This Week in Watches: April 5, 2016

Vacheron Constantin’s crazy complex tourbillon, the state of the Swiss watch industry, Madison Avenue Watch Week and more.

On the Radar

Reads and New Gear

It’s (Very) Complicated

Vacheron Constantin made a splash last year when it unveiled the 57260 pocket watch. Said to be the most complicated timepiece in the world, it boasts 57 complications (including a armillary sphere tourbillon, a “rattrapante” chronograph and a perpetual calendar, among many, many others) and took three watchmakers eight years to create. Vacheron Constantin is now using the the 57260 as the basis for a new wristwatch, the Maître Cabinotier Retrograde Armillary Tourbillon. In making the transition to the wrist, the movement has been simplified (it’s worth pointing out the pocket watch was 98mm in diameter, while the wristwatch is 45.5mm), with only two complications featured — the armillary tourbillon cage and a retrograde indication for the minute and hour hands. The movement is housed in a white-gold case and features white-gold markings and titanium hands. Like the 57260, only one of the Maître Cabinotier Retrograde Armillary Tourbillon will be made.

We’re Fine, Really

Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek said at the opening night of CeBIT, the world’s biggest software and computer expo, that the Swiss watch industry “remains healthy.” Granted, sales of luxury watches have been sliding, Eastern markets like Hong Kong and Russia have been slowing purchasing of high-end timepieces and smartwatch sales are on the rise, but Hayek as well as other executives in the Swiss watch industry feel the designation of an industry “crisis” is overblown.

The Worst (and Best) of Baselworld

While the watch press has been keen to share its favorite timepieces of Baselworld 2016, the staff at Worn & Wound wasn’t afraid to point out some of this year’s new releases that (to them, at least) fell flat.

A Reputation to Uphold

In a worldwide survey of over 60,000 consumers in 15 countries, the independent research and advisory firm Reputation Institute has named Rolex the most reputable brand in the world for 2016 based on the incredibly high reputation of its products and services. The company was ranked fourth in 2015 and displaced last year’s top three companies, BMW, Google and Daimler which are now fourth, third and fifth, respectively.

A Week of Watches in NYC

Madison Avenue, The Wall Street Journal and the Horological Society of New York are putting on their sixth annual Madison Avenue Watch Week, a compendium of rare watch exhibitions, watchmaking classes and other events from April 13 through the 20.

Reviews and Buying Guides

Advice from the Crew

A Customizable Dress Watch for the Casual Generation

A take on the dress watch that fits a new generation of the workforce: those donning smart casual in lieu of the business suit. Read the Story

Looking Ahead

What We’re Testing Now

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