Mon, Oct 17, 2016
Several of the world’s most exclusive timepieces will go on display for the first time in Dubai at Salon des Grandes Complications (SDGC), which runs from November 7 to 10 at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in Dubai, UAE.
This year, more than 25 high-profile brands, including A Lange & Söhne, Vacheron Constantin, Louis Moinet, Parmigiani, Dewitt, Armin Strom, Arnold & Son, Roger Dubuis, Rebellion, Erwin Sattler, William Wagner, Kerbedanz and CVSTOS, will display their most coveted timepieces at the salon, many of which are being showcased in the Middle East for the first time.
The previous edition of the Salon des Grandes Complications attracted over 1,400 watch collectors, enthusiasts and high-net-worth individuals. This year, organisers aim to increase footfall by a further 50 per cent.
Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar
This timepiece combines two classic complications with the iconic design of A Lange & Söhne’s most famous watch family. Time indicated in hours, minutes and subsidiary seconds; tourbillon with patented stop-seconds mechanism; perpetual calendar with outsize date, day of week, month and leap year; day/night indicator; moon-phase display. The mechanism is designed in such a way that it must be advanced only by one day in the year 2100. And the moon-phase display, located inside the subsidiary seconds dial, will even run true for 122.6 years before it needs to be corrected by one day.
The Price: $352,900
Constant Force Tourbillon
Arnold & Son’s Constant Force Tourbillon features a patented device with 60-second tourbillon and the brand’s True Beat seconds complication. The symmetrical movement architecture of the watch’s movement seen on the dial is tribute to the firm’s historic marine chronometers. At the top, two visible mainspring barrels and the constant force device provide optimal power to the tourbillon at the bottom of the dial.
For Constant Force Tourbillon, dual time comes with dual tourbillons. Two mainspring barrels power the gear train. But unlike other similar mechanisms, this timepiece’s mechanism drives the running seconds in a jumping fashion. The sub dial at 7 o'clock ticks while the tourbillon at 5 o'clock sweeps on its axis. The edition is limited to 28 pieces.
The Price: $197,500
Prometheus T3000
Rebellion’s Prometheus T3000 timepiece is the point horology meets jewellery meets racing cars. The angular design allows the wearer to enjoy the details of its unique original winding mechanism with six spring barrels (à la six cylinders in a racing car). The watch is made of aerospace alloy avional to reduce weight, and everything is visible through the massive sapphire crystal. Apart from the design, the T3000 boasts of a power reserve of a massive 1,000 hours (almost 42 days). In addition, the case allows for the machinery to be seen. The edition is limited to 25 pieces.
The Price: $1,287,750
Academia Tourbillon Force Constante à Chaîne Jewellery
The Academia Tourbillon Force Constante à Chaîne is a typical Dewitt timepiece, featuring the famous 24 “imperial columns” around the caseband and its notched bezel. First unveiled in 2006, the watch answered the age-old question about how to ensure a perfectly regular transmission of energy to the mechanism. This timepiece takes that mechanism even further with a system that relays energy to its associated power reserve indicator. Its futuristic looks belie the timepiece’s link with horology’s past, making the present perfect with the innovations made to the complications it boasts. The edition is limited to 99 pieces.
The Price: $632,500
Tourbillon Gravity Fire
Armin Strom uses skeletonising to perfection to offer a unique take on the balance between mechanics and aesthetics. Its new Tourbillon Gravity Fire combines a one-minute rotating tourbillon and an automatic winding system that utilises a micro rotor. Time is indicated in hours, minutes and small seconds while the Gravity Date edition also has a date display with day/night indication. Armin Strom’s skeletonised watches show the entire mechanism in a way that anybody who checks the time will always see the beauty of the technology. Both the one-minute rotating tourbillon and the micro-rotor are shown off on the dial side of the watch, giving a full view of what is going on inside. The edition is limited to 50 pieces.
The Price: $148,000
Mosaic Sonata
A unique timepiece in which German mechanical precision meets Italian micro mosaic art, this Erwin Sattler timepiece is a pendulum clock and not a wristwatch. In addition to its pleasant chime, the clock also has a hand-painted moon phase display. The pendulum of the Mosaic Sonata is equipped with temperature and air-pressure compensation. The gold-plated gear train, with a 30-day power reserve, is fully fitted with ball bearings and jewel bearings, while the classic Graham escapement is embellished with agate pallets.
The warm sound of the long tubular gong, hidden in the back of the case, will fill the owner’s house every half-hour. The back of the case, cornice (cover and bottom plate) are all personalised with mosaic, as are the dial and the weight sleeve.
The Price: $272,300
Challenge Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sport Titanium
In the Challenge RMT-S, Cvstos combines two ingenious watchmaking complications within this timepiece, the minute repeater and the tourbillon. The watch’s sapphire crystal dial and crystal back elegantly showcase the minute repeater and the flying tourbillon as they waltz in perfect sync. In an extraordinary illustration of the fine art of watchmaking, by pressing the push-piece at 9 o'clock, the wearer can instantly change time into music, and the timepiece chimes the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. A safety device indicating the operation of the movement helps prevent any false manoeuvres that might damage the functioning of this complex mechanism.
The Price: $272,300
Seasons
The appeal of a fine decorative wall or table clock goes well beyond mere time-telling or punctuality, and nothing says ‘horological luxe’ quite like a bespoke piece, like the Seasons limited edition pendulum from William Wagner Geneva.
Working alongside a group of exceptional, independent craftsmen, each with a distinctive style, CEO William Wagner Geneva creates bespoke timekeepers and writing instruments. He handpicks the artists he collaborates with, based on his personal experience and love of their craftsmanship. Among the master craftsmen creating custom-built pieces for Geneva is Jean Kazes, the Guinness World Record-holder for the world’s largest clock pendulum.
The price: $68,000.
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