The term “grand complication” in watchmaking signifies more than just a highly intricate timepiece. It refers to watches that combine multiple complex functions into one, each layer adding to the watch’s technical prowess. These grand watches have become symbols of horological artistry, where craftsmanship meets innovation. Here are the ten finest examples of grand complication watches that demonstrate the pinnacle of watchmaking excellence.
1. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Jr. “Supercomplication” The first name that comes to mind when discussing grand complications is Patek Philippe. This legendary pocket watch, created in 1927 for American banker Henry Graves Jr., boasts an astounding 24 complications, including a perpetual calendar and astrological indicators. The design and creation took eight years, making it the most complicated manually crafted timepiece ever created.
2. Patek Philippe Grand Master Chime Unveiled in 2014 to mark the brand’s 175th anniversary, the Grand Master Chime Ref. 5175 is Patek Philippe’s most complex creation. With six patents and 20 complications, including five chiming modes and two reversible dials, this watch is a monumental feat of engineering. In 2019, the one-of-a-kind stainless steel version, Reference 6300A-010, fetched $31 million at auction, setting a record for the most expensive watch ever sold.
3. Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication Holding the current record for the world’s most complicated timepiece is Vacheron Constantin’s “Berkley Grand Complication.” This pocket watch, commissioned by insurance mogul William R. Berkley, includes a mind-boggling 63 complications and took 11 years to complete. The movement consists of 2,877 parts, and it features innovations like the first-ever Chinese perpetual calendar.
4. Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Hybris Mechanica line is a marvel of modern complications. The Reverso Quadriptyque, released for the 90th anniversary of the Reverso, combines 11 complications spread across four faces, including a tourbillon, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, and a sophisticated astronomical system. This timepiece, which took six years to develop, blends complexity with wearability.
5. A. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication A masterpiece from A. Lange & Söhne, this Grand Complication features a grand and petite sonnerie, split-seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar, and moon phase complication. Powered by the L1902 movement with 876 components, each of the six pieces takes over a year to assemble, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship.
6. Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle (RD#4) Released in 2023, Audemars Piguet’s Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle draws inspiration from the brand’s historic L’Universelle pocket watch. This 42mm marvel integrates 26 functions, including a Grande Sonnerie Carillon and split-seconds chronograph. Despite its intricate complications, it remains highly intuitive and user-friendly, showcasing a perfect balance of technical prowess and practicality.
7. Marie Antoinette Breguet Pocket Watch No. 1160 With a rich history full of intrigue, Breguet’s Marie Antoinette No. 1160 is a symbol of complexity and drama. Commissioned by one of the Queen’s admirers in secret, it took 44 years to complete and was the most complicated timepiece of its era. The watch has become a symbol of both Breguet’s ingenuity and the intrigue that surrounds the royal court.
8. IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar Though technically not a grand complication by traditional standards, IWC’s Portugieser Eternal Calendar stands out for its impressive perpetual calendar and moonphase accuracy. The watch will keep perfect time until 3999 and boasts moonphase accuracy to 45 million years, setting new standards in calendar precision.
9. Bovet Récital 28 “Prowess 1” The Bovet Récital 28 “Prowess 1” tackles a modern issue in horology: Daylight Saving Time (DST). By allowing for automatic adjustments across multiple time zones, this watch is the first to correct for DST discrepancies worldwide, making it an innovation that solves a long-standing problem in worldtimer watches.
10. De Bethune Kind of Grand Complication De Bethune’s Kind of Grand Complication combines aesthetics and functionality in an elegant titanium case. With eight key functions—including a spherical moonphase, leap year indication, and a 30-second titanium tourbillon—this watch is a contemporary take on grand complication design. The ability to flip the two dials, one classical and one modern, adds to its appeal, making it a true piece of wearable art.
These ten watches are more than just timekeepers—they are the epitome of innovation, artistry, and mechanical mastery. Whether pushing the limits of technical capabilities or solving longstanding complications, they remain unparalleled symbols of the art of horology.
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