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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Vacheron Constantin’s Reference 57260 is the unique timepiece the maison presented in 2015 with 57 complications. It was described as the most complicated watch ever built at the time; it is no longer the brand’s highest complication count. The double-dial watch took eight years to develop and brings together more than 2,800 components, according to Vacher Constantin.
What is Reference 57260?
Reference 57260 is a one-off Vacheron Constantin watch built around two dials and an unusually broad range of timekeeping, calendar, astronomical and chiming functions. The brand says three master watchmakers developed it over eight years. Its published specifications list 57 complications, more than 2,800 components and 242 jewels. These are manufacturer figures, not independently measured counts. Vacheron Constantin’s Reference 57260 page
The figure 57 is the headline, but the engineering challenge was also how to integrate the functions into a unified movement and make them usable across both faces. The mechanisms range from a Hebrew perpetual calendar to a Westminster-style chiming system and an armillary sphere tourbillon.
What do the 57 complications do?
Hebrew perpetual calendar
The calendar follows the 19-year Metonic cycle and accounts for embolismic months. It displays the secular Hebrew year and gives the Gregorian date of Yom Kippur, a moving date determined by the Hebrew calendar.
#1 Best Overall
Chronograph and chiming functions
The double retrograde split-seconds chronograph has two hands that move together along opposing arcs, designed so they do not meet. Its striking system offers grande and petite sonnerie, sounding the cadence associated with the Palace of Westminster. The alarm has its own power reserve, and an automatic night-silence function suspends chiming between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Astronomical and time displays
The second dial includes a night-sky display set for the owner’s home city, sidereal time, equation of time, and sunrise and sunset indications. It also carries a Gregorian perpetual calendar using the ISO 8601 week-date standard, with a retrograde date, plus a second time zone and digital world-time display. The armillary sphere tourbillon rotates in three planes.
Rank #2
- Metal Type: White Gold
- Imported
- Excellent condition - Minimal signs of wear consistent with pre-owned use. This item is pre-owned and may show light signs of wear. Please refer to the condition and photos. All of our products are authenticated and certified by our team of luxury experts.
- Wrist Size: 6.50"
- Case Size: 21mm
Is it still the most complicated watch ever made?
No, not by Vacheron Constantin’s current complication count. The maison says its Berkley Grand Complication, launched in 2024, has 63 complications and surpasses Reference 57260. Berkley is a pocket watch and includes what Vacheron describes as the first perpetual Chinese calendar mechanically realised. The figures and record descriptions are the brand’s own. Vacheron Constantin’s exceptional timepieces comparison
Category matters when comparing headline records. Vacheron describes the Solaria, with 41 complications and five rare astronomical functions, as its most complicated wristwatch. It is not a pocket watch, and its designation should not be conflated with the overall pocket-watch comparison. These current descriptions appear on the brand’s 2026 page.
Rank #3
- Set Includes: Watch, box, and warranty card included RPA2023 Drive System: Mechanical (hand winding and self-winding)
- Accuracy: Daily difference + 25 seconds to -15 seconds
- operating time: 40 hours RPA2023 Country of Origin: Japan (Made in Japan)
| Timepiece | Category | Complications | Development or distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference 57260 | Double-dial watch; category is not stated on the product page | 57 | Eight years of development; three master watchmakers |
| Berkley Grand Complication | Pocket watch | 63 | Launched in 2024; includes a mechanically realised perpetual Chinese calendar |
| Solaria | Wristwatch | 41 | Five rare astronomical functions; described by Vacheron as its most complicated wristwatch |
Counts and descriptions in this comparison are Vacheron Constantin’s published claims; the Berkley launch year is stated in the maison’s 2025–26 catalogue. Vacheron Constantin 2025–26 catalogue
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the 2015 claim needs a date
When Reference 57260 was presented in 2015, Vacheron called it the most complicated watch ever built “at the time.” That qualification preserves the historical claim without suggesting it remains the current record. Berkley’s later 63-complication count changes the overall comparison, while Solaria’s 41-complication claim applies specifically to wristwatches.
Rank #4
- Rubber watch strap soft and dust-resistant , comes with a quality stainless steel buckle, which is made of stainless steel.
- Please measure the width of your watch lug before ordering. It is important that your watch's lug width is the exact width of the band you select.
- Softness is moderate, wear very comfortable,Compression molding, sturdy and ,Wearable strap/wrist strap,suitable for original watch.
- Comfortable Fit: Soft, skin - friendly rubber conforms to wrist curves. Multiple adjustment holes ensure a perfect fit for all wrist sizes, offering stable, non - tight wear.
- Easy to insert and remove,very suitable for your watch.
The official page’s phrase “57 complications converge in a single, unique masterpiece” is brand-authored copy, not a named watchmaker’s quotation. More broadly, complication counts depend on how functions are classified; this article uses Vacheron Constantin’s published totals rather than presenting them as a universal independent ranking. Vacheron Constantin’s Reference 57260 page
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Rubber watch strap soft and dust-resistant , comes with a quality stainless steel buckle, which is made of stainless steel.
- Please measure the width of your watch lug before ordering. It is important that your watch's lug width is the exact width of the band you select.
- Softness is moderate, wear very comfortable,Compression molding, sturdy and ,Wearable strap/wrist strap,suitable for original watch.
- Comfortable Fit: Soft, skin - friendly rubber conforms to wrist curves. Multiple adjustment holes ensure a perfect fit for all wrist sizes, offering stable, non - tight wear.
- Easy to insert and remove,very suitable for your watch.
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