Stylish Seconds

TRADITIONAL WATCHMAKING WITH A TWIST

In the quest to be recognised as a true ‘manufacture,’ there are certain horological creations that must be part of your in-house repertoire. You must have the base movements first, then the chronographs and dual time zones. Then come the calendars (astronomical complications) then the striking complications (minute repeaters, alarms) and finally, a combination of at least three of these, the grand complications. This year, brands like A. Lange & Söhne celebrate the release of their first grand complication, and others like Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget and Audemars Piguet show off their traditional watchmaking knowhow with models that aren’t quite so traditional.

The ever-perfectionist watchmakers at A. Lange & Söhne present the new L1902 movement for their first ever Grand Complication. The watch features a chiming mechanism with grand and small strike, minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph with minute counter and jumping seconds, as well as a perpetual calendar with moonphase display. Limited to six pieces, the watch comes in a 50mm pink gold case and enamel dial.

Audemars Piguet offers an unusual take on the traditional grand complication this year as it takes the form of the very sporty Royal Oak Offshore. The Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication features a minute repeater, split-second chronograph and perpetual calendar, with stylish counters on the sapphire dial. The watch comes in titanium, featuring a black ceramic bezel, or in pink gold.

Continuing on its ultra-thin path, Piaget releases the Emperador Coussin Ultra-Thin Minute Repeater, the slimmest minute repeater on record at 9.4mm and 4.8mm for the calibre. This is the watchmaker’s first minute repeater, and fourth major in-house complication. The Emperador Coussin rose gold case and a sapphire glass dial and caseback that show the movement and rotor make this timepiece a good combination of contrasts; a traditional complication in a modern-looking watch. The Manufacture Piaget 1290P automatic movement offers a power reserve of 40 hours.