Henry Graves Pocket Watch 24 Complications/Million

This Patek Philippe pocket watch was made for Henry Graves a famous bank during the U.S's economic turmoil.
Henry Graves was an ardent watch collector as well as a patron for Patek Philippe.
He had a tendency to compete with James Ward Packward an automobile manufacturer, they would always attempt to have the most complicated timepiece possible. In 1933 this bickering ended when Graves received a pocket watch that could not be outmatched, The super complication was commissioned in 1927 by Graves and of course delivered in 1933.

Henry Graves Spend 60,000 Swiss Francs on the timepiece about 15,000 USD at the time.
3 years went into designing the timepiece and 5 to manufacture.
There was only one of these glorious timepieces made, and its history goes a little like this.

• It went to Henry Graves from 1933 until his death in 1953

• The time then went to his heirs until it was sold in 1968 to The Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois.

• In 1999 following the closure of the Rockford Time Museum it was sold to a member of the Qatari Royal Family for a record breaking $11,002,500, the transaction was made at Sotheby's in New York.

• In July 2014 it was announced that the timepiece would again be sold at Sotheby's Geneva and on November 11 2014 the timepiece was again sold for a record shattering $24,000,000 by Auerl Bacs a known watch collector and auctioneer as well as the former head of watches at Christies, the timepiece most likely going to an unknown client of his.

The 24 Complications at a million each

The hours, minutes and seconds of sidereal time (3)

Sunset/Sunrise time

Equation of time

Calendar

Perpetual calendar

Day of the Month

Day of the Week

Month

Star Chart (Depicting the stars in New York by Grave's home to the exact relative distance)

Moon Phase

Chronograph 

Split second

30 minute recording

12 hour recording

The Chime

Grande sonnerie (Westminster chimes) with carillon

Petite sonnerie with carillon

Minute Repeater

Alarm

The going train up-down indication

The striking train up/down indication

The twin barrel differential winding

The three-way setting system

line

This makes this the most complicated timepiece ever created without computer assisted machinery.

With 940 components this timepiece truly deserves the title of super complication everything was hand made to perfection.

Patek Philippe 5990/1

So it's been a while since I last posted.

I apologize for that greatly on a side note the page has now had over a Ten thousand hits!

I would like to thank you all for coming to the page and reading my little bio's/reviews on watches.

Alright so now lets dive into watches.

As many of you know Basel World 2014 showcases various new timepieces.

So I will be covering that, well recovering since I'm a tad late.

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe released a new Nautilus timepiece that extends its long line of Nautilus collection at basel world 2014

 

Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph

A wonderful addition to the Nautilus Family

The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5990/1

features dual time on the timepiece

Now the last time I'd seen a Nautilus up close was at

Swiss Watchmakers & Co they were working on one while I was there and I was able to get some shots of it and wrote about it as well link is right here if you'd like to read

Patek Philippe Watch Repair

The one I saw at Swiss Watchmakers was beautiful, gold case black dial but it only featured Hour/Minutes/Date

The new Patek Philippe Nautilus features the same things as the old one but it also has Seconds, a Chronograph and Dual Time.

Now this is a significant amount of changes throughout the years. As some of you who have followed my posts for a while I love Patek Philippe because of how they can make the complex seem simplistic.

They have not failed to do so here.

The dial isn't cluttered at all its perfectly placed, organized and easy to read.

I must commend Patek Philippe for doing this so well as many watches have these features but their dials are cluttered or the timepiece itself is huge, Patek Philippe have been able to keep the timepiece at a nice size and show the features beautifully.

Measurements

38.5 x 44

Crystals

Both are Sapphire

Case 

 Stainless Steel

Sidenote: It's good to be back

Harry Winston Withstands Mike Tyson

Sorry I haven't had time to post the last few days.

But I do have something nice to start off today.

I got a chance to visit Swiss Watchmakers & Co. 

