Watches have transcended their initial purpose of being humble timekeeping tools. Over the centuries, watchmakers have pushed the boundaries of horological innovation to create intricate timepieces that are marvels of craftsmanship and engineering.
To most people, the word Complication implies difficulty. But when you ask a watch connoisseur, the meaning is far richer. In the world of watchmaking, complication is any function that does much more than just telling the time.
But, why are they called ‘Watch Complications’?
The extra features on watches are referred to as Complications because they make the timepieces more complicated but in a good way. It is above and beyond the seconds, minutes and hours. There are simple complications, intricate complications and then the most ‘complex’ or ‘Grand’ complications.
For those who are unaware, here are some of the most common characteristics of a ‘complicated’ watch:
- Dual & Triple time zone functions
- Moon Phase Indication
- Alarms
- Annual Calendar
- Simple Calendar with Day/Date
- Tourbillon
- Perpetual Calendars
- Petite & Grand Sonneries
Perhaps, watchmaking is the only place where a complication is so loved and coveted. When someone refers to a luxury watch as a Grand Complication it immediately drives the idea that the watch holds a great deal of value. This applies for their reputation amongst the watch buyers and sellers in the secondary world as well. Simply put, the more complicated the watch is, the more esteemed it is.
Year after year, luxury watch brands have competed to secure the top position for creating the world’s most complicated watch. The watches take hours and days to assemble and are some of the most fascinating pieces of art.
In this blog, we’ll explore the 4 most complicated watches in the world, each a testament to human ingenuity.
4 Most Complicated Watches Ever Made
- A.Lange & Söhne Grand Complication Ref: 912.032
No wonder this is a limited edition of 6 pieces! A. Lange & Söhne is a pinnacle of German watchmaking and the Grand Complication by the brand features a host of fascinating functions, manifesting the master watchmaker as one of the undisputed winners. The Rose Gold Ref. 912.032 introduced by the brand in 2013 nestles a luxurious white enamelled dial with hands made of gold-plated steel, pink gold and blued steel. Apart from this, the dial has 4 sub-dials featuring the date, day of the week, month and also the leap year.
The watch is a Rattrapante Chronograph which means it is much more complex than a regular chronograph mechanism. Rattrapante chronograph, aka, split-seconds chronograph means the watch has two seconds hands, enabling the wearer to track two distinct events that start simultaneously but differ in duration. When moving, the second hand on the top can be stopped by pressing a button while the one below continues to move, thus enabling the wearer to record the time of the first event while simultaneously continuing to measure the duration of the second event.
The development of Grand Complication is adventurous and the result is a watch that reflects the brilliance of A. Lange & Söhne.
Other Details
- Case Material: 18ct Rose Gold
- Case Diameter: 50mm
- Movement: Manually Wound
- Bracelet/Strap: Reddish-Brown Alligator Leather
- Power Reserve: 30 hours
- Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref: 5175R-001
A highly luxurious and complex creation by Patek Philippe is the Grandmaster Chime with Ref. 5175R-001 which is also one of the most complicated wristwatches in the world. The watch was released in 2014 to celebrate Patek’s 175th anniversary and has a reversible case so you can choose to put up the face you prefer to look at. Over 1366 individuals have hand-assembled this wondrous timepiece featuring 20 complications inside. So, you can well imagine the demand and value of this horological work of art. It is a limited edition of 7 pieces!
Royal is the most fitting term to describe this 18ct Rose gold ornate timepiece with a laurel wreath designed bezel made of gold. The lugs enable, allowing for seamless wear of both the front and back dials. Both have time displays, but on the reverse, you could see a full perpetual calendar with a 4-digit year and 24-hour dial.
Other complications existing in this complicated wristwatch include a Petite Sonnerie, a minute repeater, Grand Sonnerie, a second-time zone, day/month/leap year cycle/ date (both dials), Moon phases, and two original global debuts, crown position indicator, power-reserve indicator, a perpetual date repeater and an acoustic sound for the alarm time.
Other Details
- Case Material: 18ct Rose Gold
- Case Diameter: 47.4mm
- Movement: Manually Wound
- Bracelet/Strap: Dark Brown Alligator Leather Strap
- Power Reserve: 30 hours
- Vacheron Constantin Ref: 57260
We have a winner here! Introduced in 2015 to commemorate the brand’s 260th anniversary, the Vacheron Constantin Ref. 57260 holds the title of being the most complicated mechanical watch ever made, boasting a stunning 57 distinct complications. The watch came to fruition after 8 long years of hard work, exhibiting a double-dial horological masterwork. To give an idea of how illustrious it is, let’s just say that it houses eight Hebrew calendar functions, nine astronomical calendar functions and seven alarms.
The pocket watch is crafted from 18ct white gold and equips a lot of significant and new mechanisms that were so far never seen in the watchmaking industry. When Vacheron Constantin announced that they were creating the world’s most complicated timepiece, it was given that the watch would feature two dials as one dial simply cannot house all the different indications.
Some notable complications boasting the timepiece include a perpetual calendar, minute repeater, tourbillion, split-seconds chronograph, night sky display featuring stars and constellations, power-reserve indicators, global time zones, Westminster Carillon Striking, lunar calendar, and many others.
Other Details
- Case Material: 18ct White Gold
- Case Diameter: 50mm
- Movement: Mechanical
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie, Ref: 6033420
In 2009, Jaeger-LeCoultre dropped a wristwatch that was a culmination of everything incredible the watchmaker had ever curated. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie Ref. 6033420 is a highly sophisticated and complex wrist piece featuring 26 exquisite complications. Every component is carefully decorated by hand using enamelling, guilloche and micro-painting.
In a nutshell, the watch has 3-time functions (minute/seconds/hour), Perpetual Calendar functions (date/day/month/leap year), a complex Sonnerie mechanism with 3 different chimes and a minute repeater, two power reserve indicators, flying tourbillon and tourbillion balance wheel and escapement. The watch flaunts a partially open-worked front and an open-worked back. This master timepiece grants a splendid experience to the ears with its harmonious union of music and time.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie is perhaps the only Sonnerie timepiece in the world that melodiously plays the complete Westminster chime. No wonder, this mechanical wonder is available at such a staggering cost.
Other Details
- Case Material: 18ct White Gold
- Case Diameter: 44mm
- Movement: Manual-Winding
- Bracelet/Strap: Black Leather Strap
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
CONCLUSION
The world of complicated watches is a realm where creativity, precision and craftsmanship take the lead to transcend exceptional timepieces from the ordinary. The four watch brands listed above have created the most unconventional timepieces in the world that epitomise exceptional craftsmanship and technical expertise.
As watchmaking continues to evolve, one can only wonder what new heights the famed watchmakers can reach in terms of innovation and complexity in the coming years. Till then, let’s take a moment to appreciate the timekeeping marvels that we already have with us.
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Explore the world of horology like never before as we unveil the four most complex watches in the world boasting an array of exquisite complications.
