In-Depth: Up Close And Personal With The Vacheron Constantin La Quête Du Temps Clock With Automaton

As it turned out, the project was so secret that it was kept off-site, a few minutes away from Vacheron’s Plan-les-Ouates headquarters, at a facility belonging to Richemont’s sister brand, Piaget. When we arrived, the building’s blinds were completely drawn. Inside, the room was nearly pitch-black, with a few familiar industry faces waiting. Vacheron’s Christian Selmoni was an expected presence, but I was surprised to see François Junod, Switzerland’s master of automatons, joined by Sandrine Donguy, Vacheron’s Product and Innovation Director, and Arnaud Nicolas, CEO of clockmaker L’Epée 1839. 

Then it dawned on me: whatever we were about to see, it wasn’t going to be a watch. After a few words from the team, the doors opened, and like the glowing briefcase in Pulp Fiction, a burst of light flooded the room — and my jaw dropped.