mega

Antoine Preziuso Monumental Tourbillon 65mm Wide Watch

Many of you will likely have not heard about the Antoine Preziuso watch brand. They are an interesting breed, catering to the mega-wealthy. New for 2010 is this beast of a timepiece they call the "Monumental Tourbillon" (sometimes called the Mega Tourbillon). The watch has a very interesting case architecture made out of 18k red gold and titanium. It is quite literally a "mega" watch being 65mm wide and 25mm thick (made in Switzerland). I don't think you can quite appreciate that size just seeing the measurement. I personally saw the watch in Geneva and can attest to the fact that it more like a desk clock with a wrist strap than a watch. Yes, I realize that the industry is, and has been about "big and bold," but what exactly is supposed to be impressive about this piece? The watch industry get's excited about the ability to make smaller and smaller pieces, as well as miniaturization. This watch just takes a manually wound tourbillon movement and makes it bigger. I must admit, the mega sized tourbillon carriage is great to watch, but isn't a feat of complexity. The movement has just the time with a subsidiary seconds dial.

This watch is all about design, and the ability to boast that it is the "largest tourbillon watches around." Is it wearable? Not really, but is that the point at all? The style is interesting, but you'll have to strap it around your upper arm for it to look natural. When your friends ask you what the watch is, you can just say Monumental Tourbillon limited edition (of five pieces). I still can't properly pronounce the last work in the Antoine Preziuso brand name. I love the Monumental Tourbillon watch exists and that I got to see it, but I can't ever see myself getting one. Especially at the price, which is 340,000 Swiss Francs. It is literally too little in too large a package.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 65mm watch, Antoine Preziuso, mega, monumental, tourbillon, watch

Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4: Ups State Of World's Most Complex Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Another year and another "world's most complicated watch." Also the 4th in the coveted Franck Muller Aeternitas watch series of high complex watches that are either amazing looking or ludicrous looking - depending on how you see it. The financially troubled brand is putting the finishing touches on this limited series (of no specific disclosed amount) watch (even though the first of them was already finished and presented to an American watch collector recently at a dinner). Inside are a whopping 36 complications! I am not going to list them all here, but you can consult with the image in the gallery below for a spec sheet of the various functions that it has. 25 of the 36 complications are visible on the dial. Franck Muller is surprisingly brief on the details. We don't know materials or size of the watch yet. I would imagine that it is on the larger side though. The movement has 1,483 parts to it! Wow, talk about complex and fragile. The watch took 5 years to design.

Some functions include, but are not limited to, a monopusher split-second chronograph (no idea how that is done with one button), a 1000 year calendar, very accurate equation of time (between solar and clock time), complex sonnerie chiming functions, multiple timezones, moon phase indicator, and of course, more. The obvious competitor to the Aeternitas Mega 4 watch is the recently released Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie watch. While the Hybris Mechanica only has 25 complications, it is arguably more pleasing to the eyes. Plus, for a bit less price you get three watches and a fancy safe.

The Franck Muller Aeternitas 4 watch is the high horology equivalent of a fancy Texas Instruments graphing calculator. Sure it does a lot and it gets us mechanical nerds excited, but it isn't going to get you any action from the ladies (but sharing with them the price tag of $2.7 million might).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Gallery: Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4