I've gone there a few times either to have a timepiece fixed or just to see if they have a nice timepiece for me to review.

I have to admit these are very friendly and professional people, just the fact that they let me bug them while they work is very kind.

Not to mention that they share my posts on Facebook and Linkedin.

When I went they had a Harry Winston that seemed to have gone through a fight with Mike Tyson

I went back a few weeks later and they had already finished the timepiece.

A few weeks to complete a Harry Winston in mist of other repairs, that had to be some kind of record because from what I know Harry Winston takes 2+ months.

Well anyhow they told me that the client wanted full service and a matching strap.

Now the watch needed to be "cleansed" before being sent out and I couldn't touch it after that.

But I did get a shot prior to that and the timepiece looks stunning.

Well anyhow that's the first post for today I'll make a few more as the day progresses.

Beautiful Ballon Bleu de Cartier

I apologize for not posting on Valentine's day. I do apologize for that. 

To make it up to you guys, here is my Saturday/weekend blog post! 

This Ballon Bleu de Cartier is the perfect Valentine's day gift. On this Ballon Bleu, it has an 18K rose (pink) gold case (36.6 mm in diameter, 12.05 mm thick), an 18K gold bracelet, and a rose (pink) gold fluted crown. Along with many other Ballon Bleu de Cartier models, this timepiece has a crown set with a blue sapphire cabochon. 

It has a sapphire crystal with a silver opaline dial. The dial includes Roman numerals and it has sword-shaped blued-steel hands.

Guilloché and lacquered.

It has a mechanical movement with automatic winding Cartier caliber 076.

This Cartier is water resistant to 30 m or 100 feet.

Here is another appealing Ballon Bleu de Cartier with a crown set with a blue sapphire cabochon and a date window where the number 3 would be. Beautiful, no?

When ordering this watch on the Cartier website, you can make adjustments and choose your preferred Ballon Bleu de Cartier which I really like. 

I adore this Cartier, it really looks spectacular.

Click here to check out our professional Watch Repair site!

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Thanks for reading!

James Bond 007

Omega and James Bond

 Agent 007 has always seen sporting a Omega timepiece, sometimes with spy modifications.

This super spy has been wearing a trusty Omega for about 2 decades. A watch good enough for a super spy now that says something about Omega.

An Omega timepiece has appeared since 1995 in Golden eye up until the latest movie Skyfall (2013)

History in The Making

Today I'll be going over the history of Vacheron Constantin.

Vacheron Constantin is one of the oldest watch manufacturers being founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron.

Today Vecheron Constanting is part of the Richmont Group.

Vacheron Constantin has a small employee scale compared to that of Rolex, it only employs about 400 people world wide.

Vacheron Constantin made their first complication in 1770, 9 years after the first engine turned dial was invented by this marvelous company.

The name Vacheron Constantin came to be in around 1819 when then owner Jaques-Barthèlemy realized he needed help running the growing company. François Constantin became his assosiate and tats how Vacheron & Constantin came to have its name.

The watchmaking company has a motto and it states "Do better if possible and that is always possible".

In 2003 Vacheron Constantin introduced a new sports line called Overseas, and a collection called Egérie, the first to include watches for women.

In 2004 Vacheron Constantin opened its new headquarters and manufacture in Plab-les-Ouates, Geneva.

The Richmont Group named Juan Carlos Torres as the CEO of the company in October 2005. Vacheron Constantin is considered to be company that was able to create one of the most complicated wristwatches in the world entitled Tour de I'lle. It was created in 2005 to mark the anniversary of 250 years of Vacheron Constantin. The watch includes 834 parts and 16 horological complications. It was only available through the Vacheron Constantin shop in Geneva, Switzerland and sold for more than $1 million.

In 2007 Vacheron Constantin introduced the Metiers d'Art 'Les Masques' collection of timepieces featuring miniature reproductions of primitive art masks. The company selected twelve masks from a private museum collection and reproduced the masks on a small scale. The miniaturized masks are featured in the dial center of every watch from the 'Les Masques' collection.

