Vacheron Constantin's Métiers d'Art collection has always represented something more ambitious than mere decoration. It's the Maison's commitment to keeping centuries-old crafts alive, relevant, and evolving. The latest addition—celebrating the ‘Year of the Horse’ in the ongoing Chinese Zodiac series—demonstrates exactly why this approach matters. Two 25-piece editions that transform the dial into a three-dimensional sculpture garden. This is what happens when technical excellence serves artistic vision.
A Canvas Without Compromise
The technical foundation here is the in-house Calibre 2460 G4, and it's worth understanding why this movement matters. By eliminating traditional hands in favor of a disc-based display system—trailing hours and minutes up top, jumping day and date below—Vacheron Constantin created an uninterrupted canvas for artistic expression. No hands slicing across the composition. No visual interference. Just pure, open space for the métiers d'art specialists to work their craft. This isn't a new calibre—it's been around since 2017—but it remains one of the most thoughtful solutions to a persistent problem in decorative watchmaking: how do you showcase intricate dial work without obscuring it.
The in-house Calibre 2460 G4 is an automatic movement composed of 237 parts and 27 jewels beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph and providing a power reserve of 40 hours when fully wound. The movement bears the prestigious Poinçon de Genève and is equipped with a 22K solid pink gold oscillating weight.
Three Weeks to Create a Miniature World
The dial composition centers on a three-dimensional horse mid-leap, sculpted from 18K 4N gold—white for the platinum edition, pink for the pink gold version. The master engraver spends three days creating this single element. Carving the flowing mane, defining the musculature, shaping the rock formation beneath. Hand-patinated finishes add depth and texture. Miniature enamel painting enhances the color gradations.
Behind this sculptural centerpiece sits a grand feu enamel background that transitions from lighter tones at the center to deeper shades at the edges. Delicately painted flora adds subtle detail. The enameling process alone requires two weeks, involving multiple layers of color applied with a fine brush, each followed by firing at temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Celsius. Continue until the desired intensity and tonal range are achieved—total time investment for a single dial, roughly three weeks of meticulous handwork.
The Year of the Horse
In Chinese culture, the horse carries layered symbolism: vitality, elegance, loyalty, courage, and, critically, good fortune and prosperity. As the seventh sign of the zodiac, the Horse will supersede the Snake at Lunar New Year in February 2026, making this release perfectly timed.
More broadly, this watch continues Vacheron Constantin's 180-year dialogue with Chinese culture. The Maison's archives document 33 pairs of watches shipped to Canton in 1846, marking the beginning of a relationship with Chinese dignitaries, including the Emperor himself, who appreciated both the technical sophistication and decorative artistry. This marks the second 12-year cycle of zodiac watches from VC, following the original series that began in 2012. That kind of sustained commitment to a theme demonstrates something beyond marketing—it's genuine cultural engagement.
The Vacheron Constantin Métiers d'Art ‘Year of the Horse’ is available in 18K 5N pink gold (reference 86073/000R-H067) or platinum (reference 86073/000P-H066). Both editions are housed in 40 mm cases with a thickness of 12.72 mm. The 30-meter water resistance is precisely as much as these watches need, considering they're wearable art rather than sports tools.
Both watches are limited to 25 pieces and are exclusively sold at Vacheron Constantin boutiques. The watches are delivered with a brown or blue alligator strap, respectively, and a folding clasp that matches the metal of the case.
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