Alert: Record-Breaking Watches Spotted on the First Day of Watches and Wonders 2024!
It’s only the beginning of the craziest watch week of the year, and already, three timepieces have shattered records and redefined what we thought was possible in the world of haute horlogerie.
By Ash Longet
PR & Business Development
Not even a full day in, and it seems like Watches and Wonders 2024 has blasted off into the stratosphere, leaving behind any notion of mundanity.
How is this possible? Because three brands – Vacheron Constantin, Bulgari, and Piaget – have set new world records, unveiling the most complicated watch ever produced, the thinnest mechanical watch in the world (and the first to be COSC-certified), and the world’s slimmest flying tourbillon, respectively.
I bet you are as impatient as I am, so let’s dive right into the mind-blowing details of these record-breaking marvels.
Vacheron Constantin The Berkley Grand Complication
Vacheron Constantin isn’t just pushing boundaries; they’re obliterating them with The Berkley Grand Complication, the most complicated pocket watch ever produced.
This pocket watch isn’t just complicated; it’s a downright labyrinth of horological mastery, boasting a mind-boggling 63 complications, including the world’s first perpetual Chinese calendar!
Fun Fact: Chinese calendar complications are among the most difficult calendar complications to master because of the calendar’s lunisolar nature. In fact, when Parmigiani Fleurier released the Tonda PF Xiali Calendar watch at last year’s Watches and Wonders, many media outlets speculated that creating a perpetual Chinese calendar complication was most likely impossible. We guess Vacheron Constantin didn’t get the memo.
With all that in mind, it isn’t surprising that Vacheron Constantin poured eleven years of blood, sweat, and tears into crafting this horological gem. The calibre 3757 is a beast of engineering, housing an unbelievable 2877 components to keep track of not only of the Chinese perpetual calendar but also of the Chinese agricultural calendar.
This achievement underscores Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to innovation and the brand’s unique ability to cater to bespoke demands, as demonstrated by Les Cabinotiers department’s responsiveness to its commissioner’s unprecedented requests. Vacheron Constantin, take a bow – you’ve outdone yourself yet again.
Stay tuned to Watchonista’s Instagram page, as we will be releasing later today a whole in-depth video about the most complicated watch ever produced in the history of watchmaking.
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC
Bulgari celebrates a decade of the Octo Finissimo family with a remarkable gift for enthusiasts: the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC, a timepiece that takes the title of the thinnest mechanical watch ever made and claims a ninth world record in the Octo Finissimo saga.
Measuring an astonishing 1.7mm thick, the Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC watch not only surpasses its predecessor, Richard Mille’s 1.75mm-thin UP-01 Ferrari, but it also secures COSC certification, a first for the Ultra collection and such a thin caliber overall.
Achieving this feat required innovative engineering; thus, Bulgari’s engineers transformed the caseback into a main plate that could serve as the base for assembling the 170 components of the hand-wound BVL180 manufacture calibre (all of which were selected using a 1/10-micron optical measuring system to ensure precision beyond expectation).
Is this the new ultra-thin champion in town? Before you decide, check out the third record-breaking timepiece.
Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon
Piaget isn’t content with merely celebrating its 150th anniversary by releasing new heritage-inspired watches (although the brand has done that); it’s rewriting the rulebook with the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon, the thinnest flying tourbillon ever made.
This watch is the epitome of sleek sophistication, boasting a thickness of only 2mm. And although it is the same thickness as its predecessor (which was introduced in 2018), this time, Piaget has gone ahead and added a flying tourbillon complication into the mix without adding to the timepiece’s overall thickness. Obviously, we are talking about a new world record.
This accomplishment required redesigning 90% of the original Altiplano Ultimate Concept’s components, along with the development of new machinery. Yet, Piaget manages to keep the proportions highly wearable, with a 41.5mm case size rendered in a cobalt alloy treated with a stunning blue PVD coating, enhancing the watch’s elegant allure.
Stay tuned to Watchonista for all your Watches and Wonders 2024 news!