Who Actually Uses Wristwatch Complications?

[lee_44106]

complications I have on my watches:
-chronograph
-power reserve
-dual time
-perpetural calendar

Only one I find useful is calendar.

 

[robin]

I use the piano wire zipline in my watch frequently.

 

[andyw]

Alarm, dual time zone and chronograph.

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

But I don't like perpetual calendars and moonphase indicators--I'm not particularly concerned about forgetting the date or needing to know what's going on with the moon.


I'm not sure exactly sure what a perpetual calendar is, but I think any sort of watch has to have a date indicator. I always forget what the date is, and rather than looking on my cell phone or clicking the calendar in windows, I rather just glance at my watch. And many times, all I have is my watch. I think paying $5K for a watch that can't even tell you the date is a waste.

 

[lee_44106]

perpetual calendars are cool, ones with a moonphase makes for a nice dial display. Perpetual calendar takes into account the leap years and february months so you don't have to adjust the date.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

I'm not sure exactly sure what a perpetual calendar is, but I think any sort of watch has to have a date indicator. I always forget what the date is, and rather than looking on my cell phone or clicking the calendar in windows, I rather just glance at my watch. And many times, all I have is my watch. I think paying $5K for a watch that can't even tell you the date is a waste.

A perpetual calendar watch tells you the day, date, month, and year in addition to hours and minutes. Unlike an annual calendar, you do not need to adjust it at the end each year. The better the perpetual calendar, the less often an adjustment is necessary.

 

[DocHolliday]

If I'm ever lost at sea and need to calculate nautical miles, I'm all set, as long as the instructions don't get wet.

 

[HomerJ]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

A perpetual calendar watch tells you the day, date, month, and year in addition to hours and minutes. Unlike an annual calendar, you do not need to adjust it at the end each year. The better the perpetual calendar, the less often an adjustment is necessary.
Don't you have to adjust an annual calendar 5 times/year? That really bugged me about my old watch, the date always went to 31. Since the cell phone, I don't need the watch to tell me the date but it's nice to have along with GMT.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by HomerJ

Don't you have to adjust an annual calendar 5 times/year?

That really bugged me about my old watch, the date always went to 31. Since the cell phone, I don't need the watch to tell me the date but it's nice to have along with GMT.

A proper annual calendar tells you the correct date for each month, with the exception of February. I'd actually prefer an annual calendar. When a perpetual calendar has to be adjusted (which, to be fair, is often decades or even centuries into the future), a watchmaker has to open up the watch and put in a new part. With an annual calendar, you'd just turn your crown once a year.

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by merkur

Pilots supposedly use the slide rules on Breitlings not to mention the emergency transponders on Breitling Emergency models.
Don't those cost $35,000 to reset?

Originally Posted by mafoofan

But I don't like perpetual calendars and moonphase indicators--I'm not particularly concerned about forgetting the date or needing to know what's going on with the moon.
But moonphase indicators are so pretty!

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

But I don't like perpetual calendars and moonphase indicators--I'm not particularly concerned about forgetting the date or needing to know what's going on with the moon.

Then how do you manage to avoid werewolves?

 

[yachtie]

I'd find a minute repeater to be useful. I won't buy a watch without at least day and date.

 

[JammieDodger]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

A proper annual calendar tells you the correct date for each month, with the exception of February. I'd actually prefer an annual calendar. When a perpetual calendar has to be adjusted (which, to be fair, is often decades or even centuries into the future), a watchmaker has to open up the watch and put in a new part. With an annual calendar, you'd just turn your crown once a year.

Sorry to sound stupid. But why do perpetual calendars need to be adjusted years in the future? What do they need to be adjusted for?

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by JammieDodger

Sorry to sound stupid. But why do perpetual calendars need to be adjusted years in the future? What do they need to be adjusted for?
Perpetual calendars on watches use the Julian calendar. Edit: This page gives a good explanation - http://www.europastar.com/europastar...h/nicolet2.jsp

 

[Lone Wolf]

Quote:
Originally Posted by merkur
Pilots supposedly use the slide rules on Breitlings not to mention the emergency transponders on Breitling Emergency models.

Originally Posted by RJman

Don't those cost $35,000 to reset?

But moonphase indicators are so pretty!

From what I've read, you have to sign an agreement saying that you'll pay for any rescue effort that results if you set it off, and the FAA will fine you $15k if you broadcast a false distress signal. The former sounds like it could be a marketing gimmick but I don't doubt the latter. Haven't heard anything about a reset fee.

My grail watch is a Rolex Moonphase - screw the Daytona (not really, I might buy one if I stumble across the right one at list, although my Tudor scratches my chrono itch).