See More of the Metiers d'Art 'Les Masques    More of Metier d'Art collection

Vacheron Consantin sells about 20,000 timepieces a year today.

Top 10 Most Beautiful Watches

Top 10 Most Beautiful Watches

#10 Harry Winston Opus 11

The Opus 11 includes 155 jewels and 566 components.
The center hour circle displays the hour with 24 placards that revolve and rotate on a complicated system of gears attached on an epicycloidal gear-train.
Click here to read more about the Opus 11

#9 Breguet Grande Complication Tourbillon 5317

#8 Jaeger-LeCoultre è Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon

Click here to read more about this JLC

#7 Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Unique Travel 

Click here to read more

#5 Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire

Click here to read more about this Astrocalendaire

#4 Ulysse Nardin Moonstruck

#3 Patek Philippe Ref 6102 Grand Complications 

 

Patek Philippe knows what they are doing! This distinguished Grand Complication lives up to its name, coming in at number 2. Click here to read more

#2 A. Lange & Söhne Perpetual Calendar Terraluna


The Terraluna comes in a case choice of rose gold or white gold, both with a solid silver dial.
It displays minutes, hours, seconds, and a leap year indicator positioned accordingly.

The movement (above) is pure beauty at its finest.

Click here to read more about this Perpetual Calendar

#1 Van Cleef & Arpels' Midnight Planetarium Watch:

It is now possible to wear the night sky on your wrist.

The dial displays Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn with a rose cold casing. 

The month, days, and a red marker for your special day, are all displayed along the bezel.

This piece of arm candy is perfection what with its gems for the corresponding planets.

It is true to the actual planet's revolution around the sun.

This extraordinary time piece includes the gems: 

Serpentine for Mercury

Chloromelanite for Venus

Turquoise for Earth

Red Jasper for Mars

Blue Agate for Jupiter

Sugilite for Saturn
Click here to read more about it

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Optic Marvel

Harry Winston Opus 11

Today I am writing about the Harry Winston Opus 11! It definitely has one of the most unique watch displays that I've seen so far.

The Opus 11 is limited edition with only 111 in the world.

The case, available in white gold, surrounds a sapphire-crystal dome.

The watch reminds me of a phoropter, the instrument used by an eye physician to check your vision.

The main circle (above) is where the hour is displayed with the peculiar, yet amazing arrangement.

The number in the middle of the hour circle gets reassembled every hour, then remains still for the next 60 minutes. 

There are 24 placards, that move and rotate to display the number in the center.

The top right circle (above) displays the minutes on a jumping disk for the tens place and a running disk for the individual units. An indicator points at the current time.

The bottom right circle (above) shows the beat of a big titanium balance-wheel.

The Opus 11 includes:

24 conical pinions

155 jewels 

566 components

The power reserve lasts for 48 hours until the crown on the top left corner has to be wound again.

The Opus 11 looks wonderful paired with a black leather strap.

Here is a video on YouTube of the Opus 11 that I stumbled upon:

The way the numbers rotate and assemble is completely ingenious!

Visit our professional Watch Repair site

Thank you for reading ladies and gentlemen! 

(-Priscilla)

Now This Is A Complication

Frank Muller Aeternitas Mega 4

With 36 complications the Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 is one of the most complex timepieces ever.

This stunning timepiece has 25 complications visible.

This timepiece has a monstrous 1,483 components with 99 Jewels.

Arguably the most complicated wrist watch ever made this timepiece fetches a price of 2.7 million USD

Calibre FM 3480 QPSE

Frank Muller

"Mechanic Tourbillon, Carillon Westminster on 4 hammers and 4 gongs, Chronograph with fly-back mechanism and only one push-piece, Perpetual Calendar Secular, Equation of time, Two additional time zones, Automatic self-winding mechanism for the movement and the Westminster carillon."

