Vacheron Constantin’s New Overseas Grand Complication Openface Watch Defines Mastery in Motion

Grand complications represent the pinnacle of horological artistry, having evolved over centuries from practical mechanical innovations into expressions of craftsmanship and technical genius. Their history can be traced back to the golden age of pocket watches in the 18th and 19th centuries, when European master watchmakers began pushing the boundaries of mechanical ingenuity. Even as wristwatches became dominant in the 20th century, the pursuit of grand complications did not wane; instead, these gained new momentum. Today, grand complications stand as symbols of tradition meeting innovation, embodying decades of accumulated knowledge, handcrafted excellence, and sheer mechanical poetry. Their presence in modern horology is not merely about function, but also about storytelling and heritage. Building on this rich legacy of grand complications, Vacheron Constantin has now introduced the Overseas Grand Complication Openface (Ref. 6510V/110T-128C), a limited-production masterpiece that exemplifies the fusion of technical prowess and horological artistry.

Typically, a grand complication combines a chronograph (often a split-seconds or rattrapante), a perpetual calendar, and a minute repeater — three of the most intricate functions in watchmaking. These complications not only showcase a brand’s technical mastery but also its ability to miniaturise and integrate multiple mechanical systems within the limited confines of a wristwatch. The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Grand Complication iteration has a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, and a tourbillon.

The new watch comes in a 44.5 mm grade 5 titanium case, along with a crown at 3 o’clock and a sandblasting bezel with polishing and satin-brushing, a new standard for titanium cased models in the Overseas collection. The sapphire dial has silvery tone rhodium-plated wheels and anthracite grey hue on the NAC galvanic treatment on the bridges. There are 18 ct white gold hour markers, and hour and minute hands with blue Super-Luminova®; each calendar indication gets 18 ct white gold counter hands. 

The blue minute track encircles the dial, featuring crisp white markings at five-minute intervals. The perpetual calendar layout includes the date subdial at 3 o’clock where the even numbered dates are marked in dots. The day of the week is marked with a subdial at 9 o’clock while the month subdial is at 12 o’clock; there is a leap year indicator positioned just to the right of the month subdial. A Maltese tourbillon with a convex profile is at 6 o’clock. The movement also includes a minute repeater with mirror-polished repeater hammers, bevelled and satin-brushed bridges, circular satin-brushed wheels, and bridges decorated with Côtes de Genève.

To govern the cadence of the minute repeater mechanism where the pusher is placed at 8 o’clock, it strikes the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand. The timepiece maker has developed a proprietary centripetal regulator required to obtain the correct musical sequence intervals. This device allows the hammers to be struck precisely. Totally silent, this regulator features two centrifugal weights that act as a motor brake on the axis of rotation, smoothing the flow of energy released by the repeater spring.

Powering the watch is a manual winding Calibre 2755 QP with a 58-hour power reserve. Turning the watch showcases the titanium sapphire crystal caseback with a full view of the movement, the gongs, the tourbillon bridge, and a power reserve indicator. Also visible on the caseback are an arc-shaped bar securing the regulator, crafted in gold; its rounded form requires a full day of meticulous hand polishing. Beneath it, the circular-grained inertia weights are engraved with the initials of Jean-Marc Vacheron. 

The architecture of the tourbillon was also reviewed, particularly on the reverse side; it has been made more open and visually lighter. This allows full appreciation of the tourbillon’s ballet, which is enhanced by the relatively slow tempo of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz). The watch is finished on a titanium grade 5, satin-finished, polished, interchangeable strap with a comfort-adjustment system. There are two additional straps in blue alligator and blue rubber. An additional titanium grade 5 folding clasp is also available, interchangeable and compatible with both the extra straps.