At Homo Faber 2026, Vacheron Constantin unveils a series of six concept watches: the 'Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Animal Kingdom'. This collection emerges from the 'One of Not Many Crafts' programme, an initiative that invites artisans whose savoir-faire extends beyond traditional watchmaking to transpose their unique artistry onto the miniature scale of a watch dial.
Within this collection, gold embroidery, feather work, wood marquetry, glass sculpting, paper sculpting, and micro-origami converge. Each discipline expresses a distinct artistic language, drawing inspiration from the animal kingdom.
These rare creations will be presented from 1-30 September in Venice, Italy.
INFO
Tribute to the Animal Kingdom
A Series of Miniature Works of Art Featuring Rare Crafts in Watchmaking
Vacheron Constantin presents 'Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Animal Kingdom', a series of six concept watches created within the Maison’s 'One of Not Many Crafts Programme'. The project invites six artisans whose practices live outside the traditional métiers d’art associated with horology and challenges them to transpose their craft onto the scale of a watch dial.
Tribute to the Animal Kingdom
Innovative watchmaking meets the beauty of the wild.
The project fostered a mutually enriching dialogue between artists, Vacheron Constantin's watchmakers and craftsmen, whose expertise in mastering miniaturisation proved essential in resolving technical challenges and integrating these crafts into the delicate architecture of a perfectly functioning watch.
Tribute to the Animal Kingdom
Miniature mastery and celebration of nature
Within the strict dimensions of a 42-millimetre case, offering no more than 4 millimetres of height between the dial's surface and the sapphire crystal protecting it, each artisan was compelled to rethink their craft entirely, adapting techniques traditionally associated with larger-scale works to the microscopic universe of Haute Horlogerie. The project transforms each timepiece into a laboratory of artistic experimentation.
Featherwork
Featherwork was chosen to bring to life an imaginary serpent coiling across the dial within a fantastical landscape. Rising only three millimetres above the surface, the snake achieves its remarkable sense of volume and plasticity. This intricate three-dimensional effect is made possible by a specially developed metal applique, which serves as a support for the feathers, allowing the artist to maximise their volume. The natural iridescence of the plumes, with their shifting reflections, further enhances the illusion of depth. To achieve this effect, the snake itself is a masterpiece of micro-plumasserie, meticulously crafted from over 200 tiny pieces derived from seven rare Lophophore feathers. Completed over approximately 250 hours, including research and prototyping, the work demanded a level of precision comparable to surgery.
Glass Sculpting
From the nocturnal circular landscape of the dial, a miniature transparent octopus appears to drift as if suspended in an imaginary underwater world. The creature rises only 3.5 millimetres above the dial, making it a truly remarkable miniature glass sculpture. The intricate process involved melting tiny glass rods and shaping them with tungsten tools created specifically for this project. Integrating the microscopic sculpture within the dial architecture became part of the challenge. The overall development process lasted more than a year and each individual prototype required at least three days of work.
Micro Origami
Suspended within the dial, a group of miniature manta rays swirls across the deep-blue nocturnal background of the hand-guilloche display. Varying in length from 5 to 10 millimetres, each ray is folded from specially dyed, hand-coloured Japanese paper and mounted on fine brass stems, giving the illusion of creatures floating weightlessly through water. These origami manta rays were folded using only fingers, fingernails and the tip of a toothpick - without magnifying glasses - from paper measuring 9 to 12 millimetres. Dyeing the paper to a specific shade of blue for realistic manta rays was a key challenge. The development process lasted over two years and, because of this intricate design, early pieces could require up to six hours to fold.
Gold Embroidery
A tiger in shimmering hues of honey and tangerine defiantly prowls across a dense and lush jungle encapsulated within the dial. The feline beast is rendered using nine-carat yellow and white gold embroidery wires, while the stripes were achieved using specially developed ceramic-coated black wires laid over a copper base. The tiger's body features hand-cut gold wire fragments under a millimetre long, while the eyes required ten shades of silk for depth and expression. A key complexity was developing a bespoke perforated titanium dial plate, allowing the embroidery to be stitched directly onto the watch structure without affecting movement functionality. The final dial required approximately 210 hours of work, including preparing and stretching the silk on its specialist frame, building the internal padding, cutting and shaping the gold wires, embroidering the tiger and jungle landscape, and finally attaching the composition to the perforated dial plate.
Paper Sculpting
From the circular frame of a watch dial, an all-white crocodile prowls through seemingly snow-covered vegetation. It is the result of microscopic cotton paper sculpting executed on sheets of two different weights, 250 and 300 grams, through a combination of embossing, laser cutting and hand assembly. The precise superposition of elements was crucial in creating subtle shadow effects and a remarkable sculptural presence, bringing the scene to life. The four apertures on the dial became integral to the composition itself, with the crocodile appearing to nestle naturally between them. Brass matrices engraved with the crocodile's scales and surrounding foliage were heated to 60-70C before being pressed onto the paper under intense pressure to create relief and volume while retaining the necessary microscopic precision of detail. The project required months of experimentation and the development of bespoke embossing tools.
