The Greek concept of time at Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers.

Time can be perceived as linear, cyclical, or as a metaphysical concept — Vacheron Constantin has explored various cultural perceptions of time in the new artistic series: Les Cabinotiers Le Temps Divin (Divine Time).

The time-only watches with Japanese deities embody metaphysical time, such as the Ode to Izanagi controlled by caliber 2460. Annual cycles are the domain of four Asian animal motifs symbolizing the seasons on tourbillon watches equipped with caliber 2160.

Linear time is represented by the Greek philosophical duo with the most complicated movement, caliber 1990. Aesthetics play a dominant role on the time-only and tourbillon watches: the Japanese models employ enamel and engraving, while the seasonal Asian models feature marquetry using different types of wood.

In contrast, the European models offer a philosophical display with technically complex architecture. The artists have been given a case measuring 45 mm × 20.10 mm to house their creative expression: white gold for Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon Tribute to Infinite Time, and pink gold for the Ode to Chronos.

The Tribute to Infinite Time is decorated with engraving inspired by the geometry on the dome of the Pantheon in Rome. For the Ode to Chronos, the engraver employed the taille de joue method to add depth to the surface of the case with geometrical motifs inspired by Greek friezes.

These are complemented by a bas-relief depicting the god Cronos clutching the hourglass of time in his hand. The micro-sculpture can be found on the case middle at 9 o'clock. According to the company's figures, the relief removed material to a depth of 0.5 mm for parts of the sky, while the relief of the deity figure is up to 1 mm deep.

It took more than 290 hours of work to complete all the engraving on this piece. The geometrical motif on the case for the Tribute to Infinite Time model is echoed by the pattern devised for the movement's mainplate and bridges.

On the Ode to Chronos, elements of the movement are covered in the Clous de Paris hobnail pattern, while the caseback has been engraved with the aphorism "Carpe Diem".

But the main star of the Greek editions is still their hand-wound caliber 1990 movement, which first appeared in 2016 and incorporated ideas from the watch engine in the world's most complicated watch from 2015: Ref. 57260 (a pocket watch model with 57 complications spread across its two dials).

Caliber 1990 features tourbillon carriages which rotate to align every 15 seconds, an instantaneous retrograde system controlled by a single minutes cam that synchronizes the jump of the two hands at noon and midnight, a more wear-resistant silicon pallet lever, and a titanium escapement collet which secures the inner end of the balance spring.