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WHAT A WATCH!
In horology, a “complication” refers to any feature beyond the display of hours, minutes, and seconds. Some watches have date indicators, alarms, and stopwatches as additional complications.
The world’s most complicated watch has 63 different complications and is regarded as a wonder of watchmaking.
In 2015, the watchmakers at Swiss manufacturer Vacheron Constantin unveiled “Reference 57260,” a one-of-a-kind pocket watch commissioned by a private, anonymous collector with a set of very specific requirements, including a Hebraic perpetual calendar and a unique split-second chronograph that would allow the owner to time multiple events at once.
It took eight years to complete, and it became the basis of an even more complex, commercial timepiece, the Berkley Grand Complication.
Measuring about two inches (four cms.) in diameter and made with an 18-karat white gold case, the Berkley Grand Complication weighs two pounds (960 grams) and features almost double the number of complications of the previous world’s most complicated watch, the Patek Philippe Calibre 89 (33 complications).
“Because the most complicated watch before this one had 33 complications, we set a goal of 36 complications,” Dominique Bernaz, Vacheron Constantin team leader said.
“As we worked together, I would regularly ask my team if they thought that we could do it, and they would smile and nod yes. We were halfway through the project before we knew just how many complications the watch would have, because the project kept evolving.
“Each complication is a special accomplishment, but putting them all together into one watch, that was the real challenge.”
What makes this timepiece so special is that the craftsmen managed to cram 63 complications into such a small case while also figuring out how to display every one of these extra features.
Keep in mind that this bulky, two-sided marvel is made up of 2,870 tiny mechanical pieces.
The price of the world’s most complicated watch is confidential, but most experts estimate the price to be in excess of USD$10 million (NTD$300 million).
But as a unique collector’s item, its value is only expected to increase over time.
There will probably come a day when another watch dethrones the Berkley Grand Complication. Swiss watchmakers have been one-upping each other for hundreds of years. However, it is worth mentioning that, this time, Vacheron Constantin will be giving them a run for their money.
Yet, without being too negative about this remarkable achievement, we really cannot picture anyone’s carrying this one-kilo pocket watch lump around outside the house. It is just too heavy and would definitely ruin the style lines of any pocket that it was kept in.
Plus—Murphy’s Law—the one day you do decide to carry it will, of course, be the day a robber points his gun at you and says, “Give me your watch!”
SOURCE: odditycentral.com
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