This movement measures 34.4 mm x 41.4 mm x 13.65 mm

Which might seem large but taking count of sheer amount of components and complications is actually small.

This amazing Movement also has a power reserve of 3 days/strike 24 hours.

18,000 VPH

You can see this timepiece in 3 different models below!

Heres a bit more on what Frank Muller has to say about this outstanding timepiece

AETERNITAS MEGA 4

"The Aeternitas Mega – the most complicated wrist-watch - is the pinnacle of success in the art of watch-making in terms of complexity and complications. A grandiose work of art culminating in the design of the most complex wrist-watch ever made in the world thanks to the multifaceted skills of our watch-makers and constructors. Each of the 1,483 components was designed to give the watch an elegant design in the pure traditions of the old “cadraturiers” of the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. This watch inspires countless emotions and make it simply unique in the eyes of lovers in the art of fine mechanics and luxury watch making.

From the very beginning, the Mega was incorporated into the Aeternitas project and is, indeed, the culmination of this project. The Aeternitas Mega 4 is the only “Grand Sonnerie” time-keeper in which the Tourbillon is visible on the dial side, which limits the space available for the “Grand Sonnerie” mechanism and thus makes the design even more complicated.

The glass sapphire case back enables the harmoniously chiselled and decorated pieces that overlap to be admired in a stunning combination as a dazzling ballet. This masterpiece was entirely designed and manufactured by the Franck Muller group and once again demonstrates their vast array of skills and ability in the Art of Haute Horlogerie."

As you can see they have a lot to say about their timepiece and who wouldn't this timepiece is truly a milestone in Frank Mullers great history.

This magnificent timepiece is made in 3 different styles

All with a Case Dimensions of  42.00 mm x  61.00 mm x  19.15mm 

A Hand Sewn Alligator Strap

3 ATM Water Resistance which is about 30 meters.

Display: Hours, Minutes, 24 hours, Chronograph, Fly-back, Minutes counter, 

hour counter retrograde, two time zones, Movement power reserve 

Display of the chime: Grande or petite chime 

Chime or silence 

Chime power reserve 

Perpetual calendar display: Date retrograde, Day, Month, Year, Leap year (cycle of 4 years), no 

leap year (cycle of 100 years), leap year (cycle of 400 years), Equation 

of time 

Cintrée Curvex 8888

 18 carat white gold

Dial: Sun-stamped lacquered white dial with black Arabic numerals 

Cintrée Curvex 8888 

18 carat white gold 

Full set baguettes red rubies

Dial: Sun-stamped lacquered white dial with black Arabic numerals 

Cintrée Curvex 8888 

18 carat white gold with black PVD treatment 

Dial: Sun-stamped lacquered black dial with red Arabic numerals 

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Your Century, Your Millenia

The Urwerk UR-1001 Zeit Device 
  

This is the first pocket watch that I've written about.

I find this watch to be spectacular. It looks to me like a modern World War device.

  

  

It holds seconds, minutes, and hours like a standard watch; the Ur-1001 Zeit Device displays the day/night, the date, month, years. 

  

There is a power reserve indicator, the power lasts for 39 hours in which it will have to be wound with the three-position winding crown.

  

  

On the back it displays the century and millennium! The UR-1001 also has an oil indicator on the back that lets you know when it needs servicing!

Components & Specifications

  

Now let's head into the components and specifications. It is 23mm thick and, when holding it in the face up upright position, it is 106mm tall and 62mm wide.

  

  

The glass in the case is sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating so nothing gets in the way of that marvelous display. The case itself is AlTiN treated steel with titanium elements.

  

It is water resistant to 3 ATM. It has a total of 51 jewels.

  

  

The UR-1001 includes a hand-made, heat-blackened steel linked chain with a bespoke Urwerk clasp with carbineer closure. Which I believe is replaceable but what is better than the original, right? 

As always visit our website for excellent professional services on your fine time pieces! 

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