Top Six Calendar Watches of 2017, And Our GPHG Picks

The countdown to the GPHG continues, and with that our in-depth look at the final pre-selected watches … some of which have us wondering if the judges were drinking when voting. Nonetheless, today we look at the Top Six Calendar watches as pre-selected by the GPHG. The GPHG defines the “calendar “ complexity as “mechanical watches comprising at least one calendar and/or astronomical complication” (e.g. annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon-phase display, etc.). Additional indications and/or complications are admissible. For me, this category is one that where the brands could just shut up and take my money (if I had it).

A Lange & Sohne 1815 Annual Calendar

The 1815 Annual Calendar  from the German watchmaking brand  A. Lange & Sohne is powered by the manually wound caliber L051.3. The dial is harmoniously laid out with month indication at 3:00, moon phase indication at 6:00, and day and date at 9:oo,    The face is anchored by blue-steeled hour and minute hands that trace black Arabic numerals along a railway-track minute scale. As a point of clarity, the 1815 treats the month of February as a 30-day month and as a result a correction must be made every March 1st. A button at the 2 o’clock position allows for the user to manually advance all indicators. If a more minute adjustment must be made, there are three recessed push pieces that allow for corrections to be made to the day, month and moon phase. Given the amount of complications in the piece, the 1815 Annual Calendar is actually quite slender with the calendar module only measuring 1.4 mm high. Additionally the power reserve boasts a robust 72 hours. 39,000 CHF.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 

We covered this watch extensively here earlier in the year, however some important notes are worth restating. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar is comes in an all black ceramic case and fully integrated bracelet and features a host of information easily laid out across the dial. You will find day, date, month, astronomical moon, week of the year displayed on the outer chapter ring of the dial and leap year indicator. The case is a modest sized 41mm and the black ceramic case ensures that the creation is well protected from scratches, thermal extremes and is resistant to aging. The difficulty in shaping the black ceramic means that the case takes 5 times longer to create than the steel equivalents in the Royal Oak family.  85,000 CHF.

Delma Klondike Moonphase

The Delma Klondike Moonphase is an automatic moonphase chronograph that displays the full calendar, moonphase, and day night indicator. The dial is supremely legible and much of the information is easy to digest at a glance. The day and month indicator is at the 12 o’clock, the moonphase is at the 6 o’clock and the day/nigh indicator features a well-crafted moon and sun while a central date hand rotates around the dial. The case measures 44mm and the movement is visible via a display back. 3,750 CHF

Greubel Forsey QP A Equation, the Mechanical Computer

Holding three patents and  consisting of 624 parts, Greubel Forsey’s QP A Equation was seven years  in the making, as the brand adds another layer of complexity  to one of the more complicated watch configurations already  in the industry: adding equation of time to a perpetual calendar. To offer the equation of time within the perpetual calendar complication, Greubel Forsey needed to first create a mechanical computer in order to facilitate the process. The computer drives a series of discs that help calculate the difference between solar time and civil time. The true breakthrough however is that adding a layer of complexity, the manufacture was able to keep the execution simple. The equation is as simple to set as the calendar. On the dial the user will be able to read the day, large date, leap year, day/night indicator, month, hours, minutes, seconds and power reserve (72 hours btw, in case you were wondering). On the reverse side the equation of time with months, seasons, solstices, equinoxes, and calendar year can be read. Probably the only reason to take this watch off. Finally, if all of this horological goodness weren’t enough, the piece also features a Tourbillon 24 Secondes, inclined at 25 degrees. The fast rotation and inclined angle help combat the negative effects of gravity as they pertain to the accuracy of the piece. Crafted in  18-karat gray gold,  it retails for 670,000 CHF.

Krayon Everywhere – Universal Sunrise & Sunset

The mechanical creation from Krayon has a unique aspect to it: the ability to tell when the sun will rise and set anywhere on earth. All of the adjustments can be done via the crown of the watch. The dial displays the number of daylight hours left via a light-colored circle in either yellow or pink depending on the version selected, while the night is displayed via a dark circle. The intersection of the two corresponds to sunrise and sunset. As seasons change and the length of day and night adjusts with the year, so, too,  will the data displayed by the watch. Additionally, a blue arrow will show the track of the sun as it moves across the sky. To adjust the settings of the watch the user needs to set the longitude, latitude, the UTC time zone, and the date and month.  600,000 CHF

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Grande Date Full Open

Going with an open-worked design, the Zenith El Primero Grand Date Full Open  boasts a calendar chronograph. Inspired by the designs from 1969, the dial shows the sun and moonphase as well as twin discs at the 6 o’clock, two transparent blue and grey counters and large digital date display. The discs of which can be seen through the transparent case. The piece comes in a robust 45mm dial and is water resistant to 100m. The piece also features an integrated automatic column wheel chronograph that beats at 5 Hz and the high frequency allows the watch to keep 1/10th second precision. Comprised of 332 parts and offering a power reserve of 50 hours, the El Primero Grande Date Full Open is presented on either a stainless steel bracelet or leather strap.  10,093 CHF

Our Picks for GPHG Calendar Watches

Gordon Henderson: The stacked category presents plenty of options for a winner. The Delma Klondike Moonphase is the clear value proposition at 3,750 CHF and hosts a bevy of complications for a price a mere mortal can purchase. However the Royal Oak checks all of the boxes for me: it is equally elegant and rugged, the complications shown on  the dial demonstrate sophistication in watchmaking, and the black ceramic renders the piece as tough and innovative. It is both yin and yang. From an aesthetic standpoint, it does not get cooler than a blacked out watch. This piece can be dressed up or down, and is equally at home in just about every scenario imaginable. The only thing wrong with it is that I will probably never own one (sad face emoji). This is easily the coolest watch going and sure to be a grail piece for anyone who has ever loved watches.

Roberta Naas: While the Audemars Piguet and A. Lange & Sohne choices are superb, I am rooting for the Greubel Forsey with equation of time complication. My feeling is, though, that relatively young brand Krayon may take the win thanks to the very unusual function and dial configuration.