented as the centrepiece of an exhibition that examines the relationship between mechanics, artistic creation and the representation of time.
With this dual initiative, the Swiss watchmaker is commemorating its 270th anniversary by reinforcing its historical link with innovation, expertise and the exploration of the cultural and scientific foundations that have accompanied the measurement of time.
