Each day I have given you a photo of a Grand Complication watch - a mechanical device with many features all fitted into one case. Today I am offering a Patek Philippe watch said to be the most complex in the world:
FEATURES
A unique double-dialed, astronomical and astrological gold pocket watch, with the ability to indicate:
- sidereal time
- second time zone
- time of sunrise and sunset in Geneva
- equation of time
- perpetual calendar
- century leap year correction
- century, decade and year indication
- four-year leap year indication
- season, equinox, solstice and Zodiac indication
- star chart
- phases and age of the moon
- date of Easter indication
- split-seconds chronograph with hour and minute indicators
- Westminster chime on four gongs
- “Grande and Petite Sonnerie” chimes
- alarm
- winding indicators for the time-keeping and striking mainsprings
- three-way setting indicator
- winding crown position indicator
- thermometer with scale in ℃
- tourbillon regulator
- Total weight 1100 g (2.42 lbs)
- Case weight 500 g (1.1 lbs) of 18k gold
- Movement weight 600 g (1.32 lbs) of nickel silver
- Movement diameter 71 mm
- Movement thickness 28 mm
- Case diameter 88 mm
- Case thickness 36.5 mm without crystals
- Case thickness 41 mm with crystals
- Complications 33
- Jeweled bearings 126
- Screws 332
- Gear wheels 184
- Springs 68
- External knobs, slides and levers 12
- Domed sapphire crystals 2
- Dials of silver-plated gold 2
- Indicating gold hands 7
- indicating blued steel hands 16
- Indicating windows 6
- Applied gold numerals 11
- Colors of ink on dial 4
- Time to design and construct - 9 years
- Production run - this is #1 of 4
- Ownership - the watch is in the hands of its 3rd owner since 1989
- Auction sale price in Nov 2009 - 5,120,000 Swiss franc
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