A guide to watch complications

Complications are additional functions in mechanical watches that go beyond the mere display of the time. A distinction is made between the so-called small complications, such as the date, day of the week or a second time zone, and the large complications, which are much more difficult to produce. The latter include the perpetual calendar, the minute repeater, and the tourbillon. Such grand complications are the pinnacle of haute horlogerie and only the most talented watchmakers in the manufactures put together the individual parts of these complicated movements.

Here, we will introduce you to some complications that are often confused - even by watch enthusiasts:

Chronograph:

The chronograph is used to measure time periods. These can be up to several hours and sometimes as precise as to hundredths of a second. One or more pushers on the side of the case are used for this. In addition, thanks to the scale on the bezel, further calculations can be evaluated:

• Pulsometer: to measure a person’s heart rate
• Tachymeter: to measure speed over a known distance
• Telemeter: to measure the distance to a thunderstorm

Chronographs can also have other special features:

• Double chronograph: Also known as a rattrapante or split-seconds chronograph. It allows lap or split times to be recorded and is therefore more commonly found on the racetrack. A second seconds counter can be decoupled using a third pusher to stop it, so that when you press the pusher again, the stopped hand catches up with the one that is still running. “Rattraper” is the French word for “to catch up again”.
• Flyback: This mechanism originally comes from military aviation. It shortens the stopwatch process in that you don’t have to stop and reset the current measurement first. This means that you can immediately reset the pointer to zero with the second pusher. As soon as you let go of it, a new measurement begins.

Chronographs are one of the most popular complications due to their sporty design and practical use.

The difference between a chronograph and a chronometer:

The terms ‘chronograph’ and ‘chronometer’ sound similar, but they represent completely different types of watches. A chronometer refers to an officially tested watch that is tested for 15 days and certified as complying with the COSC standard. 

Calendar:

With regards to the calendar, there are different types of calendar watches that display information on the dial. They are divided into the following complications:

• Full calendar: This watch shows the day of the week, the date, the month and often also the moon phase. The date automatically always runs to 31, so you have to correct the clock 5 times a year.
• Annual calendar: This watch distinguishes which months have 30 and which have 31 days. However, once a year, at the end of February, you have to correct the date manually.
• Leap year calendar: As the name suggests, the calendar only needs to be adjusted once per leap year, i.e. every 1461 days, because it recognizes February as only having 28 days.
• Perpetual calendar: The most difficult complication of the calendar takes even the leap years into account, and this at least until the year 2100. Most of the time, all the information is displayed, such as the date, day of the week, month, year, and the moon phase. When taken into consideration that this all must be programmed mechanically, one realizes this is pure fine craftsmanship.

Minute repeater:

The minute repeater is probably the most complex function of mechanical watches. When you press a slide-piece, the time is chimed acoustically. This function was especially useful before the days when luminous material was used on the hands and indices of a watch to make the time legible in the dark. For the minute repeater, the watches have a chiming mechanism that uses two small hammers to strike tones at different pitches for hours, quarter hours and minutes.

The difference between the Grande Sonnerie and the Petite Sonnerie:

In comparison to the minute repeater, the Sonnerie automatically indicates the time using a striking mechanism without having to operate a slider. The Grande Sonnerie strikes the hours with a low tone and the quarter hours every 15 minutes. The Petite Sonnerie only strikes the time on the hour. You can also switch off the Sonnerie using a push button.

These complications, which create sound from such a small space, are truly the epitome of fine watchmaking.

Text by Caroline Landolt, WatchCollector Product Specialist