The summer and the back-to-school flurry are a distant memory. Where did the time go? We were fired up to embrace new challenges, but also tempted by the idea of a more leisurely lifestyle, but now the humdrum of daily life has taken over. To inspire us to infuse our everyday existence with creativity, watchmakers have provided us with an extraordinary array of complications, as inventive as they are poetic (bordering on surreal!) and technical.
Time that sings
What better way to tackle your professional duties promptly and efficiently than with a chiming watch? Armin Strom has crafted an astounding Masterpiece 2 Minute Repeater Resonance, merging in-house expertise (in terms of resonance) with the prowess of the Cercle des Horlogers (for the minute repeater mechanism). Your days will be punctuated by a delightfully Swiss sound, inspired by the chimes of the Zytglogge in Bern.
In 2006, Audemars Piguet embarked on an ambitious project in partnership with the EPFL: to dissect what makes a melodious chime, with a view to enhancing it as much as possible. After eight years of research (the project was far from straightforward), the patented Supersonnerie mechanism made its triumphant debut in the world of watchmaking. The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4 makes the most of the discoveries, featuring both a petite and a grande sonnerie. The gongs are attached to the transparent sapphire case back that features a “secret” double structure, creating an ingenious resonator.
A virtual teleportation device
With the Marine Hora Mundi, Breguet simplifies travel, whether real or imagined. This watch cleverly displays the time and date of two different time zones at will, thanks to a mechanical system that memorises and instantly switches between them. The model required no less than three years of development and secured four patents. A simple press of the pusher allows you to toggle between time zones. Here, there. There, here. Instant teleportation.
Embrace the competition!
Work is sometimes about performance. When the race for recognition among rivals is conducted in a spirit of fair play, a dose of professional adrenaline can be quite positive! The chronograph, a popular complication cherished by sports enthusiasts with a competitive streak, features in many brands’ catalogues, even though it is far from easy to construct. Here are three perfect chronos to impress your rivals, whether at work or on the sports field: the De Bethune DB28 Maxichrono, radiating contemporary classicism and featuring a monopusher; the H. Moser Streamliner Flyback Chronograph Automatic version 2.0, with its strikingly ergonomic and aesthetic case and bracelet; and the Time to Race from Louis Moinet, perfect for channelling the positive energy of your “lucky number” in the daily grind.
Celebrate your uniqueness
Do the good vibes of summer seem a distant memory? To continue to boldly present your true self, just as you would on holiday, without pretence or artifice, Urwerk offers display complications that might as well have come from another dimension. The new UR-120 features a planetary hour display (a brand classic) in two parts. Each hour digit is composed of two halves that join together. Before they unite, the two halves perform a “Vulcan salute” (V), a symbol of long life and prosperity. This will not only make you stand out from your peers in a way that presents the “best version of yourself”; it will also make you look incredibly smart.
