Jay (Eire) initiates a compelling discussion on the fusee-and-chain complication, spotlighting the A. Lange & Söhne Pour le Mérite and contrasting it with other notable examples. His exploration delves into the aesthetic choices watchmakers make regarding the visibility of this intricate mechanism, prompting collectors to consider whether the 'magic' should be dial-side or subtly concealed. This article synthesizes community insights on these horological marvels.
Getting through the midweek hump today with this powerful beauty from Lange and just thinking about some other fusee-and-chain watches.
When one looks at fusee-and-chain wrist watches there are a number of choices available to collectors. My first real exposure was with Romain Gauthier’s Logical One, a watch I almost bought (from another collector) a number of years ago.
Lange’s fusee-and-chain obviously predates the Logical One, first seen in the Tourbillion PLM in 1994, and so do other choices. Does anyone remember the Zenith Academy Georges Favre-Jacot? Like the Logical One everything is presented right there dial side so you can see the “magic”. But it was a monstrous 45mm.
Breguet is another choice. And as with the Zenith the wearer gets to see the action on the dial size. The Breguet Tradition Tourbillion Fusee has a more contemporary design and unlike the Zenith (and similar to the Logical One) it comes in a more modest case at 41mm.
Four examples of fusse-and-chain and 3 of them giving the wearer a view of everything right there on the wrist.
The Lange however takes a different approach, it keeps the “magic” nicely tucked away on the movement side. Not only that, in traditional Lange style it also pretty much covers the entire fusse-and-chain with the plate.
Different collectors will obviously favour dial side versus movement side exposure to the fusse-and-chain mechanism. And obviously the aesthetic of these four watches differ enough to divide opinions.
For me the Lange is the subtle choice. Which, for this particular watch works nicely for me. It’s not that I’m one to avoid less subtle watches (I’m a big fan of certain MB&F Horological Machines that are far from subtle), rather in this case this specific representation of fusse-and-chain fit my collection well.
Credit : Romain Gauthier
Credit : ablogtowatch
Credit : Monochrome Watches
