Grande complication timepieces have always fascinated watchmakers and connoisseurs. And grande complication wristwatches, with the constraint of smaller spaces compared to pocket watches, are even rarer and more desirable.
Sometimes the definition "grande complication" is applied quite generically to watches that combine complicated functions like minute repetition, perpetual calendar or other astronomic indications but in this article we adhere to the definition which most experts agree on, i.e. a watch that contains at least the following master complications: a) minute repetition, b) perpetual calendar with moon phases, and c) split-seconds (rattrapante) chronograph.
Combining all these functions in a single watch requires exceptional watchmaking skills but this is not the only challenge. In fact, not always grande complication watches are aesthetically balanced due to the difficulty of harmonising many indications in a limited area.
While there are several other wristwatches that offer even even more functions, there are not many that can compete with these three extraordinary timepieces - all created in the 1990s - in terms of design beauty.
Presented in 1991, the Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication features a one-minute tourbillon regulator, a perpetual calendar with moon phases and moon age, a co-axial split seconds chronograph and a minute repeater activated by the slide on the band.
The 18-karat gold movement bridges and solid while gold automatic rotor of Calibre 1735 are meticulously hand-engraved with Clous de Paris decoration. The platinum case has a size of 42 mm and a total thickness of 16.5 mm.
Requiring over ten months of work of a watchmaker master, the Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication was produced in just 30 pieces from 1991 to 2009, when the last example of the 30 left the factory.
In 1993, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the brand, IWC replied to Blancpain with the renowned Il Destriero Scafusia. Following the already exceptional Grand Complication created by IWC in 1990, the Destriero Scafusia went further integrating tourbillon, minute repeater, perpetual calendar with moon phases and four digit year, and split-seconds chronograph.
The hand-wound Calibre 18680 was based on a Valjoux 7750, keeping some elements of the original gear train and chronograph module, and it was richly decorated in relief.
Like the Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication, the IWC Il Destriero Scafusia has a diameter of just 42 mm (42.2 to be precise), a remarkable achievement for such a complicated watch. Thickness is 18 mm.
IWC produced only 125 examples of Il Destriero Scafusia between 1993 and 1999, most of them in yellow gold, some in platinum. A few unique pieces with black dials or gem-set cases were also made.
The Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Grande Complication Automatique was unveiled in 1995 with minutes repetition, perpetual calendar, moon phases and split seconds chronograph in a 42 mm diameter case with a thickness of just 14 mm.
The automatic winding Audemars Piguet Calibre 2885, with 52 jewels and hand decorated rose gold skeletonized rotor, is also used for the Royal Oak Grande Complication as well as for the Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication. The Jules Audemars Grande Complication Automatique is still produced with sapphire dial and white indicators.
We believe that these three exceptional timepieces still remain three of the very best grande complication wristwatches for technical excellence, proportions, wearability and visual appeal.
Sometimes the definition "grande complication" is applied quite generically to watches that combine complicated functions like minute repetition, perpetual calendar or other astronomic indications but in this article we adhere to the definition which most experts agree on, i.e. a watch that contains at least the following master complications: a) minute repetition, b) perpetual calendar with moon phases, and c) split-seconds (rattrapante) chronograph.
Combining all these functions in a single watch requires exceptional watchmaking skills but this is not the only challenge. In fact, not always grande complication watches are aesthetically balanced due to the difficulty of harmonising many indications in a limited area.
While there are several other wristwatches that offer even even more functions, there are not many that can compete with these three extraordinary timepieces - all created in the 1990s - in terms of design beauty.
Presented in 1991, the Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication features a one-minute tourbillon regulator, a perpetual calendar with moon phases and moon age, a co-axial split seconds chronograph and a minute repeater activated by the slide on the band.
The 18-karat gold movement bridges and solid while gold automatic rotor of Calibre 1735 are meticulously hand-engraved with Clous de Paris decoration. The platinum case has a size of 42 mm and a total thickness of 16.5 mm.
In 1993, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the brand, IWC replied to Blancpain with the renowned Il Destriero Scafusia. Following the already exceptional Grand Complication created by IWC in 1990, the Destriero Scafusia went further integrating tourbillon, minute repeater, perpetual calendar with moon phases and four digit year, and split-seconds chronograph.
The hand-wound Calibre 18680 was based on a Valjoux 7750, keeping some elements of the original gear train and chronograph module, and it was richly decorated in relief.
Like the Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication, the IWC Il Destriero Scafusia has a diameter of just 42 mm (42.2 to be precise), a remarkable achievement for such a complicated watch. Thickness is 18 mm.
IWC produced only 125 examples of Il Destriero Scafusia between 1993 and 1999, most of them in yellow gold, some in platinum. A few unique pieces with black dials or gem-set cases were also made.
The Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Grande Complication Automatique was unveiled in 1995 with minutes repetition, perpetual calendar, moon phases and split seconds chronograph in a 42 mm diameter case with a thickness of just 14 mm.
The automatic winding Audemars Piguet Calibre 2885, with 52 jewels and hand decorated rose gold skeletonized rotor, is also used for the Royal Oak Grande Complication as well as for the Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication. The Jules Audemars Grande Complication Automatique is still produced with sapphire dial and white indicators.
We believe that these three exceptional timepieces still remain three of the very best grande complication wristwatches for technical excellence, proportions, wearability and visual appeal.
