A simple clock shows the time. Exact, not really - it depends on the mechanism and the master-manufacturer (or the company - today it will be more correct). The term "complication" has been used since about 1770, when the master of the "Vacheron" company built in the watch additional functions accompanying a simple measurement of time, and "designated" them using the same term.
Since then, such complications have been developed by many watchmakers. And why not come up with: here and the central second hand, and the second time zone, world time, automatic winding, power reserve indicator, retrograde indication, chronograph, tourbillon … Some useful, some beautiful.
But how many such complications can be placed in a wrist watch, or at least in a pocket? And the master-specialists of the same company “Vacheron Constantin”, with which the history of “complications” begins, assemble the amazing Reference 57260 watch. Fifty-seven complications of the movement are placed inside the case, and so far this is a record (the previous one was equal to thirty-three additional functions at Patek Philippe Caliber 89).
Of course, such watches are assembled by hand, and each of the two thousand eight hundred parts is also assembled, processed, polished by hand. And this is certified by the personal mark of the Chief Master “Vacheron Constantin”. The watch case (made, among other things, of white gold), with a diameter of ninety-eight mm and a thickness of fifty and a half mm, contains dials on both sides.
The movement contains two hundred forty-two "stones" Caliber 3750, operates at a frequency of two and a half Hz and can work sixty hours in one plant.
Promotional video:
Fifty-seven complications are broken down into groups and contain both simple timing functions of six different types (plus astronomical calculations of equinoxes, solstices, moon phases …) as well as rendering functions for some particularly complex calendars. And they also consist of many additional functions, including an alarm clock simulating Big Ben (with control of the battle volume).
The cost of such watches is difficult to determine, since even the amount announced by the watchmakers of the company will not be "real". The preliminary estimate of $ 5 million will jump at the sale at times. After all, the same Patek Philippe Caliber 89 was bought from twenty-four million% (this is the cost of the minimum sold copy).
