Grand complications indeed
April 25, 2013 10:40 AM Subscribe
The cool features on mechanical watches have the wonderful name of complications, of which the most common are the chronograph, perpetual calender, and tourbillon (originally used to improve accuracy, now it just looks very cool); but many others have been developed in the past centuries, and some are rather absurd. For a watch to be a grand complication, it must have at least three complications for timing, astronomical measurement, and striking. The world's current most complicated watch is the Franck Muller Aeternitas 4, which is just one of several "uber complicated" watches, like the iPhone-sized Zeit Device.
That Zeit Device looks like the inspiration for some kind of sci-fi MacGuffin in an Ian M. Banks novel. Also, I want one.
posted by Scientist at 11:03 AM on April 25, 2013
posted by Scientist at 11:03 AM on April 25, 2013
I just like the sound of it, the Zeit Device. Sounds like something I'd have to disable in a Final Fantasy game.
But hey, no mention of the Antikythera Mechanism, the original mega-complex mechanical watch?
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:17 PM on April 25, 2013
But hey, no mention of the Antikythera Mechanism, the original mega-complex mechanical watch?
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:17 PM on April 25, 2013
I love beautiful watches, but invariably wind up destroying it when I wear one :(
posted by BlueHorse at 2:30 PM on April 25, 2013
posted by BlueHorse at 2:30 PM on April 25, 2013
Surely for those prices you can add a few more megabucks and make it hardy enough to withstand a bunker buster?
posted by Iosephus at 4:41 PM on April 25, 2013
posted by Iosephus at 4:41 PM on April 25, 2013
I couldn't wear that watch - it's looks perpetually frightened or shocked.
posted by b33j at 7:28 PM on April 25, 2013
posted by b33j at 7:28 PM on April 25, 2013
Surely for those prices you can add a few more megabucks and make it hardy enough to withstand a bunker buster?
No, they can't even manage to get the screwheads holding the case together into alignment. Which is kind of a gripe of mine - in the age of cad/cam and 3D modeling, Grand Complications are becoming easier and easier to engineer, especially with a few dozen mechanical engineers on staff.
The small details... like turning screws and tapping holes so all of the screwheads are aligned in unison at the proper torque ... are lost on some of the flashier megabuck watches.
On the other hand, you can finally buy new Rose Engines... for a while in the late '90s, it appeared as if that was a dead art, kept alive by sway-toothed madmen with century-old equipment.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:36 PM on April 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
No, they can't even manage to get the screwheads holding the case together into alignment. Which is kind of a gripe of mine - in the age of cad/cam and 3D modeling, Grand Complications are becoming easier and easier to engineer, especially with a few dozen mechanical engineers on staff.
The small details... like turning screws and tapping holes so all of the screwheads are aligned in unison at the proper torque ... are lost on some of the flashier megabuck watches.
On the other hand, you can finally buy new Rose Engines... for a while in the late '90s, it appeared as if that was a dead art, kept alive by sway-toothed madmen with century-old equipment.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:36 PM on April 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
I dunno. I still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea.
posted by hypersloth at 9:48 PM on April 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by hypersloth at 9:48 PM on April 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
Okay: a question. I've stopped wearing watches since the dawn of the smartphone, but I'm thinking of going back to them. I can afford something decent that will last and keep accurate reliable time. Many expensive brands are often just dressed up junk, and I know nothing about watches, except that I have a tendency to stop them. What high-end makes of watches are actually worth buying, especially if you're female?
I know, this is probably best for Ask Meta, but this thread seems likely to draw people who would be able to answer this, so you can Memail me if you have an answer -- no need to threadjack.
posted by jrochest at 10:00 PM on April 25, 2013
I know, this is probably best for Ask Meta, but this thread seems likely to draw people who would be able to answer this, so you can Memail me if you have an answer -- no need to threadjack.
posted by jrochest at 10:00 PM on April 25, 2013
The world's current most complicated watch is the Franck Muller Aeternitas 4
I guess the Patek Caliber 89 is just the second most complicated timepiece, then.
posted by homunculus at 5:18 PM on April 26, 2013
I guess the Patek Caliber 89 is just the second most complicated timepiece, then.
posted by homunculus at 5:18 PM on April 26, 2013
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posted by homunculus at 12:24 PM on April 29, 2013
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posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:50 AM on April 25, 2013