Ever wondered what complications in watches are all about? Well, today is indeed your lucky day. We shall be delving into complications in watches. In the process, we shall bequeath you much-needed answers concerning complications in watches.

What is a complication in watches?

A watch in its basic form is built and intended for telling time. Letting you tell what hour, minute and second of the day it is. Furthermore, today’s watches have numerous functions that are added on to them. These special functions are added on to watches for the wearers benefit, improving as well as making the wearer’s life simpler. It is these additional functions in watches that referred to as complications.

The design complexity and detailed creation process often depend on the complications that are built into a watch. More complications entail complexity and intricate detailing, in addition to, the standard watch movement. Plenty of complications exist today, ranging from the simplest of date displays to the complex like the tourbillion. Watches with complex and detailed complications are a collector’s item.  The sheer innovative design genius, complex workings plus skill and precision that goes into making these watches is why they are highly sought after.

Technology has made huge advances in recent times. Consequently, we have seen the rise of GPS enabled watches with Bluetooth synch technology. However, a quick peek at the back of these watches won’t leave you amazed or awestruck. The computer chip and battery aren’t much to look at really.

Conversely, complicated watches are something else altogether. A look at the case back of these watches is a completely different visual experience. The precise ingenuity and technical innovation greet you. A symphony of tiny gears, springs, and Jewels work to deliver incredible functions. These functions are specially assembled by the highly skilled hands and not just any other computer chip. 

Watch complications come in various types. It is at this junction we take it a notch higher. We shall go into the types of complications looking at each in more detail.

So what are you waiting for? Read on!

What are the different types of Complications in Watches?

1. Date Complications

The Date Complication stands as the most simple of the complications available in watches. Date complications come in a variety of types and sub-types. Read here for more.

2. Calendar Complications

Calendar complications exist in addition to the date complications already mentioned. These complications offer the watch wearer accurate display the month of the year. Nonetheless, in some scenarios, they are considered as not so popular while some may deem them kind of irrelevant. Regardless of this, they still are complications worth knowing about. Read more here.

3. Chronograph Complications

Chronograph complications are functionalities of a timepiece that enables it to work as a stopwatch. The tag chronograph is synonymous with a stopwatch. You will conveniently measure time intervals without interfering with the time-telling function of your valued timepiece. Read more here.

4. Power Reserve Complications

The power reserve complication displays the amount of energy that the watch has in its mainspring and for how long the movement will continue to run without winding. The power reserve complication is special and unique to mechanical watches. Read more here.

5. Moon Phase

The moon phase complication tracks the moon’s current phase during the lunar cycle. The complication gives the watch wearer a visual indicator of a quarter, half, full or new moon.

The moon phase has become one of the sought after complications by many a watch enthusiast. The appeal of the moon phase amongst its admirers comes from a variety of reasons. Read more here.

6. Time Zone

Time zone complications offer an ingenious way of time management across multiple regions on the globe. The time zone complication is a very handy feature as it puts you at a great advantage while traveling across different time zones. Read more here.

7. Minute Repeater

Any avid watch enthusiast will attest to the marvel that is the minute repeater complication. In the art of watchmaking minute repeaters represent one of the greatest marvels ever conceived. When the slide lever on the watch case is pressed, a series of chimes ring out from the timepiece. Read more here.

8. Tourbillon

All mechanical watches consists of an escapement which can be termed as the ‘brain’ of the timepiece. The escapement also includes a hairspring affixed onto a balance wheel that swivels back and forth with each swivel linked to a tick on the timepiece which keeps timekeeping in mechanical watches running. Read more here.