Vacheron Constantin’s Openface Masterstroke Turns Time into Art

the phrase “grand complication” gets thrown around a lot in high watchmaking. But the Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface isn’t just another feather in the Maison’s cap. It’s a full-blown mechanical spectacle. One of one. A one-piece edition that fuses three of haute horlogerie’s most complex complications — the minute repeater, the split-seconds chronograph, and the tourbillon — into a single wristwatch that doesn’t just tell time, it flexes it.

Housed in a 45mm 5N pink gold case, this timepiece exposes its soul with an open-faced sapphire dial that’s just 0.5mm thin. It’s not just a looker — this watch is a feat of technical engineering that marries brutal complexity with aesthetic purity. At its core lies Calibre 2757 S, a movement comprised of 696 components that took nearly as long to hand-finish as it did to assemble. Yes, it’s that serious.

A Heritage of Precision, Reborn

Vacheron Constantin isn’t new to this level of horological flex. This piece pays homage to centuries of craft and innovation. Back in 1819, the brand was already pushing boundaries with a pocket watch featuring independent deadbeat seconds and a quarter repeater — a precursor to the modern chronograph. Fast forward to the 1830s, and split-seconds chronographs were finding their way into Vacheron’s repertoire.

Minute repeaters? Those have been in the Maison’s DNA since 1806. By 1827, they were creating pieces with grande and petite sonneries. In the 20th century, references like the ultra-thin minute repeater Ref. 4261 and the mind-bending 57-complication Ref. 57260 cemented Vacheron’s place at the pinnacle of acoustic complications.

Then there’s the tourbillon — not just a gimmick here. First appearing in the Maison’s archives in 1901, Vacheron Constantin has since taken this gravity-defying regulator to new heights with bi-axial and triple-axis interpretations. The Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface continues that tradition with a spherical hairspring that enhances isochronism, delivering razor-sharp precision.

Power Under the Hood

Make no mistake — this isn’t just a pretty face. Calibre 2757 S is about performance. It’s surprisingly slim at just 10.4mm, and the split-seconds chronograph is run by a custom plate engineered to boost efficiency. Lightweight materials like titanium, nickel-phosphorus, and silicon help shed unnecessary mass while cutting friction. Even the chronograph seconds hands are made from aluminium — ultra-light, ultra-rigid — with a slick PVD olive green finish to match the alligator strap.

The results? A buttery-smooth chronograph function, accurate to 1/5th of a second, with a 50-hour power reserve even when the chrono’s engaged. Two column wheels manage the chronograph and the rattrapante, with pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock delivering clean start-stop-split-reset action. The level of refinement here isn’t just rare — it’s borderline obsessive.

Minute Repeater, Silenced — Except When You Want It

The repeater isn’t just another mechanical layer; it’s been souped up with a centripetal flying strike governor — a kind of silent brake system that moderates the tempo of the chimes using a balance of centrifugal and centripetal force. The result? A clean, measured chime with no distracting mechanical noise. Just pure, crisp acoustics.

Tourbillon: The Showstopper

At 6 o’clock, the tourbillon cage — shaped like the brand’s signature Maltese cross — spins beneath a hand-bevelled bridge. It’s not just decorative. The spherical hairspring breathes concentrically, delivering better isochronism and keeping time consistent. A small seconds hand rides the axis, a subtle nod to traditional timekeeping layered over a marvel of modern engineering.

A Transparent Love Letter to Craftsmanship

The sapphire dial does more than show off — it’s an exercise in restraint and finesse. Counters are finished with a mix of polish and frost, outlined in metallised gold rings. Hour markers come in grey NAC; the engravings are inked to pop against the transparency. Through this crystalline lens, you can admire every bevel, polish, grain, and satin finish. From skeletonised bridges to titanium wheels, everything gleams with intent.

Flip it over, and the show continues. The blackened bridges are hollowed, sandblasted, and finished with mirror-polished sinks — each jewel and screw seated like a gemstone. The governor, engraved with the initials JMV (a respectful nod to Jean-Marc Vacheron), is held in place by a semi-circular bridge that alone took eight hours to polish by hand.

The whole thing? It’s the work of a single master watchmaker. One mind, two hands, and countless hours — from finishing to casing, every step done in-house, the old-school way. That’s not just craftsmanship. That’s conviction.

The Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface isn’t just for collectors — it’s for connoisseurs who understand that in a world obsessed with the new, some things are worth obsessing over simply because they exist. This is horology pushed to the edge of what’s possible — an uncompromising ode to heritage, innovation, and the art of time itself.