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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Complication

Grande complication

A watch combining several major complications, classically striking, chronograph and calendar work.

Explanation

A grande complication combines several major complications in one watch — classically a striking mechanism (grande sonnerie or minute repeater), a chronograph and a perpetual calendar, with modern examples adding tourbillons and more. Such watches represent the peak of a maker's capability, take hundreds of hours to assemble, and are made in very small numbers.

In the object catalogue

Catalogued objects whose own source record mentions “Grande complication”. The quoted line shows where; it is the seller’s or museum’s wording, not independent verification.