The world’s most complicated wristwatch is here: Features and what makes it unique

For those who think a luxury watch is just about telling time, Vacheron Constantin has a surprise. The Swiss watchmaker has just revealed its latest masterpiece, Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication, and it’s not just a watch—it’s a technical marvel. Packed with 41 complications, including a celestial tracker, a Westminster chime minute repeater, and three different ways to measure time, this is officially the most complicated mechanical wristwatch ever made.
In watchmaking, a complication is any feature beyond basic timekeeping—like a moon phase display or a perpetual calendar. Vacheron Constantin has taken that concept to the extreme, fitting 1,521 intricate components into a case that’s just 45mm wide. Revealed at the Watches and Wonders fair in Switzerland, this one-of-a-kind piece took eight years to develop and required an entirely new approach to miniaturization and precision engineering.

What makes it special?
The Solaria Ultra Grand Complication tracks time in three different ways:

It also features astronomical complications that track the Sun’s movement, monitor celestial positions, and predict when certain stars will be visible. The back of the watch even includes a zodiac constellation display, allowing the wearer to pinpoint when specific constellations will appear in the night sky.
What makes this watch even more impressive is how Vacheron Constantin managed to fit all these functions into a wristwatch. Unlike the brand’s Berkley Grand Complication pocket watch, which holds 63 complications, the Solaria had to be small enough to wear comfortably.

The 45mm case, made from 18-karat white gold, holds over 200 jewels, including sapphire discs that enhance visibility and precision. To protect its innovations, Vacheron Constantin has filed 13 patent applications, with seven focused solely on its chiming mechanism.
Christian Selmoni, the brand’s style and heritage director, described the project as a feat of miniaturization. The goal, he said, was to combine all major complications—timekeeping, calendars, chronographs, and chiming—on a single base plate, while dedicating another plate to astronomical functions. After nearly a decade of development, the result is a watch that doesn’t just keep time—it connects the wearer to the cosmos.
Founded in 1755 and now part of the luxury group Richemont, Vacheron Constantin also holds the distinction of creating the world’s most complex pocket watch.
In short, the Solaria Ultra Grand Complication isn’t just a watch—it’s a masterpiece of engineering and art. With 41 complications packed into a wearable design, it shows just how far craftsmanship can go when timekeeping meets the stars.