Ok, let's imagine you are on a Gyrotourbillonesque mood, you just won the Lottery, you are on to put your hands on your grail.
You do a search on the Gyrotourbillon One, as you are a serious Watch collector, and you want to know more and / or all about the piece of your dreams.
And then... You just realize that four versions were made.
The first came in 2004, in a limited editon of 75 pieces:
This is the only one which came with a platinum case.
The second and the third came in 2009, both in white gold.
One with a Clous de Paris finish on the upper part of the dial. It is a limited edition of 20 pieces:
The second and the last, is part of the Hybris Mechanica set, one out of 30, with this superb open dial, very sculptural.
Since money is not a problem anymore, as you won the lottery, your biggest issue will be to convince JLC to " break " a set and to sell it alone, unless you want to get the three:
And the Gyrotourbillon One Hybris Artistica, unveiled in 2014, at the SIHH.
A dial made of aventurine and blue lacquer, the case is in white gold, with the bezel opened at 6 o clock and a domed sapphire Crystal.
Did you notice the new case, which is a Master Grande Tradition one?
A mad creation from the Manufacture, which is a limited edition of 3 pieces
Just for the reminder, keep in mind that you have an extraordinary sum of horological skills: A very complete Perpetual Calendar Retrograde, Equation Of Time, 8 Days Power Reserve movement ( Cal 177 ) without forgetting the inclined lightweight two-cage multi-axis spherical tourbillon.
The Cal 177, back side and dial side:
All those details being reminded, your choice will only be aesthetical, among these four.
I must confess that my mind changed, over the time.
I immediately fell in love with the White Gold Clous de Paris, and with the Hybris Mechanica open dial. While it took me a bit of time to love, not like, but love the original Gyrotourbillon One, but it is all the fault of the Minute Repeater, which came in 2005, and which totally obsessed me.
With time passing, my preference would go to the original, because of the play of transparency, its very modern, young concept and design, which contrasts with the very serious and extraordinary horological background.
My second favourite is the White Gold Clous de Paris. This version has more coherence than the original one, the Clous de Paris is sublime, and gives some nice consitance to this Watch. Less " fun ", young and fresh than the original, but more coeherent with the horological background.
My " last ", if I may say so, would be the Hybris Mechanica version, ex aequo with the Artistica. Except for one point: The " Artistica " case, which I find much more appealing than the others.
Don't get me wrong, the work on the dial and movement is just awesome, but, at the end, all this decoration and finish makes me loose, in a certain way, the focus on the most important part of this watch... Its Gyrotourbillon.
Anyway, I would be extremely happy with any of these four... But if I had the choice, or better, if I won the lottery, I would without hesitation go for the original, the first one.
With a reserve, here: I feel that four different versions of such an exceptional Watch is too much.
It is not the number of watches produced, as we are still in low ( 75 + 20 + 30 + 3=128 ) figures, but four different visions obfuscate a bit the concept, in my opinion.
And you, what is your preference, and thoughts?
Looking forward to reading your comments on that delicious but a bit virtual dilemma,
Best.
Nicolas
