More than a simple stopwatch
A WATCH that tells the time is one thing. A watch that tells the time, the date, the temperature and has an alarm and stopwatch is – well, child’s play in the world of digital technology, but really rather impressive in a hand-made, hand-wound mechanical piece.
It’s not for nothing that such features on mechanical watches are called complications.
The most common complication is the chronograph – basically a stopwatch function. Smaller dials will measure seconds, minutes and sometimes hours, while allowing for endless variations on the theme.
Of course if you need an accurate stopwatch you can use your phone, but to dismiss chronographs on that basis is to miss the point. Chronographs, thanks to those smaller dials, are aesthetically beautiful, stylistically sophisticated and the basic benchmark of the engineering complexity which defines haute horlogerie.
JAEGER-LE COULTRE DUOMETRE CHRONOGRAPH
A supremely smart watch employing Jaeger-Le Coultre’s “dual-wing” mechanism, containing two independent power reserves.
£25,550 www.jaeger-lecoultre.com
HERMES ARCEAU EBONY
A watch mixing chronograph functionality with classic Hermes elegance, including the trademark sloping numerals of the Arceau range.
£3,180 www.hermes.com
Breguet classique
Mayfair shop William & Son on Mount Street is now selling watches from the prestigious Breguet brand. This tidy number, with indented enamel face and spiralling red tachometer dial, may just be the pick of the bunch.
£27,500 www.williamandson.com
ZENITH STRIKING 10TH EL PRIMERO
Having been a pioneer in chronograph movements, Zenith has raised the bar further with this watch, the second hand of which actually moves in tenths of a second.
£6,995 www.zenith-watches.com
A LANGE & SOHNE 1815
We love the crisp, flowing design, smart colours and the cool “flyback” functionality of the German company’s brand new chronograph.
£28,500
www.alange-soehne.com
PATEK PHILIPPE REF 5170J
Newly released this year, Patek’s new chronograph is a true connoisseur’s piece, with its clean stylings in yellow gold and the classical beauty of the watch face.
£46,560 www.patek.com
MONTBLANC STAR 4810
Once known only for its fountain pens, Montblanc has successfully navigated its way into the world of luxury watches, as this rather suave chronograph shows.
£11,200 www.montblanc.com