Basel Review: Complications

by Elizabeth Doerr

Even though many had predicted this year’s BaselWorld might be less interesting than in the past, this editor found it to be more arresting than ever. Complications in every shape and size were to be found at the fair and satellite exhibitions, from perpetual calendars to minute repeaters and everything in between. Here were a few of the notable models.

Harry Winston
Opus 9
No one but Harry Winston would have come up with this: diamonds that tell time. Hiring Jean-Marc Wiederrecht (movement design and realization) and Eric Giroud (design) to develop the Opus 9 was a stroke of genius; this deceptively simple-looking, though complicated, timepiece is a perfect fit to pep up the somber mood of the fiscal year.

Movement: Automatic Frédéric Piguet base movement outfitted with two toothed chains comprising diamonds and garnets, 72 hours power reserve
Functions: Linear display of hours and minutes
Case: 56 mm x 48 mm x 20 mm, white gold and two “tubes” of sapphire crystal
Dial: A chain comprising baguette-cut diamonds displays the hours on the left and minutes on the right using a garnet to depict the current number
Band: Alligator skin strap, white gold buckle
Price: $175,400
Limitation: 100 pieces