Question/comment about complications

[italiafan]

I may get some heat for this question/comment, especially given that I am a noob here, but here goes.........

Is a complication desirable for its own sake, just knowing there are more gears and complicated design, or is it the actual "trick" of the complication that excites? For instance, the act of timing something using a chronograph, vs. the chronograph gears resting quiescent within the watch unused.

As another for instance, I have been thinking about the annual calendar (AC) vs. perpetual calendar (PC). The main difference is how the watch handles the transition from February to March, and that is it. The AC is metaphorically akin to a watch you have to manually wind and the PC is "automatic." Once a year you make the move to March, and the PC, in theory, "never" has to be touched. Yet the AC has more parts than the PC if IIRC from my reading on it. Furthermore, every PC will be manually adjusted from time to time because of lack of use (and not on a winder) and certainly for scheduled services. Despite that, the PC is vastly more expensive and appears to be vastly more desirable by the WIS crowd.

One complication really intrigues me, and I'd love to own one some day...a Minute Repeater.

Just curious about people's thoughts. Sorry if topic beaten to death before....like I said, I'm a noob here.

:-)

[locutus49]

Yeah, good question. For me, I don't like changing the day and time so I would like an AC or PC. My favorite is also the MR. There is an early 1950's movie with John Wayne in a plane and he consults his MR pocketwatch, which got me interested in MR's. Also, the Clint Eastwood western where one played a part.

[martinr]

I appreciate the mechanics of a complication but don’t find them useful day to day. A chrono is fun to play with but basically useless. Annual calendar, don’t you already know what day of the week and month it is? Moon phase? What is that for? Or a split second chrono like the 5370P? Cool to look at but who times two things at once? I would probably find the ding ding sound of a minute repeater annoying if I had one. So why do I like what I like. Really, it’s the look and feel of the watch. And it has to be legible, too many little numbers that I can’t read and I wouldn’t want it.

[italiafan]

Originally Posted by martinr

I appreciate the mechanics of a complication but don’t find them useful day to day. A chrono is fun to play with but basically useless. Annual calendar, don’t you already know what day of the week and month it is? Moon phase? What is that for? Or a split second chrono like the 5370P? Cool to look at but who times two things at once? I would probably find the ding ding sound of a minute repeater annoying if I had one. So why do I like what I like. Really, it’s the look and feel of the watch. And it has to be legible, too many little numbers that I can’t read and I wouldn’t want it.

I think the MR only makes sound if you actuate the lever, but I'm not an expert by any means.

[martinr]

Originally Posted by italiafan

I think the MR only makes sound if you actuate the lever, but I'm not an expert by any means.

You are correct but why get a minute repeater if you don’t activate it.

[Brew]

I love the idea of a wound spring used to accurately measure and display time. That it can be engineered to do other cool (if marginally useful) stuff is just a BONUS!

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by italiafan

I may get some heat for this question/comment, especially given that I am a noob here, but here goes.........

Is a complication desirable for its own sake, just knowing there are more gears and complicated design, or is it the actual "trick" of the complication that excites? For instance, the act of timing something using a chronograph, vs. the chronograph gears resting quiescent within the watch unused.

As another for instance, I have been thinking about the annual calendar (AC) vs. perpetual calendar (PC). The main difference is how the watch handles the transition from February to March, and that is it. The AC is metaphorically akin to a watch you have to manually wind and the PC is "automatic." Once a year you make the move to March, and the PC, in theory, "never" has to be touched. Yet the AC has more parts than the PC if IIRC from my reading on it. Furthermore, every PC will be manually adjusted from time to time because of lack of use (and not on a winder) and certainly for scheduled services. Despite that, the PC is vastly more expensive and appears to be vastly more desirable by the WIS crowd.

One complication really intrigues me, and I'd love to own one some day...a Minute Repeater.

Just curious about people's thoughts. Sorry if topic beaten to death before....like I said, I'm a noob here.

:-)

I'm pretty sure for me it's as much about how the complication is done as to the complication itself. I've owned many chronographs and multiple split-seconds but none come close to the feeling of the 5370P (well maybe the Dato).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRvyap8Mnr4

Bit like SF2 on your 16M, nothing like it!

[italiafan]

Originally Posted by Russell996

I'm pretty sure for me it's as much about how the complication is done as to the complication itself. I've owned many chronographs and multiple split-seconds but none come close to the feeling of the 5370P (well maybe the Dato).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRvyap8Mnr4

Bit like SF2 on your 16M, nothing like it!

Nothing like the 16M! :-)

[italiafan]

So if it’s the craftmenship, and not the actual use, shouldn’t the AC be closer to the PC since the AC actually has more parts?
Though, I cannot understand why the AC would have more parts than the PC...perhaps someone here knows?

[martinr]

Originally Posted by italiafan

So if it’s the craftmenship, and not the actual use, shouldn’t the AC be closer to the PC since the AC actually has more parts?
Though, I cannot understand why the AC would have more parts than the PC...perhaps someone here knows?

That might not be the case. The 5905 AC and chrono movement has 402 parts and is automatic. The 5270 PCC movement has 456 parts and is manual wind.
From the Patek website.

[Calatrava r]

Then there is the tourbillon. Pure visual beauty without much use otherwise.

[jon_jon]

Interesting to note that some complications pre-date wristwatches and were included in pocketwatches - MR, tourbillion, etc. You could tell the time in the dark when you couldn't physically see the dial of the pocket watch by activating the MR lever.

[Token74]

For me it’s all about the engineering and craftsmanship. I rarely use my chronograph, an annual or Perpetual calendar saves a bit of hassle but no big deal, I have no use for a Minute Repeater (my favourite complication btw), and the list goes on.

The only complications I find useful is the date, the GMT hand and the Moonphase. I don’t really need GMT when I’m travelling (it’s not hard to know the time difference of the country you’re in and to do the maths), but when I’m working with a client somewhere the other side of the world, it is useful (it’s less present in my mind than when I’m travelling).

Complications also make a dial more interesting.


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[Fat_ninja]

Most complicated watch is an iphone

[martinr]

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

Most complicated watch is an iphone

I dropped mine on a concrete floor last night from about five feet and it didn’t break either. I blame the Sapporo Reserve.

[golfski]

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

Most complicated watch is an iphone

How many complications does it have?

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by golfski

How many complications does it have?

It allows me to surf porn... that’s complicated enough for me

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by italiafan

So if it’s the craftmenship, and not the actual use, shouldn’t the AC be closer to the PC since the AC actually has more parts?
Though, I cannot understand why the AC would have more parts than the PC...perhaps someone here knows?

The Patek perpetual calendar functions with the use of complex cams and levers, the annual calendar is far easier to construct being based on stacked gear wheels. It has more parts but is far quicker and easier to produce and assemble.

[italiafan]

Originally Posted by Russell996

The Patek perpetual calendar functions with the use of complex cams and levers, the annual calendar is far easier to construct being based on stacked gear wheels. It has more parts but is far quicker and easier to produce and assemble.

Interesting! Thanks.

[Peterandwatches]

My favorite complication is a moon phase, which is totally worthless to me. I just like it.

[Humble michael]

Originally Posted by Peterandwatches

My favorite complication is a moon phase, which is totally worthless to me. I just like it.

Yep me too - just amazing to me that it can show us where the moon is each night . Don’t know why but it is just really interest to me. :-)

[Pateklvr]

Minute Repeater, Tourbillion and Perpetual Calendar all under the hood of 5207G-001 :))