Wood Marquetry
A fierce falcon dominates the dial in an experimental exercise in three-dimensional wood marquetry. Crafted from 12 different wood species, the bird is sculpted and hand-carved to reveal the details of its plumage and layered textures, creating a vibrant sense of movement. The realism and visual depth were achieved through the use of three distinct marquetry techniques: the circular marquetry for the background; the sculpted layered marquetry used for the falcon's body; and finally, the "feather-by-feather" assembly technique developed specifically for the wing. Traditional woodworking tools proved unusable at this scale, leading to the adoption of precision micro-tools, including scalpels similar to those used in surgery, and custom-made sanding instruments assembled by hand in the studio under binocular magnification.
The One of Not Many Crafts
Programme
Designed to shape the future of horological artistry, Vacheron Constantin's 'One of Not Many Crafts Programme' acts as a unique creative incubator. It exemplifies Vacheron Constantin's ongoing commitment to fostering artistic excellence and preserving invaluable savoir-faire. By extending its support beyond traditional horological metiers d'art, the Maison actively contributes to the broader ecosystem of artistic creation. This approach not only encourages the exploration of new creative avenues within watchmaking but also reinforces the importance of human skill and artistic expression across various disciplines, ensuring their relevance and evolution for generations to come.
Métiers d'Art
Crafting excellence: the artisans of Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin’s timepieces are expressions of the highest craftsmanship from exceptional artisans working in harmony across métiers d’art that include engraving, enamelling and watchmaking. Their passion and skill ensure every creation upholds the brand’s legacy of precision and artistry.
MORE INFO
Micro-sculpted glass, iridescent rare plumes, and 9-karat gold thread—this is haute horology untamed.
With its new Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Animal Kingdom, @vacheronconstantin reimagines the dial as a portal into the natural world. Created under the Maison’s One of Not Many Crafts Programme, six master creators from outside the watchmaking sphere were given total creative freedom to bring six fauna-inspired concept watches to life.
Each piece is a staggering feat of miniaturisation—featuring bespoke paper origami manta rays hovering over moiré crystal, an all-white crocodile micro-sculpted from cotton paper, and intricate three-dimensional wood marquetry. Made possible by the peripheral display of the Calibre 2460 G4, time gracefully steps aside to let pure, tactile artistry take center stage.
Feathersnake
Oraygami
Jungle Book
Tigerbroidery
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INFO
Tribute to the Animal Kingdom
A Series of Miniature Works of Art Featuring Rare Crafts in Watchmaking
Vacheron Constantin presents 'Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Animal Kingdom', a series of six concept watches created within the Maison’s 'One of Not Many Crafts Programme'. The project invites six artisans whose practices live outside the traditional métiers d’art associated with horology and challenges them to transpose their craft onto the scale of a watch dial.
Tribute to the Animal Kingdom
Innovative watchmaking meets the beauty of the wild.
The project fostered a mutually enriching dialogue between artists, Vacheron Constantin's watchmakers and craftsmen, whose expertise in mastering miniaturisation proved essential in resolving technical challenges and integrating these crafts into the delicate architecture of a perfectly functioning watch.
Tribute to the Animal Kingdom
Miniature mastery and celebration of nature
Within the strict dimensions of a 42-millimetre case, offering no more than 4 millimetres of height between the dial's surface and the sapphire crystal protecting it, each artisan was compelled to rethink their craft entirely, adapting techniques traditionally associated with larger-scale works to the microscopic universe of Haute Horlogerie. The project transforms each timepiece into a laboratory of artistic experimentation.
Featherwork
Featherwork was chosen to bring to life an imaginary serpent coiling across the dial within a fantastical landscape. Rising only three millimetres above the surface, the snake achieves its remarkable sense of volume and plasticity. This intricate three-dimensional effect is made possible by a specially developed metal applique, which serves as a support for the feathers, allowing the artist to maximise their volume. The natural iridescence of the plumes, with their shifting reflections, further enhances the illusion of depth. To achieve this effect, the snake itself is a masterpiece of micro-plumasserie, meticulously crafted from over 200 tiny pieces derived from seven rare Lophophore feathers. Completed over approximately 250 hours, including research and prototyping, the work demanded a level of precision comparable to surgery.
Glass Sculpting
From the nocturnal circular landscape of the dial, a miniature transparent octopus appears to drift as if suspended in an imaginary underwater world. The creature rises only 3.5 millimetres above the dial, making it a truly remarkable miniature glass sculpture. The intricate process involved melting tiny glass rods and shaping them with tungsten tools created specifically for this project. Integrating the microscopic sculpture within the dial architecture became part of the challenge. The overall development process lasted more than a year and each individual prototype required at least three days of work.
Micro Origami
Suspended within the dial, a group of miniature manta rays swirls across the deep-blue nocturnal background of the hand-guilloche display. Varying in length from 5 to 10 millimetres, each ray is folded from specially dyed, hand-coloured Japanese paper and mounted on fine brass stems, giving the illusion of creatures floating weightlessly through water. These origami manta rays were folded using only fingers, fingernails and the tip of a toothpick - without magnifying glasses - from paper measuring 9 to 12 millimetres. Dyeing the paper to a specific shade of blue for realistic manta rays was a key challenge. The development process lasted over two years and, because of this intricate design, early pieces could require up to six hours to fold.
