These watches are not designed to just watch them time. This is a work of art and a masterpiece of engineering.
To see what time it is, there are the usual hours. Among watchmakers around the world they are called «tool watch» - Watch tool, or «watch watch» - Watch the clock. Clock, about which we describe in this material - "kinetic sculptures" the best masters of their craft. They are bought by connoisseurs, regardless of the price space, and carefully stored in their collections.
Each year, the ranks of amazing clocks replenished. From this set we selected for you 25 of the best samples of the past three years.
Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage
Model Zenith Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage dedicated to the great Christopher Columbus to the shores of this American continent.
All items decor watches are made and painted by hand. At six o'clock position on both sides stands a glass bowl with a tourbillon.
Swiss movement with manual winding consists of 939 parts, the strap is made of alligator leather with triple folding clasp in 18-carat pink gold.
Limited edition of ten copies.
Geo.Graham Tourbillon Orrery
Solar system on one hand conceived Isaac Newton, George Graham as early as 1713. On the anniversary of the scheme and were released Tourbillon Orrery.
In the center of the dial located tourbillon, which shines in the middle of the diamond - this is the sun.Around him the planets move: sapphire earth with his companion rhodium Moon, Mars and ruby. While driving the precious "planets" in orbit hours equal to the real turnover of around the sun.
Counter years on the rear panel indicates the hours correction for planets (Moon for 7 years for the Earth 1156 years and 25 years for Mars). The watch has a scale and zodiacal calendar that will perform well for 300 years.
Model is only available to collectors.
The cost - about $ 350,000.
Jacob & Co. Epic SF24
Non-standard indicator of time zones - "superstructure" above the dial - is very different reactions among connoisseurs: from admiration to resentment. It is similar to the information board at the airport, which displays the city and the difference in hours. The city changed by pressing a button on the left, making a total 24. This option is ideal for those who travel a lot.
There are versions in white and pink gold, high-tech titanium. Power reserve 40 hours.
Cost - from $ 80,000 to $ 100,000 (depending on the case).
U-Boat U-65
Italo Fontana wanted to bring back a little of the sublime in our society and created a minimalist model of watch that, as it should have been in the XVI century, a chain attached to the pants. More than anything from the 16th century in the U-65 no. The rest - is rampant futurism and exclusive. The same chain made by a specially developed scheme.
Dial with three time zones is made of a titanium alloy has chronograph.
Total of 99 pieces.
Christophe Claret X TREM-1
The first model chronographs X TREM-1 - fusion of aesthetics and technological innovation. The first thing that catches the eye is the flying tourbillon. This effect is achieved by tilting the tourbillon in relation to the dial 30 °.
Two hollow steel sphere encased in tubes of sapphire glass on the right and the left, move the most mysterious way. They have no support and operate only under the influence of magnetic fields. Wherein two magnets arranged so that no harmful effects on the course of hours.
Chronograph consists of 419 parts and has a margin of 50 hours.
Cost - from $ 270,000 to $ 300,000.
Romain Jerome. Steampunk Auto 100th Anniversary
The main feature Steampunk Auto 100th Anniversary - genuine metal casing of the sunken "Titanic", used in the housing and second indicator, which resembles the blade of the ship. The idea is not new, but it looks powerful and demand.
The back cover is decorated with a medallion pattern reminiscent of the 100-year anniversary of the collapse of the "Titanic", in honor of that and released the model. The dial is integrated directly into the mechanism and is protected by a sapphire crystal. Black arrows reminiscent of the anchor of "Titanic".The watch is released in a limited edition of 100 copies.
The cost - up to $ 30,000.
Magelluna
The focus of the new model Magelluna from Magellan Watch - dial decorated by hand. Under the sapphire dome is realistic hemisphere of the Moon, which are seen on the surface of craters and traces of meteorites. Branded curved arrows accurately along the contour of the hemisphere and show they are, of course, the earthly. Steel body model has a black wear resistant coating.
Harry Winston Histoire de Tourbillon No.3
The third model series Histoire de Tourbillon is the result of complex synchronization between the rotational speed, the masses involved elements, the force of inertia and even resonance.
Internal double tourbillon carriage biaxial makes a revolution in 40 seconds, and external - for 120 seconds. Second, single-axis tourbillon quietly makes a complete rotation in 36 seconds. The whole ensemble is connected into a single unit balancing differential.
The housing is 77-component three-dimensional structure of zaliuma, zirconium alloy and white gold.Indicator disk 50-hour power reserve decorated with sapphires and citrines.
Limited edition of 20 copies.
The cost - about $ 700,000.
