Watch Complications – The Mechanical Arms Race
The world of precision mechanics, especially in the watchmaking field, is fascinating. A race that began some 300 years ago has yielded many spectacular achievements. Watchmaking workshops compete not only in terms of materials, quality, and design, but above all in terms of engineering solutions. As a result of advanced design work, watches today, in addition to their basic timekeeping function, offer a wide range of capabilities, from chiming the hour to power reserve indication and even perpetual calendars. These complex functions in mechanical watches are called complications .
Date display – the most popular feature in wristwatches
The most common complication in wristwatches is the date display. The simplest solutions only display the current day of the month, while more advanced ones also display the day of the week. This feature has become so common that watches without a date display now attract more attention than those with one.
Perpetual Calendar – watchmaking craftsmanship
Some watches from the finest manufacturers are equipped with a complication known as a perpetual calendar . The invention of the perpetual calendar dates back to the late 18th century and is attributed to Abraham-Louis Breguet. The perpetual calendar is one of the most advanced mechanical complications. Simply put, this device displays the date, automatically accounting for the length of each month and leap years.
Power reserve – how long does the mechanism work?
One of the most popular complications used in wristwatches is the power reserve . The energy stored in the mainspring is responsible for keeping the hands moving – its length determines the watch's continuous running time. The basic running time of the movement is approximately 40 hours, but the best manufacturers offer results up to three times better. Typically, a small hand on a small subdial indicates the time remaining until the mainspring loses all its energy.
Repeater watches – audible time indication
The minute repeater is considered an extremely prestigious complication. A timepiece with this function operates like a microscopic musical instrument, chiming each hour with a sound. The highest form of this complication is the grande sonnerie – these watches emit an additional chime every 15 minutes. This solution was patented in 1687 by Daniel Quare and, alongside the perpetual calendar and tourbillon, represents the pinnacle of watchmaking.
Tourbillon and carousel – the absolute pinnacle of precision
We enter a world reserved for the finest manufacturers. The tourbillon's role is to compensate for the effects of gravity on the watch's accuracy. The most advanced form is the carousel – a kind of cage that "captures" the escapement and balance wheel. It completes a full rotation on its axis in 60 seconds, neutralizing the influence of Earth's gravity. The tourbillon mechanism was invented in 1801 by Breguet, while the carousel was patented in 1892 by Bahne Bonniksen.
Moon Phases – Astronomy on Your Wrist
One of the most prized features is the moon phase complication . It originates from 18th-century pocket watches and the romantic desire to have a slice of the sky on the dial. Today, due to its visual impact, this feature is sought after primarily in elegant watches, so-called "dress watches." More complex developments include astronomical displays, such as sidereal time or star maps.
GMT function – the perfect solution for travelers
GMT is an extremely practical complication that allows for simultaneous reading of the time in two time zones. A watch with this function is characterized by an additional, fourth hour hand. The development of aviation contributed to the popularization of GMT, particularly Rolex, which introduced the GMT-Master model for Pan Am pilots in 1954.
The future of mechanics – unlimited creativity
While it might seem like the number of complications is finite, manufacturers continue to create unique solutions: mechanical animations, leapfrog time displays, and complex planetary mechanisms. These ingenious solutions are evidence of humanity's pursuit of perfection. Most often, we glance at a watch to check the time, but it is the craftsmanship hidden within complications that elevates watchmaking to a true art form.
