September 5th, 2007 - Watches: Complications
In horology, a complication is a watch with other functions besides basic timekeeping. A watch which has a date display or has an alarm is already considered to be a complication. Watches nowadays have so many features that many of the functions do not even really have anything to do with timetelling. Examples of these functions include altimeters and barometers.
Basically when designing a watch the more complications there are the harder it is to design and manufacture. There are more parts that go into the design so that the combination of difficulty in the entire process and the number of parts that go into the making of the watch adds to its value. Simply put, the more functions a watch has the more expensive a watch will be.
Furthermore when a watch has three or more complications with at least one visual indicator, astronomical indicator, and acoustic indicators that watch is considered to be a grand complication. If a watch has three complications but they fall under one category then that watch is still not considered a grand complication.
Most Complicated Watches:
- Il Destriero Scafusia - wristwatch made by the International Watch Company with 21 complications. It also boasts the most precise moon phase display in watches.
- Tour de l’Île - wristwatch made by Vacheron & Constantin as a commemmorative piece for their 250th anniversary in 2005. The watch has 16 complications. There are only 7 pieces available.
- Caliber 89 - pocket watch made by Patek Philippe as a commemmorative piece for their 150th anniversary in 1989. The watch has 33 complications.