The creation of the first watch was all an astonishing event. This one was designed to meet the basic time measurements. Back in history, the first watches featured standard movements to indicate seconds, minutes, and hours, respectively. As you can observe, the progressive evolution of the watch industry currently offers a multitude of additional calculations.
Therefore, with every complementary feature, watches transformed into irreplaceable tools with spectacular functions. Apart from the traditional time indication, watches are already able to sustain complex mechanisms. These mechanisms lay on the basis of such functions as Chronograph, Perpetual Calendar, Alarm, Repeater, and Moonphase, among others. The umbrella term for these functions is Complications and here in this article, we will go through the basic types of replica watch Complications.
To spread the very thirst light on the matter, you should know that, basically, 9 primary typologies of complications exist. Therefore, these nine types incorporate into three main sections: Striking, Timing, and Astronomical.
In fact, brands push the boundaries to create as complicated watches as possible, usually interconnecting these sections between each other.
Types of Replica Watch Complications
Nowadays, with the evolution of modern technological development, smartwatches perform spectacular features by only integrating several technical codes. On the other hand, traditional watches remain impressive due to the packaging of multiple complications that require dexterity and craftsmanship.
Therefore, the first segment, Timing Complications, refers mostly to timepieces featuring several chronographs. The second segment, Astronomical Complications, comes along with various calendar types and Moonphase features. Further on, the third section, Striking Complications, is predominantly equipped with repeaters and alarm features.
These major classifications will now be broken down into minor pieces, so as to understand the Complications universe better.
The Date of replica watches
The date display comes as the most basic complication. However, it was the first to be integrated into modern Complication watches. Any watch displaying a date window automatically turns into a complex and attractive one. The integration of this feature elevates the standard of a watch, speaking about its innovative approach to its design. Hence, among plenty of date complications available nowadays, 4 of them are the most common.
The most traditional one refers to a simple date window. The owner of such a replica watch can usually change the date manually only by rotating the crown of his timepiece. Simply gentle, this type of date demonstration is otherwise known as “Aperture”.
The second variant comes with more complex construction. The window is already larger and includes 2 date boxes in it. The left box expresses the 0-3 date, while the right box displays the 1-9 date.
The third version of the date display refers to the pointer date. The index is traditionally placed on the outer peripheral of the dial. To indicate the date, an additional seconds hand is added to the watch architecture.
The final version comes in the form of an additional mini dial designed on the main watch dial.
The Day-Date of replica watches
As the name of the complication suggests, this type comes along with an additional function which is the day of the week. Similar to the previous version, the owner of such a watch can use the crown to regulate both the date and the day of the week. To avoid confusion during the process, the owner uses the opposite direction rotating principle to adjust these two features. That is to say, rotating the crown in one direction- adjusts the date. Similarly, rotating it in the opposite direction switches the adjustment to the other function.
In older watches, these two functions come next to each other. In the latest models, the boxes for the two functions come separately. As a general rule, this type of replica watches need manual adjustment.
Calendar of replica watches
As a logical upgrading process, the Calendar comes to add value to watch complications. Therefore, we can already observe the month features on the dials that gradually turn the timepieces into more complex accessories. The three functions: day, date, and month display form a specific group of “Triple Calendar” watches. These are neither too complicated nor too simplistic. Therefore, here we are at the Golden Mean of watch complications.
In the same context, calendar complications can be met in 2 versions: Perpetual Calendar and Annual Calendar.
The perpetual calendar represents the apogee of a brand’s artistry. Generally, only luxury brands are able to create Perpetual calendar watches, as the feature requires high-end abilities and knowledge. This feature takes into account all calendar changes, including the leap year.
Conversely, the annual calendar watch lacks this feature and the owner has to wind the watch manually to adjust the leap years.
The repeater of replica watches
This function was typical for pocket watches during the 18 century. Watch-making houses have taken over the feature and integrated it into wristwatches just only in the second half of the 20th century. This complication also derives into two typologies: the quarter repeater and the minute repeater.
As a general definition, the repeater enables the watch to generate a series of chimes to indicate the time. This feature requires both complex assembling and designing and is not typical for low-range watches.
Alarm in replica watches
Did you know that in ancient times certain people had the job to wake the people up at a specific hour? Therefore, the invention of the alarm feature was a true revelation. Generally speaking, watch complications are typical for mechanical timepieces. As for the alarm feature, this can be incorporated in quartz or automatic movements effort-freely.
Chronographs in replica watches
To make the explanation as simple as possible, the chronograph is synonymous with a timer or stopwatch. A typical characteristic of these watches is the 2 or 3 buttons next to the crown. These buttons enable the watch either to start or stop functioning in order to record a certain period. Similar to previous complications, the chronograph element comes in three variations:
–Monopoussoir: there is a single button to start, stop and reset the time;
–Retour-En-Vol: there are two button pushers. The first is to start and stop the time. The second is to reset and start again from scratch;
–Rattrapante: there are 3 buttons and two seconds handle. This one is useful when multiple simultaneous events need recording. Another common name for this chronograph is the “Flyback” and it is frequently hunted by race car drivers and pilots.
Moonphase in replica watches
Despite its complexity, this type of complication is mostly associated with an appealing design. This is because the main concept of the complication is not as purposeful nowadays as it was some centuries ago. Originally, this complication came to solve the sailors’ problem in tracking the tides related to the moon phases. Now, we have to admit that the complication is not as necessary for scientific purposes as just to add aesthetic value.
However, this complication is a tribute to the great celestial discoveries. It makes us remember that all time measurements available nowadays are strongly related to the movement of celestial bodies.
Tourbillon in replica watches
Tourbillon complication is all about high accuracy, durability, and longevity. Certain watch enthusiasts don’t even categorize this feature as a complication. They are prone to believe that it is more of a type of movement due to its impeccable mechanism of action. Either way, the Tourbillon complication came to provide steady accuracy, without being influenced by any gravity patterns. Original Tourbillon-featuring timepieces are extremely expensive. These are challenging to create and require strong craftsmanship skills.
Being present in ancient pocket watches, they are still present in modern ones. Lovers of complex mechanisms hunt such types of watches, being ready to pay a fortune for them.
Bonus: The most complicated watches
Every single luxury brand takes pride in creating a special collection of complicated watches. By such means, brands elevate their status and prove once again their unbeatable watchmaking mastery. However, one specific timepiece takes the lead over all complicated watches: Vacheron Constantin 57260. To begin with, the watch house has spent more than 8 years bringing this timepiece to perfection.
Since 2015, this masterpiece has fascinated watch enthusiasts with its 2826 components along with 31 hands. It is impossible to enumerate the whole watch architecture complications, but some of them include 9 complications of the astronomical calendar, 1 religious calendar, 7 alarm complications, and 4 chronograph complications. The timepiece was and still remains the phenomenon in the horological universe.
Final thoughts
The expanding amplitude of watchmakers’ craftsmanship never stops. Watch houses keep on developing impressive concepts leaving no space for inaccuracies and errors. In lieu of these reasons, we see watchhouses blossoming and reaching unimaginable levels in watchmaking techniques.
The great thing is that brands don’t forget to make their watches as readable as possible, despite the grand complications they integrate. In addition, the aesthetic aspect always remains the top priority. As a result, we have the chance to contemplate the limitless beauty of moth high-level complications and delightful design.