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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Monochrome Watches’ 2020 selection spans chiming complications, unusual escapements, tourbillons, a mechanical engine animation and an ultra-thin construction that is not technically a complication. The list is an editorial selection, not the result of a documented comparative test. Its prices, specifications and limited-edition figures below are those reported in the original article on 22 November 2020; they should not be read as current prices or availability.
What makes these watches compelling is not simply the number of functions. Each takes a different route to mechanical complexity: some turn time into sound, others pursue steadier force or precision, and a few make their architecture the main event.
How the nine watches differ
The comparison is clearest when the watches are grouped by what their mechanisms do. The table summarizes the central idea and the historical details reported in 2020; it is not a ranking by performance.
| Watch | Mechanical focus | 2020 case and edition details | Price reported in 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Super Sonnerie | Grande and petite sonnerie, carillon and minute repeater | 41 mm gold | Approximately CHF 725,000 |
| Bernhard Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer | Two independent gear trains, dual remontoirs and natural escapement | 44 mm gold | CHF 128,000 |
| Bovet Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 | Double-face flying tourbillon, moon phase and world-time functions | 47.80 mm; seven pieces | CHF 365,000 |
| Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon 5345 | Two tourbillons linked by a differential; rotating movement plate | 46 mm platinum | CHF 628,000 |
| Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic | Automatic skeleton tourbillon and mono-pusher chronograph | 42 mm by 7.40 mm titanium; 50 pieces | EUR 155,000 |
| Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 2RE | Fusée-and-chain transmission with remontoir d’égalité | 44 mm gold | CHF 210,000 |
| Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon | Animated W16 engine display and inclined tourbillon | 55 mm by 44 mm titanium | CHF 280,000 |
| Patek Philippe Grande et Petite Sonnerie 6301P | Grande and petite sonnerie, minute repeater and jumping small seconds | 44.8 mm platinum | Price on request |
| Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept | Ultra-thin integrated construction; not strictly a complication | 41 mm by 2 mm | CHF 410,000 |
All values in the table are historical claims from Monochrome Watches’ 2020 guide. The article does not establish whether these prices, configurations or edition allocations remain available. Read the original Monochrome Watches selection.
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#1 Best Overall
- Case Size: 41.00 mm, Band Width: 20, Case Thickness: 14.19 mm
- Automatic movement, 316L stainless steel case, Index dial type
- Stainless steel bracelet, interchangeable quick release bracelet,butterfly clasp with push-buttons closure
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
Chiming watches: time you can hear
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Super Sonnerie
This Code 11.59 builds on the Grande Sonnerie Carillon Super Sonnerie architecture with gongs mounted on a soundboard, an arrangement the 2020 article says is intended to improve sound propagation. Its functions encompass hours and minutes, grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, carillon and minute repeater: a substantial striking repertoire in a 41 mm gold case.
The hand-wound in-house calibre 2956 sits behind a Grand Feu enamel dial, with an alligator strap completing the configuration described in 2020. The guide listed an approximate historical price of CHF 725,000. The figure is not a current quote.
Patek Philippe Grande et Petite Sonnerie 6301P
The 6301P was described as Patek Philippe’s first stand-alone grande et petite sonnerie wristwatch, and its second wristwatch with those striking functions after the Grandmaster Chime. In addition to grande and petite sonnerie, it offers a minute repeater, jumping small seconds and small seconds, plus separate power-reserve indicators for the movement and striking work.
Its hand-wound calibre GS 36-750 PS IRM is housed in a 44.8 mm platinum case with a Grand Feu enamel dial and alligator strap. Monochrome listed the 2020 price as “price on request.”
Chronometry and regulating force
Bernhard Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer
Lederer’s approach uses two escapement wheels on separate gear trains, each powered by its own barrel. A 10-second constant-force remontoire on each train is intended to help deliver force more consistently to the escapement. The watch also uses a natural escapement, a design choice that distinguishes its regulating system from the more familiar lever escapement.
The 44 mm gold watch has a hand-wound movement, hours, minutes and small seconds, and an alligator strap. Monochrome reported the watchmaker’s precision claim of “+/- 0 second per day” with stability over the power reserve. That is the maker’s claim as relayed in the article, not an independently documented test result. The listed 2020 price was CHF 128,000.
Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 2RE
The FB 2RE draws on the architecture of Berthoud marine clocks. Its fusée-and-chain transmission helps manage the changing force of the mainspring, while a remontoir d’égalité further regulates force delivered to the oscillator. Together, these devices make the movement’s approach to chronometry central to the watch’s identity.
Rank #2
- Men's luxury timepieces with technical advancements and a sporty style
- 1/5 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Spherical Mineral Crystal
- 100 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
The in-house, hand-wound FB-RE.FC calibre was described as a COSC-certified chronometer. The 44 mm gold case frames a Grand Feu enamel dial and is paired with an alligator strap. The article also reports that the watch received the GPHG 2020 “Chronometry” prize; its historical listed price was CHF 210,000.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTourbillons, displays and unconventional architecture
Bovet Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2
The Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 combines a double-face flying tourbillon with a precision moon-phase display, a second time zone with world time, and a lateral power-reserve indicator. Its sapphire case is shaped like a writing slope, giving the 47.80 mm watch an unusually open, sculptural presentation.
The hand-wound calibre 17DM06-DT is housed in a grade 5 titanium construction. Monochrome described a “sunshine” version using Super-LumiNova and reported a seven-piece limitation. The article says the model won the 2020 GPHG “Mechanical Exception” prize. Its listed 2020 price was CHF 365,000.
Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon 5345
The 5345 is built around a 738-part mechanism, according to Monochrome’s 2020 account. Its two tourbillons are linked by a central differential, and the entire plate turns to indicate the hours. The result makes the motion of the movement itself part of the display rather than keeping the complication hidden beneath a conventional dial.
The reverse reveals four solid-gold bridges hand-engraved with the façade of A. L. Breguet’s house at 39 Quai de l’Horloge in Paris. The openworked watch uses the in-house hand-wound calibre 588N in a 46 mm platinum case, with an alligator strap. Its historical listed price was CHF 628,000.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic
Monochrome presented this Octo Finissimo as Bvlgari’s sixth thinness world record in six years. The 42 mm grade 5 titanium case measures 7.40 mm thick, while the automatic skeleton calibre BVL 388 is 3.50 mm thick. A peripheral rotor winds the movement without occupying the more conventional central space above it.
The calibre also combines a tourbillon with a mono-pusher chronograph controlled by a column wheel and oscillating pinion. The 2020 guide listed a titanium bracelet, a 50-piece limited edition and a historical price of EUR 155,000. Those figures describe the article’s 2020 configuration and are not a statement of present availability.
Rank #3
- 【Automatic Watch for Men Chronograph Wristwatch】Men's watches features crafted from premium Stainless steel material(available in Gold and Silver, diameter;41MM,thick;12MM ) and finished with alternating polishing and brushing techniques, resulting in a refined luster and durable texture. The dial is available in a variety of colors (Green, Blue, Sky Blue, Black, White, Gold, and Grey), while the stainless steel bracelet (wide;20MM ) exudes classic elegance without sacrificing a sporty feel
- 【Excellent Mechanical Automatic winding movement 】Equipped with a high-precision balance wheel, the meticulously tuned movement ensures accurate and stable timekeeping, sensitively sensing the wearer's subtle wrist movements and converting them into rotational power. A smooth winding mechanism guarantees a continuous and stable power reserve. Furthermore, it features a stop-seconds function (the seconds hand stops immediately when the crown is pulled out), allowing for precise time adjustment.
- 【Multifunctional Men Wrist Watch With Small Dial Design】The dial features a delicate sunburst and meteorite finish. enhancing visual depth. Each watch is equipped with independent windows for the day, month, 24-hour format, and date, arranged clearly and logically. It complements formal attire, business casual, and everyday wear with ease, making it an ideal choice for travel and daily wear. It helps you manage your time efficiently and exudes elegant style.
- 【Fixed Chronograph Bezel - Tachymeter Bezel】The chronograph bezel is a signature design element of racing-themed chronographs, blending sportiness, retro charm, and engineering aesthetics. It cleverly utilizes mathematical principles to transform speed calculations, which previously required cumbersome formulas, into intuitive pointer readings, perfectly embodying the harmonious integration of function and design, and fully showcasing the practicality and fun of mechanical watches.
- 【Waterproof watch and Luminous 】This watch boasts a 3 ATM (30 meters) water resistance rating, easily handling everyday splashes such as handwashing and face washing. A carefully designed luminescent coating ensures clear readability even in low-light conditions, allowing for quick and easy timekeeping.
Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon
Rather than merely borrowing the name of a car, the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon makes its 16-cylinder engine the centerpiece. Pressing the right-hand crown animates a sapphire-block W16 display: a crankshaft turns and the pistons move. The watch pairs this mechanical spectacle with a 30-degree inclined one-minute tourbillon.
The hand-wound JCAM37 displays hours and minutes and includes a power-reserve indicator. Its titanium case measures 55 mm by 44 mm and is fitted with a rubber strap. Monochrome listed CHF 280,000 as the 2020 price.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The engineering outlier: Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept
Piaget’s Altiplano Ultimate Concept belongs here with an important qualification: Monochrome explicitly noted that, strictly speaking, it is not a complication. Its significance is the construction needed to achieve the 41 mm by 2 mm profile reported in 2020. The movement’s mainplate, case and bezel are fused into one component, so the ultra-thin result depends on treating the watch’s structure as an integrated system.
The guide said the watch was available through a customization service and reported that it won the 2020 GPHG “Aiguille d’Or.” Its historical price was listed as CHF 410,000. Neither the price nor the customization availability should be assumed current.
Which kind of complication stands out?
These nine watches do not share a single definition of “impressive.” A useful way to choose among them is to ask what kind of mechanical achievement interests you most:
- For audible complexity: the Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe emphasize striking functions, with distinct sonnerie and repeater combinations.
- For chronometric architecture: the Lederer and Ferdinand Berthoud foreground systems designed to manage force and regulate timekeeping.
- For visible motion: Bovet and Breguet make the tourbillon and movement architecture central to the display.
- For compact engineering: Bvlgari combines an automatic tourbillon and chronograph in a notably thin case-and-movement specification as reported in 2020.
- For theatrical mechanics: Jacob & Co. turns an animated engine into the watch’s defining feature.
- For construction rather than a conventional complication: Piaget’s 2 mm profile is the engineering outlier, not a standard complication entry.
The list is best read as a snapshot of ambitious watchmaking selected in 2020, not a current buying guide. Its most useful distinction is between watches that add functions and watches whose complexity lies in how they transmit force, display motion or construct the case and movement.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