De Bethune DB28
Important in this model - innovation. Firstly, the "floating ears" of titanium which are able to follow the shape of the wrist. With this watch always sit nice and comfortable.
The second innovation - the "triple parachute system" that protects the movement from shocks. This titanium bridge, stay on springs - you can see it at the bottom of the dial.
DB28 are available in several versions - in various combinations of gold, anthracite and titanium. At 6 o'clock in the small window is an indicator of the phase of the moon - it is so precise that errs on the day only after 122 years.
Cost - $ 85,000.
Harry Winston Opus Eleven
In 2011, Harry Winston presented a model of the eleventh in a series of Opus. The watch is made in the form of a bizarre combination of three panels of cylindrical shape, located at different levels, two of which are infused with their axes in the main panel. One consists of two discs with scales that show minutes and tens of minutes, and the second shows the operation of a large balance wheel made of titanium.
Opus Eleven visual image is made in the spirit of abstract art. The main dial is composed of a plurality of rollers and gears, which in a chaotic manner are 24 panels with halves of numbers, every hour "exploding" and collected in the appropriate number in the center of the board. The back panel is made of transparent glass and three-layer exposes the details of the mechanism 566 to 155 stones.
In a limited edition series of 111 included in all copies.
In a limited edition series of 111 included in all copies.
Cost - from $ 230,000.
Urwerk 110
Futuristic clock Ur-110 - a work of the Swiss company Urwerk. Clad in titanium case, they resemble a planetary companion with three interconnected modules.
From 0 to 60 minutes displayed in the right side of the clock and moves vertically downwards. The very same arrow shows the time of day. This arrangement allows glances at his watch imperceptibly.
The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal. On the back of the cabinet has two charge air "turbine", which are designed to minimize wear when driving hours and serve for automatic winding system.
Cost - $ 130,000.
Da Vindice Tourbillon Barometer
Buying Da Vindice Tourbillon Barometer allow never be wrong about the weather. This is the first mechanical watch with a tourbillon that measure atmospheric pressure. Miniature barometer is located at around six hours. For the first time a similar clock byly released Swiss firm back in 2010, but the exhibition Baselworld-2013 provided updated model of the limited edition of 50 copies.
At around ten o'clock there is a power reserve indicator. Watches are equipped with Swiss automatic movement with automatic winding and a power reserve of 42 hours.
Tourbillon Barometer is available in two versions: 18-carat rose or white gold. Water Resistant - 3 ATM.
Cost - $ 210,000.
The Gagarin Tourbillon
Watch issued for the anniversary of the first manned flight into space.
Built-in magnifying glass allows us to estimate the smallest details of decoration of the dial, it rises and falls. Tourbillon watch Gagarin Tourbillon rotates around its axis in 60 seconds and makes a complete revolution around the dial for 108 minutes. And this figure - also a reference to 108 minutes, during which Gagarin circled the globe.
Tourbillon itself like a curved suspended bridge that resembles an obelisk mounted near the city of Engels, where he landed the "East."
Gagarin Tourbillon watches were issued in a limited edition of 50 platinum pieces.
Cost - $ 405,000.
Eva Leube Ari
To develop curved hours Eva Leube company spent four years. In order to choose the perfect angle "curvature", measured set of wrist and calculated the average "curvature".
Watchmakers companies brilliantly realized curved mechanism that fit perfectly into the case of sapphire glass with hand-engraved 18-karat gold or platinum 950.
All the dials are also made of 18-carat gold, and arrows - blue steel.
The cost - up to $ 126,000.
Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down
Independent watchmaker Ludovic Ballouard developed a new version of its model Upside Down («upside down"). The name is connected with inverted display digits, except the one that indicates the current hour.
Dial Upside Down equipped with one of the central arrow to indicate the minutes. It is not the minute markings. 6 hours there is an additional dial with second hand. Closes dial sapphire crystal.
Strap with platinum buckle is made of dark blue skin.
Cost - from $ 55,000.
Nord Zeitmaschine Quickindicator
Swiss Daniel Nebel probably wanted to speed up the time. On the new model Quickindicator minute hand makes a turn from "60" to "60" exactly one hour, but on her way - a lot of intricate loops, whereby the arrow has to run faster than conventional watches.
This clock with the minute hand of the fastest in the world.
Cost - $ 12,000.
Greubel Forsey GMT 3D titanium Globe
On the dial GMT established a three-dimensional model of a rotating globe, which provides an indication of the global time.
Globe is fixed at around the South Pole and at night makes a full turn counterclockwise, which corresponds to the actual motion of the planets. Equator "Earth" can be considered through a window on the side of the housing.
