destrodan
509
That's a fair observation.
There is a difference between a properly executed rattrapante and one that is less refined. And chronographs in general are one of the most complex of complications even if they are ubiquitous. I would say the same difference exists when one considers perpetuals - some are far more finely executed and integrated (e.g. Patek) and some are not (e.g. Da Vinci). It's the same with repeaters too - an IWC repeater, while conceived and built in-house by IWC, is modular in design when compared with a Patek minute repeater that is integrated and far more finely tuned and hand-finished.
That said, I do still believe they exist within a category even if the ends of the categories are far apart.
I'm curious about the categories - what are today's complication categories that measure well with yesteryears. It seems like a repeater is still there. I personally think a perpetual secular calendar is there (i.e. it is a step up from today's perpetuals because it's '100 percent perpetual' even at the century marks). A triple-split chronograph is one of these complications. Perhaps there are others too. Hopefully we'll hear additional suggestions.
In your opinion what are today's exclusive complications that are within reach?
30+ years ago, a fairly common consensus was the Rattrapante (until simplification via IWC's 3711), or the tourbillon that's now available via suppliers for many middle-tier brands, or the perpetual calendar (again, simplified by IWC's da vinci) that can ...
Easy answer, at least for me
Minute repeater is The complication. We've seen that Tourbillon can be "easily" manufactured, and I'm not even referring to the cheap Chinese turbo, instead of the Tag Heuer. But there is no mass production of minute repeaters, at least AFAIK
Minute Repeater. It requires both technical and artistic skills. Do you know how many minute repeaters are made per year?
During our visit at the JLC Manufacture, they told us... It is surprisingly low...
Hey Nico, that would be interesting to know!
The best I can do to guess the number of produced minute repeaters is go to that large global watch marketplace and search for the number of minute repeaters for sale worldwide on the secondary market. It appears that there are around 180 mechanical minut...
Wow. Thanks, Nico. I'd say the MR qualifies then!
Just curious, do you happen to know of any producers of secular perpetual calendars? Andersen is the only one I can think of and his are produced by request these days. I don't know of any producers of a secular perpetual calendar outside of Andersen. It ...
Yes, Andersen Geneve makes one. It's actually called the "Secular Perpetual Calendar"
It addresses the "secular year" that happens once every 100 years for 3 out of every 4 centuries. The backside of his watch actually accounts for it and tracks the next 400 years. Absolutely marvelous. But it does beg the question: Do I need to swap out t...
Some have called it the "first 100 percent perpetual calendar"
As no adjustments are ever needed Amazing that its first 'special trick' will happen when most of us won't be alive to witness it. Spectacular engineering.
You can't leaving me hanging like that, Justin!
I can't find a pic on the web - do you have one you can share? Would love to see it
LOL bro, I do have photos and know Julien pretty well. Actually have an amazing project with him currently 😉🤫🤫🤫
Contact me via PM and I will send you some photos 😉 Here is a link to an article that explains his invention: www.canalalpha.ch
thanks Justin, will pm
EDIT: I can't seem to figure out how PM works - if you can PM me I would appreciate it. And thanks for the intro to Julien - I can't wait to see his creation. 10,000 years in a mechanical watch boggles my mind.
LOL bro, I do have photos and know Julien pretty well. Actually have an amazing project with him currently 😉🤫🤫🤫
Contact me via PM and I will send you some photos 😉 Here is a link to an article that explains his invention: www.canalalpha.ch
Hold on a sec....
Is your reasoning for steel Rolex watches being more expensive than QP's and tourbillions is due to modern manufacturing? "[T] he perpetual calendar (again, simplified by IWC's da vinci) that can now be found on the secondary market for less than most Rol...
I was surmising about perpetuals
Patek became the masters of mass-producing perpetuals (along with very few select others) until IWC made the complication ubiquitous. For the first few years that the IWC Da Vinci perpetual hit the market, they outsold all other swiss perpetuals combined....
I would disagree about rattrapante
Yes, while cheap mostly Valjoux 7750 based rattrapante chronographs were plantiful (thanks mostly to Jaquet), properly executed modern rattrapante are still rare and very expensive. Just think who is making them nowadays: Patek, Lange, Breguet, RM, Czapek...
That's a fair observation.
There is a difference between a properly executed rattrapante and one that is less refined. And chronographs in general are one of the most complex of complications even if they are ubiquitous. I would say the same difference exists when one considers per...
