Among the great complications, few command such deep fascination as the minute repeater. Since English watchmaker Daniel Quare refined the repeating mechanism in the late 17th century, chiming watches have enthralled kings, scholars, connoisseurs and, most recently, the modern collector.
In their earliest form, they were practical tools, allowing time to be read in the dark. Today, they are pure emotion: a delicate, mechanical orchestra performing on demand.
Despite centuries of innovation, their essence remains unchanged. A choreography of racks, snails, levers, hammers, and gongs converts time into notes, each sound shaped by material, geometry, and the watchmaker’s hand. They remain the preserve of the most skilled manufactures – and the most dedicated collectors.
This year, several maisons took the complication to new heights, unveiling chiming watches that showcase different…
