Vox Populi: It’s Complicated

If watches are the steak, watch complications are the sizzle. The inventive mechanical contrivances that extend, amplify, and further perfect wrist-borne time telling are an endless source of personal fascination for most watch lovers. In fact, many of us develop particular affinities (conscious or unconscious) for certain complications, even to the point that a watch without those functions just doesn’t quite cut it anymore.

With that in mind, we approached some of the Watchonista community with this two-part question:

What are your favorite watch complications? And, if you could invent a complication that doesn’t yet exist, what would it do?

With an IG handle like @watchmissgmt, it’s obvious that East Coaster Erika Ratini has already found her be-all-and-end-all of watch complications (“I don’t think I could really choose anything other than a GMT. I mean, come on, my name is Miss GMT!”). Speaking to the whimsy, romance, and utility of the perhaps under-appreciated GMT function, Erika told Watchonista:

“The GMT complication is, of course, very useful, but to me, it means so much more than just showing a second time zone; it’s about connection. It shrinks the world down to a watch on your wrist.
 

“When I’m home, the GMT is a reminder of all the amazing places I’ve been and people I’ve met. I glance to check the time, and it’s right there giving me that gentle nudge to keep exploring. It whispers to me to book that next trip.

“Then, when I’m away, it’s a reminder of home. Even halfway around the world, it will remind me that it’s the perfect time to call my mother and say goodnight. As I start my day and sip my morning coffee, I take another quick glance and know my puppies are safe and asleep for the night.
 

“A few advances of the hour hand or clicks of the bezel, and suddenly you’re in Japan, a few clicks back and your plane is landing back home. The whole time that GMT function keeps you connected. Considering the source, do you really think I could pick anything else?”

A stylish influencer and food scientist, you can connect with Erika Ratini on Instagram @watchmissgmt.

Virginia-based watch writer and writing instructor Chris Antzoulis also carries deeply personal complication preferences and ideas that center around his particular issues with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. His comments take a funny, light view of how complications help him in his complicated life:

“My favorite watch complication is the chronograph, and I’ll be honest, it’s not because I’m out here timing laps at Le Mans. I have ADHD, so a chronograph is basically the world’s snazziest fidget toy.

“That crisp snap of the pusher, then watching as the seconds hand leap forward; it’s like it’s just been set free. Stop. Reset. BAM! Instant dopamine. The good ones have this tactile, mechanical satisfaction that makes you want to keep pressing the pushers just to hear and feel them work
 

“Functionally? I’ve mostly used mine to see how long it takes pasta to boil or to time my dog’s zoomies before the inevitable couch plop. Emotionally? It’s perfect.”

When it came to creating his own sizzle, Chris told us:

“If I could invent a complication, I’d go with something I call the ‘memory bezel.’ Picture a little sub-dial that only comes alive when you twist the bezel. When you do, a little flux capacitor that you can view through the caseback charges up, and the sub-dial shows rudimentary images of little memories: where my friggin’ keys are, my dog’s vet paperwork, where I parked the car.
 

“No beeps, no notifications, just a quiet, mechanically induced bit of time travel (likely to be just mere moments ago) from your wrist saying, ‘Hey, dude, your life is this way.’”

You can find out more about Chris Antzoulis and his activities on Instagram @poppingcrowns.

A dyed-in-the-wool watch fan, diver, and heroic wildland firefighter, the Bay Area’s Asha Wagner has watch preferences that lean into practical data tracking for both personal and professional reasons. After all, when battling a raging outdoor brush or forest fire, timing and weather conditions are more than critical for her; they are a matter of life and death:

“My two favorite watch complications are the dive bezel and the GMT hand. I often use the dive bezel as a backup timer for entries into hazardous materials incidents and for decompression stops during diving, as well as day-to-day timing tasks. I use the GMT hand, of course, when traveling, and then set it to indicate military time when at home.”
 

Given that necessity is the mother of invention, and her need is often great, Asha gave us TWO new complications:

“First, I would like to see a chiming mechanism attached to the dive bezel and, second, a wind-speed indicator. The chiming mechanism would be useful if I’m multitasking and not always looking directly at my watch.

“Wind is the number one factor affecting outdoor fire behavior. We take on-the-spot weather readings at regular intervals to be able to more accurately predict how the fire will spread. So, a wind speed indicator would be a useful complication while fighting wildland fires.”
 

You can get a feel for Asha Wagner’s dramatic life on Instagram @wildlander6.

World traveler and influencer Sophie Cassaro has a particular soft spot for what is probably the most romantic and evocative of all complications: the moonphase. Fascination with our lunar satellite dominates her current complication fascinations:

“My favorite complication (even though I have yet to add to my collection) is probably – no, definitely – is the moonphase indicator; a bit useless, sure, yet it is so hopelessly romantic.

“I often swoon (figuratively, of course) whenever I get the chance to handle one. Just seeing that happy Moon change is so utterly satisfying. I particularly enjoyed the moonphase on Christopher Ward’s C1 line, the first watch I ever reviewed.”
 

Continuing her theme of whimsy, but taking a detour into the land of utility, Cassaro told us:

“The complication I would like to see is just as mystical, yet so much more useful. I would love a complication that predicts the weather somehow. The little symbols changing on the dial depicting the sun, rain, clouds, and so on would be magical.

“I have absolutely no idea how you could achieve this mechanical feat. But if you could figure out a way, it would be like something out of a Harry Potter book. It would be awesome!”
 

Get into Sophie Cassaro’s orbit on Instagram @sophies.watch.world.

If you are an opinionated Watchonista reader interested in sharing your thoughts on a variety of watch topics, please send us an email at contact@watchonista.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!