Globe is fixed at around the South Pole and at night makes a full turn counterclockwise, which corresponds to the actual motion of the planets. Equator "Earth" can be considered through a window on the side of the housing.
On the back cover is a CD with the names of 24 cities, each of which represents one of the time zones.In the middle is the scale of summer time, and outside - the local.
Cost - $ 650,000.
Hublot MP 05 tribute to Ferrari
Dream owners "Ferrari": powerful engine under the hood and a copy - on hand. Work on the clock ran parallel to the work on the super car "Maranello". The shape resembles a transparent sapphire glass bonnet Ferrari, and the mechanism - the engine. The back cover is made of titanium coated with a heavy-duty black PVD. Dynamics adds a rubber strap with titanium buckle.
The mechanism consists of 637 moving parts, and the tourbillon ensures 100% accuracy. 11 shafts provide a power reserve of 50 days. Large numbers painted on each cylinder Fotoluminiscent pigment, so the time can be seen in the dark.
The watch is released in a limited edition of 50 numbered copies.
Cost - $ 345,000.
ArtyA Son of a Gun Target
The focus of the Swiss brand watches ArtyA - target and dust from the powder, mixed with gold. "Ears" are decorated with 32 diamonds that conflicts with the military theme, but adds luxury. Watches are equipped with automatic Swiss movement, which is in limbo. On the back side ArtyA Target also flaunts target.
The cost - up to $ 22,000.
Devon Tread 1- Exoskeleton
These watches were designed explicitly fans of steampunk. Specialists Devon made open and transparent body, leaving it is based ballistic polycarbonate, bullet-proof and scratch resistant.
The watch is available in two versions - in white and pink gold. Belts, played the role of the dial, in Exoskeleton made of a transparent material.
Horological Machine No.5. HM5
Model MB & F HM5 was nicknamed «On The Road Again» for two reasons. Firstly, the watch designed especially for drivers. Second, the design of the case resembles a fastback with back slit windows - as in the famous car Lamborghini Miura. These blades can be opened and closed by means of a small lever.With this light falls on the figures and elements coated svetonakoplyayuschim element.
The body is made in the form of a wedge that makes it easy to check the time without taking your hands off the wheel. Special prism sapphire crystal displays the numbers on the side from which it is viewed, and increases them by 20%.
All the world will be sold 66 copies.
Cost - $ 63,000.
Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater
Limited model Bird Repeater from the Swiss company Jaquet Droz is a symbol of life in every sense. When you run the repeater trigger 8 different animated mechanisms: move not only birds, but even the chicks and eggs in the nest.
The body is made of 18-carat rose or white gold, dial - black onyx. Sapphire crystal is mounted on the front side of the body and on the back cover.
Limited edition of 8 copies.
The cost - up to $ 500,000.
Konstantin Chaykin "Lunokhod"
This model is the only one Russian watchmakers adopted in AHCI (Academie horlogere des createurs independants), Konstantin Chaykin.
"Lunokhod" named in honor of the glorious achievements of the Soviet space program in the study of the Earth's satellite. The main novelty is the piece ball with a diameter of 12mm, symbolizing the moon made of Damascus steel vutsa Indian (Wootz). It, like the earth's shadow gradually closes the silver hemisphere with a black rhodium-plated, revolving around it. Such a display of lunar phases used for the first time in watchmaking.
"Lunokhod" named in honor of the glorious achievements of the Soviet space program in the study of the Earth's satellite. The main novelty is the piece ball with a diameter of 12mm, symbolizing the moon made of Damascus steel vutsa Indian (Wootz). It, like the earth's shadow gradually closes the silver hemisphere with a black rhodium-plated, revolving around it. Such a display of lunar phases used for the first time in watchmaking.
The cost - about $ 800,000.
Chopard 201 Sarat
The most expensive watch in the world worth $ 25 million, and on their background clock for half a million or more so for 100 thousand dollars does not look quite so and expensive. But much more beautiful than this unbridled luxury of 874 diamonds.
Cost - $ 25 million.
Haldimann H9 Reduction
This watch, we would like to introduce you to the latest, because they challenge the entire watch industry and, in a sense, high society, with its glamor and luxury. A sort of hour trolling the level of "God."
Haldimann H9 Reduction feature a flying tourbillon caliber and H.Zen-1 with hand winding, the frequency of vibrations which reaches 18,800 per hour. But see the technical perfection can not be as elementary and see the time. The dial is protected in every sense of the opaque blue-black sapphire crystal. The owner can only hear the continuous operation of gears and look at your reflection in the black "mirror."
The brand owner Bill Haldimann still did a favor for admirers of his talent - the back panel cover is made of a translucent material.
Cost - $ 175,000.