15 Watches That Do More Than Tell Time

Text by Simone Louis

From artistic magnificence to chronographs and calendars, we’re savouring our monthly exploration of every avenue in the world of watchmaking. This time, Verve sheds light on astronomical and striking complications – namely the perpetual calendar, moon phase and minute repeater

PERPETUAL CALENDAR
Many watches have a date indication, usually in the form of a small window in the dial, while some have a day-of-the-week display too. The perpetual calendar has both of these and a bonus feature — it only needs to be adjusted once a century. Yes, you read that right. One of the most useful complications in horology, it enables one to track the date, day of the week, month, year and even leap year with an unparalleled ease.

ULYSSE NARDIN
The specially treated, highly durable steel case of the Marine Perpetual reveals genuine diamonds paired with rubber — a true fusion of extremes. Reinforcing its maritime history, every timepiece in this collection reveals an iconic wave pattern on the face.

A. LANGE & SÖHNE
The argenté-coloured subsidiary dials and deep-blue moon disc of the Datograph Perpetual stand out, thanks to the dial’s subtle grey background. The timepiece features a flyback chronograph and a perpetual calendar, which will not require correction until 2100.

PIAGET
The Emperador Coussin XL Perpetual Calendar houses the 856P ultra-thin complication movement, which combines a double time-zone display and a perpetual calendar with retrograde displays for the date and the days. Its black mother-of-pearl dial is highlighted by a halo of diamonds, which also adorns the hour-markers, the rim of the sapphire case-back, the clasp and even the oscillating weight.

HERMÈS
The Slim d’Hermès Perpetual Calendar, as you can see, also features a moon-phase dial and a dual-time display. Designed by Philippe Delhotal, creative director of La Montre Hermès, the watch testifies to the graphic approach of the house through the original typography created by Philippe Apeloig and used to mark the hours.

ROLEX
The brand’s most prestigious model, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date features a sleek 40-mm case encompassing a new mechanical movement — calibre 3255 — which sets a new standard for chronometric performance. Along with updated lugs, middle cases, and a redesigned ‘presidential’ bracelet, the watch flaunts updated dial colors while retaining its classic allure.

Haute Wrists: