Lord_Arran
2254
Answer to Messrs. Clavi and HerrK and hopefully possible end of discussion:
Gentlemen, let me answer your missives as follows:
I have spent 15 years in closest contacts with the watch makers, particularly with Paul Gerber. We phoned each other almost every day to discuss all the problems and how to resolve them, and there were many believe me.
Then I have spent a helluva lot of money to accomplish the watch in view of one goal: create the most complicated wrist watch of the world.
When this finally came to happen you will understand that now I feel it my duty to defend the watch and the watch makers. So much about your remark that this contest is “childish”. I am 72 years old and believe me I know what I do.
In my opinion the PMG watch has more complications than any other existing wrist watch, JLC inclusive, just speaking about numbers.
Now to the criteria. There are 3 points in my opinion:
-number of parts (many parts mean usually many complications)
-class of the complications in comparing of one complication to another or others
-number of complications
Only two watches to the best of my knowledge have complications with only a few parts: the Freak of UN, and the MIH watch of the International Watch Museum in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, the latter by coincidence also produced by Paul Gerber.
Both watches were created by one man, the master of the masters and the genius of a century: Dr. Ludwig Oechslin who besides the abovementioned watches created many of the wonderful Ulysse Nardin watches (such as the trilogy and many others) and who is the curator of the aforementioned museum.
When it comes to judge a watch I think that no man is better qualified than Dr. Oechslin, and he did judge this watch.
Dr. Oechslin has judged the PMG watch as being the most complicated wrist watch ever built. Period.
He has allowed the PMG watch to be exposed end of 2003 for more than one month in his museum (the only time this watch was ever exposed publicly), and the press and TV has published many reports about the watch, which was exposed as being the most complicated wrist watch of the world.
Hence, I presume we can discontinue to discuss about who can judge the complications and the complicated watches. Dr. Oechslin is certainly qualified, right?
As to your saying that the problem does not come from JLC but that my indignation is directed nevertheless against them: the press and any reporter cannot write a long and exact report as the one which appeared in the Express France without having been briefed extensively by the manufacturer.
I hope that we can lay this discussion to rest. As to my “not noble” attitude I don’t think that you should give me a lesson about that.
Thank you and best regards
Lord Arran
