Automatic Watches
The Most Complicated Watch Movements Ever Made
By Argos Watches
If you like watches, you've probably been asked why you don't just use your phone for the time. You probably have a good answer ready. We know that mechanical watches are much more than just telling time, even though they use old technology. Very detailed mechanical watches show this best. While more people are using digital watches, some watchmakers still focus on gears and springs. These are some of the best examples of their work.
Let's look at some of the most complicated watch parts ever made. These watches show amazing skill and design.
Let's look at some of the most complicated watch parts ever made. These watches show amazing skill and design.
A Watch That Kept Getting Better: The Story of the Superbia Humanitatis
It showed up again in 1992. Franck Muller, a famous watchmaker, had worked on it, and his name is still on the front. Muller added things like a calendar that works forever, a moon phase, a way to see the difference between the time the sun is highest and the clock time, another time zone, and even a thermometer. This made the number of parts go up to 651. The watch was also put in a platinum case and got a silver face.
The person who owned the watch, Willy Ernst Sturzenegger, thought it could be even better. He asked Paul Gerber, a watchmaker who was willing to try new things. Gerber kept the watch the same size, kept its special part that controls time, and kept the sound of its chimes. He was asked to add a spinning part called a flying tourbillon. This took three more years and 121 more parts, making the total 772. Sturzenegger had more ideas. He wanted a stopwatch feature. Gerber added a special kind of stopwatch, bringing the total number of parts to 1,116. This made it a world record in 2005 for the watch with the most parts. Later, the watch was sold, and the new owner asked Gerber to take it apart and check every single part. Paul Gerber spent 23 years working on this one watch. It's a truly amazing story of hard work.
Celebrating Watchmaking: The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime
Patek Philippe is known as one of the best watch companies. They make some of the most detailed and special watches. For their 175th birthday in 2014, they announced the Grandmaster Chime. Only seven of these very special watches were made. It took Patek Philippe over 100,000 hours to make each one. The gold case is decorated beautifully. The watch is so detailed that it needs two faces to show everything clearly. Patek Philippe made the case able to turn around so you can see both sides easily while wearing it.
Inside is the Calibre 300. It's a hand-wound part with 20 special features and 1,366 small pieces. This watch can do almost anything: tell the time, make sounds for the time, make sounds for the date, show how much power it has left, show different time zones, and show the moon phase, among other things.
Space on Your Wrist: The Vacheron Constantin Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication
Even with all this, it's only 13.6mm thick and 45mm across. This is because of the Calibre 3600. This part is only 36mm wide and 8.7mm high, but it can run for three weeks without winding because it has six springs. This means you don't have to wind it all the time, showing how skilled Vacheron Constantin is.
A New Way to Make Complex Watches: The Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4
Sometimes people ask why Audemars Piguet is considered one of the best watchmakers. They often just see different versions of their Royal Oak watch. But their newest research watch, the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4, proves they are very skilled. It has 23 special features inside the new AP Calibre 1000 part. This part winds itself and has a stopwatch that can measure very short times, plus a calendar that works forever and a spinning tourbillon.
It's amazing that they fit 1,155 parts into a 42x15.5mm Code 11.59 case. It took seven years to make and includes a minute repeater that can make different chime sounds and also be silent. All 40 things this watch can do are controlled by three buttons on the side. It comes in four styles. The RD#4 is a modern watch that doesn't look like older, more detailed watches from Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin. It shows that Audemars Piguet is one of the best watchmakers in the world.
A Famous Competition: The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
In the late 1920s, people say that two very rich watch collectors were having a quiet competition. James Ward Packard, who made cars, had asked for a very detailed watch to be made. But Henry Graves Jr., a rich banker, wanted an even more detailed one. He asked Patek Philippe to make the most detailed watch ever. He got it in 1933: the Henry Graves Supercomplication.
This watch has 24 special features made of 920 parts. It's in a big, 74mm wide gold case. It weighs over half a kilogram and is still called a pocket watch. Its features include a calendar that works forever, a moon phase, two stopwatches, indicators for when the sun rises and sets, Westminster chimes, two faces, and even a map of the stars in the sky as seen from New York City. Only one was ever made, and for many years, it was thought to be the most detailed watch ever. Since Graves died, the watch has been sold four times. It was last sold for a record $24 million in 2014.
The Most Detailed Watch Ever: The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Berkley Grand Complication
Finally, we have the current record holder: the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Berkley Grand Complication. Shown in 2024, the Berkley Grand Complication not only has the most special features ever in a watch with 63, but it also solved a long-standing problem in watchmaking: making a calendar that works forever for the complex Chinese calendar.
This is a very important achievement in watchmaking. We have seen calendars that work forever for the normal Gregorian calendar, but making one for the Chinese calendar had been a challenge until the Berkley.
The Art of Timekeeping: Introducing the Argos Olympus
At Argos Watch, we believe that a timepiece is more than just a tool—it’s a masterpiece. Watches are miniature works of art, blending design, craftsmanship, and innovation into something truly extraordinary. They represent the highest level of watchmaking, proving that in an era of digital convenience, the allure of mechanical precision remains unmatched.
That passion is what drives us, and it’s what led to the creation of our latest timepiece: the Argos Olympus. A watch that pushes the boundaries of artistry and engineering, the Olympus embodies timeless elegance and cutting-edge mechanics. Each intricate component is a tribute to the dedication and skill that define true watchmaking excellence.
While not everyone may own a watch of this caliber, we believe that appreciating the craftsmanship behind it is just as rewarding.
Experience the art of watchmaking. Discover the Argos Olympus today.
That passion is what drives us, and it’s what led to the creation of our latest timepiece: the Argos Olympus. A watch that pushes the boundaries of artistry and engineering, the Olympus embodies timeless elegance and cutting-edge mechanics. Each intricate component is a tribute to the dedication and skill that define true watchmaking excellence.
While not everyone may own a watch of this caliber, we believe that appreciating the craftsmanship behind it is just as rewarding.
Experience the art of watchmaking. Discover the Argos Olympus today.