Gold Embroidery
A tiger in shimmering hues of honey and tangerine defiantly prowls across a dense and lush jungle encapsulated within the dial. The feline beast is rendered using nine-carat yellow and white gold embroidery wires, while the stripes were achieved using specially developed ceramic-coated black wires laid over a copper base. The tiger's body features hand-cut gold wire fragments under a millimetre long, while the eyes required ten shades of silk for depth and expression. A key complexity was developing a bespoke perforated titanium dial plate, allowing the embroidery to be stitched directly onto the watch structure without affecting movement functionality. The final dial required approximately 210 hours of work, including preparing and stretching the silk on its specialist frame, building the internal padding, cutting and shaping the gold wires, embroidering the tiger and jungle landscape, and finally attaching the composition to the perforated dial plate.
Paper Sculpting
From the circular frame of a watch dial, an all-white crocodile prowls through seemingly snow-covered vegetation. It is the result of microscopic cotton paper sculpting executed on sheets of two different weights, 250 and 300 grams, through a combination of embossing, laser cutting and hand assembly. The precise superposition of elements was crucial in creating subtle shadow effects and a remarkable sculptural presence, bringing the scene to life. The four apertures on the dial became integral to the composition itself, with the crocodile appearing to nestle naturally between them. Brass matrices engraved with the crocodile's scales and surrounding foliage were heated to 60-70C before being pressed onto the paper under intense pressure to create relief and volume while retaining the necessary microscopic precision of detail. The project required months of experimentation and the development of bespoke embossing tools.
Wood Marquetry
A fierce falcon dominates the dial in an experimental exercise in three-dimensional wood marquetry. Crafted from 12 different wood species, the bird is sculpted and hand-carved to reveal the details of its plumage and layered textures, creating a vibrant sense of movement. The realism and visual depth were achieved through the use of three distinct marquetry techniques: the circular marquetry for the background; the sculpted layered marquetry used for the falcon's body; and finally, the "feather-by-feather" assembly technique developed specifically for the wing. Traditional woodworking tools proved unusable at this scale, leading to the adoption of precision micro-tools, including scalpels similar to those used in surgery, and custom-made sanding instruments assembled by hand in the studio under binocular magnification.
The One of Not Many Crafts
Programme
Designed to shape the future of horological artistry, Vacheron Constantin's 'One of Not Many Crafts Programme' acts as a unique creative incubator. It exemplifies Vacheron Constantin's ongoing commitment to fostering artistic excellence and preserving invaluable savoir-faire. By extending its support beyond traditional horological metiers d'art, the Maison actively contributes to the broader ecosystem of artistic creation. This approach not only encourages the exploration of new creative avenues within watchmaking but also reinforces the importance of human skill and artistic expression across various disciplines, ensuring their relevance and evolution for generations to come.
Métiers d'Art
Crafting excellence: the artisans of Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin’s timepieces are expressions of the highest craftsmanship from exceptional artisans working in harmony across métiers d’art that include engraving, enamelling and watchmaking. Their passion and skill ensure every creation upholds the brand’s legacy of precision and artistry.
MORE INFO
Micro-sculpted glass, iridescent rare plumes, and 9-karat gold thread—this is haute horology untamed.
With its new Métiers d’Art Tribute to the Animal Kingdom, @vacheronconstantin reimagines the dial as a portal into the natural world. Created under the Maison’s One of Not Many Crafts Programme, six master creators from outside the watchmaking sphere were given total creative freedom to bring six fauna-inspired concept watches to life.
Each piece is a staggering feat of miniaturisation—featuring bespoke paper origami manta rays hovering over moiré crystal, an all-white crocodile micro-sculpted from cotton paper, and intricate three-dimensional wood marquetry. Made possible by the peripheral display of the Calibre 2460 G4, time gracefully steps aside to let pure, tactile artistry take center stage.
Feathersnake
Throughout the process, I remember warning Vacheron Constantin several times that I was not sure I would be able to complete the project because we were constantly pushing the material beyond what I thought was possible. The fact that I ultimately succeeded is a source of pride as it enabled me to venture beyond what I believed were my own limits. Julien Vermeulen, creator of the Feathersnake
Oraygami
This is probably the most significant project of my origami career so far. It was the first time I had been involved from the very beginning of the creative process rather than simply executing a finished idea. Anya Midori, creator of the Oraygami
Jungle Book
But of course, the case profile and movement aren’t what we’re here to talk about, not really, at least. The shining stars of the show are those incredible dials, each showcasing a unique form of craftsmanship courtesy of its associated artisan. As each dial and artistic approach is entirely different, I’ll give you the rundown of them individually, in order of appearance.
Tigerbroidery
I have always loved the phrase: “Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” For me, this project perfectly embodies the balance between artistic innovation and the technical discipline of embroidery that defines my creative process. Laura Baverstock, creator of the Tigerbroidery
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