42
…SOLVED!
Chopard
Mille Miglia
Power Reserve
...Solved!
IWC
Annual Calendar
A watch complication is any function
that exists in addition to telling time on
a timepiece. These watch complications
enable special functions that are
performed and displayed on the watch
to enhance their use. Complications are
highly sought after for the ingenuity in
design and innovation, as well as the
complexity, precision and skill required to
create such a timepiece. When you view
the movement of a complicated watch
through its case-back, you’ll see technical
innovation and precise engineering.
The combination of several hundred
tiny gears, jewels and springs enables
the timepiece to complete incredible
functions; functions that are assembled
by hand and not completed by a robot.
Annual Calendar
A common feature on watches is the calen-
dar. Less common is the annual calendar. It
displays day, date and month. It automatically
adjusts the date displayed on the timepiece
based on 30 and 31-day months to ensure
that the correct date is always displayed.
This complication requires setting the date
once per year, at the end of February. It is a
relatively recent innovation.
Chronograph
A chronograph has an independent sweep
second hand; it can be started, stopped, and
returned to zero by successive pressure on
the stem. Less simple chronographs use ad-
ditional complications and can have multiple
independent hands to measure seconds,
minutes, hours and even tenths of a second.
The Tourbillon
Literally meaning “whirlpool” in French, this is
one of the classic complications dating back
to the early 19th Century. It compensates
for errors caused by the Earth’s gravitational
force in upright positions. The escapement
is mounted in a revolving cage with the
regulating balance at the centre. The escape-
wheel turns about the fixed fourth wheel.
The cage generally revolves once a minute
and, in doing so, compensates for errors of
rate caused by the position of the watch.
This delicate and complex structure is one of
watchmaking’s most ingenious mechanisms.
Power Reserve Indicator
The power reserve indicator is one of the
most useful features of a mechanical watch
besides the actual time display. The power
reserve indicator displayed on the watch
with automatic-winding movement shows
how long a watch will function when not
worn. On a manual winding watch, it shows
the time left until the watch needs winding.
Chanel J12
Flying Tourbillion
Omega
Seamaster Diver
300M ETNZ