Wristwatch complications

What are complications in wristwatches?

A complication is a mechanical movement that has additional mechanisms in addition to the mechanism that displays the hours, minutes, and seconds that most watches have. Among complications, a mechanism that has multiple complicated mechanisms is called a grand complication.

There are very few craftsmen in the world who can assemble the mechanisms of complex mechanisms, so they require highly skilled craftsmen. Complex mechanisms, assembled from countless parts, have been likened to a "microcosm" due to their complexity.

There are three major complications in the world (the world's three major complications), which are the pinnacle of technology in mechanical watches. There are also seven major complications in the world (the world's seven major complications), which include these three major complications.

In particular, the world's three most complicated mechanisms require high technical skills and the skill of artisans, and are therefore often used in luxury watches.

The three major complications

[Tourbillon]

The tourbillon, which means "swirl" in French, is a mechanism for improving the accuracy of mechanical watches, invented by the genius watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet, who is said to have accelerated the progress of watches by 200 years. It is considered to be the most difficult of all complicated mechanisms.

The difference in the position of the watch caused by gravity affects the regulating mechanism, such as the balance and hairspring, resulting in slight errors. The tourbillon mounts these parts on a rotating base called a "carriage" and constantly moves them to various angles to average out the effects of gravity and stabilize accuracy.

[Perpetual calendar]

The perpetual calendar is also said to have been invented by Breguet. This mechanism automatically recognizes the difference in the number of days in a month (the end of February, April, June, September, and November) and February 29th in leap years, and displays the calendar accurately. It is also called a "perpetual calendar" because it does not require manual adjustment of the calendar.

[Minute Repeater]

The minute repeater is one of the three major complicated mechanisms invented in England in the 17th century, and has the longest history. Breguet also succeeded in miniaturizing the minute repeater.
Its function is to tell the time by sound, a very romantic and complicated mechanical clock mechanism. Along with its practicality of being able to tell the time by sound even in the dark, its delicate tone and complicated mechanism have fascinated watch enthusiasts for a long time.

The 7 major complications

[Split-second chronograph]

The split-second chronograph is a mechanism invented by Joseph Thaddeus Winner. It is also called rattrapante in French. A normal chronograph measures the second with one hand, but the split-second has two hands arranged on the same axis. The two hands can display two measured times.

[Moon Phase]

The moon phase is a mechanism that displays the phases of the moon on the dial. This is achieved by the gears inside the watch slowly rotating in accordance with the lunar synodic cycle (approximately 29.5 days). Generally, it is controlled by a gear with 59 teeth, and is designed so that two rotations take approximately 29.5 days.

[Retrograde]

Retrograde is a French word used in watchmaking to mean "going backwards." It is a unique mechanism used to repeatedly display the date, day of the week, etc., and instantly returns to the starting point when it reaches the end point.

[Power reserve indicator]

A power reserve indicator is a function that visually displays the remaining amount of winding in a mechanical watch's mainspring. Just like a fuel gauge in a car, it uses a needle or a scale on the dial to show how long the watch can continue to run. If you wind the mainspring while checking the indicator, you can conveniently keep the watch running without stopping.

You can see complex mechanisms in the Comptoine too!

Of the three major complications, they are often found in luxury watches, and are perhaps the most coveted among watch lovers. Comptoine Watch and Jewelry Boutique also exhibits and sells the RAYMOND WEIL, which is equipped with the moon phase, one of the seven major complications, and the CZAPEK, which is equipped with the power reserve indicator. As an authorized dealer, we also provide a warranty, so you can purchase with confidence.