stang Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 I'm curious what are everyone's favorite complications are and why? Also, what do you think the most useful complications are? Finally, what are your favorite watch features (WR, bezels, casebacks, lights, straps, etc). My personal favorites are the chronographs ... probably because they look *SO* cool (to be perfectly honest). As far as utility, admittedly, they aren't very practical for everyday use. Ironically, I actually do use my chrono since I'm a scientist and often have to time various events. Of the various "complications" I've owned, the alarms were probably the most useful and utilized most often. I think perpetual calenders are extremely useful on a daily basis as well (though I've never owned one myself). As for features, I insist on a very water resistant watch for sports activities. I prefer diver models because of the W.R. and the timing bezel (which I find useful for timing in general). A dream watch would have tritium illumination or Superluminova as a 2nd choice. I also like the look of polished steel w/ perhaps a bit of gold-plated "bling". BTW, if I ever do spend $2000 on a watch, it will probably be the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Chronograph. A toughness engineering masterpiece. ETA 7750, 7500g shock resistant, 12,000 A/m antimagnetic, 300M water res, -40oC temp range & 30 Tritium GTLS. Soooo Coooolll!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 Minute repeater is one of my favorite complications... For sheer complexity of function, and also in achieving the right tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkerouac Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 GMT hand. Although chronos are sexier, and might be more useful in a greater variety of scenarios, the truth is that GMT hands provide me with the greatest payback on a day in day out basic, at least once you get beyond basic day and date functions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavor flav Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 i'm with randy on this one....minute repeater for sure. overall i like basic handwind watches with very simple movements that i can easily service myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takashi Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 Chrono with day date like in IWC GST is my daily choice. I use the chrono to time various things such as when to collect my laundry, etc... The day date is important as these are basic necessities to keep myself aware of time. I am spoiled by sweeping second hands too... So most quartz watches just don't make a cut anymore. The watch should be at least has 28,800 bph to ensure smooth sweeping second Hell... even my desk clock are mechanical 8 days clock. Talking about complications, adding at least 7 days power reserve, a GMT hand, alarm, perpetual calendar and moonphase won't do any harm too... Sonerie is not yet my type (maybe wait till I'm in my 40s or 50s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yt74 Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Date, I just don't wear my no date watches that often because of the lack of knowing what the hell day it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Date is a basic necessity for work week wear. True perpetual calendar is my favorite complication. Chronos get a lot of use... I guess I like them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdkno Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Might sound like an idiot here but what is a minute repeater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corgi Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Power Reserve wins favorite! year-indicator wins most useful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertk Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Definitely the Minute repeater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Power Reserve wins favorite! year-indicator wins most useful! I know i can never remember what year it is??????????????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new & improved osteopath Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 1) Tourbillion 2) Minute repeater 3) Chronograph 4) Perpetual calendar Not neccessarily in that order. -O And oh yeah, 5) Warp drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stang Posted February 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Hmmmm, Very interesting. Seems like the minute repeater takes the most votes. In response to jdkno's question, I believe a minute repeater is a watch which "chimes" out the current time whenever a button/lever is activated. First, the # of hours is chimed, then the 1/4 hour (i.e. 0-14 min = 1st qtr, 15-29 min = 2nd qtr, etc.) and finally the # minutes past the 1/4 hour. So, basically three sets of chimes in a row (w/ pauses in between or different tones I suppose). If I got this wrong, please correct me. I believe the minute repeater was an early attempt to tell the time in the dark (before radium, tritium, superluminova, etc). Now it's basically a very fancy, very complicated, very cool type of movement. I'm curious if there are any replicas w/ minute repeater capability. I know I've seen some tourbillons and some perpetual calenders (quartz probably) as reps, but not any MRs. As for the GMT, I like the way you can use it as a compass. Actually, you can use any watch as a compass by mental calculation of where the GMT hand *would be* if the watch had one ... but it's not a quick thought. I think my next watch will be a perpetual calender (w/ day, date, month, year, LY) + alarm in a "diver" version. If I can find one that is. Thanks for the feedback! Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FasTTaP Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 a replica minute repreater? not yet... but who knows, it might be comming one day, after all, chinese tourbillon are here, and they're pretty cool (and cheap). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Why does everyone always like the complication they don't have? Anyone here have a minute repeater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 No minute repeater here... But I would love to have one someday! Maybe the Chronoswiss Répétition à quarts, as the price is almost reasonable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalcranium Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Might sound like an idiot here but what is a minute repeater? A minute repeater is a mechanical watch that uses a series of chimes to announce the time of day when a button is pushed. Quote from wikipedia " The minute repeater works like the quarter-repeater. The main difference is that the minutes that have passed after the last quarter are struck rapidly with the help of a high-tone bell. If, for example, the time is 11:58 then the minute repeater will signal 11 low tones followed by 3 series of high-and-low tones and 13 fast high tones." Obviously, a complication left over from before luminous hands and hour markers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.