Well... in the horological sense, "complication" relates more to what can be achieved mechanically (ie with a spring driven geartrain as opposed to digitally). It actually refers to "a mechanical feature beyond the simple hours, minutes, and seconds movement." The Vacheron et Constantin complication that Superboyac originally posted about is mechanical and features 17 complications including a minute repeater, sunset time, perpetual calendar, second time zone, a tourbillon device, the equation of time and the representation of the night sky. Only 7 were made and retailed for $1.5 million each (chump change!).
Now, how about the most complicated pocket watch? The
Patek-Phillipe Calibre 89
featuring 33 complications. Don't know the price, but the watch from the 30's that inspired it, a one-off built for a NY Banker sold at auction for $11 million... I'll take two (oh, except that there's only one. Details).
Here are the complications that the calibre 89 features:
Day of the month
12-hour recorder
Day of the week
Hour of second time-zone
Moon phase display
Winding crown position indicator
Century decade and year displays
Leap Year Indicator
Power reserve
Month
Thermometer
Date of Easter
Time of sunrise
Equation of time
Star chart
Sun hand
Time of sunset
Split second hand
PS sells for over $6 million. At these firesale prices, I'll take three(assuming they made more than one)!
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