Gizmodo
Looking at this limited-edition Di Grisogono Meccanica DG, you probably think it's a hybrid mechanical-digital watch. Well, chaps, you're wrong. Despite its appearance, the Meccanica DG is completely analog, comprising of 651 pieces and absolutely no digital parts or LEDs whatsoever. Video and pics after the jump.
Just 177 of these amazing timepieces are going to be made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Geneva-based horloger. Billed as the most complicated digital-analog timepiece in the world, the digital display is actually mechanical, with rolling tubes forming the digital segments. This is how it works, according to the press release.
The mechanically operated digital display of the second timezone shows tens of hours, single hours, tens of minutes and single minutes, all displayed by mobile microsegments driven by an assemblage of 23 cams connected to a set of gears and a triggering and synchronization system. The time information is displayed by an array of 23 horizontally and vertically positioned microsegments. Vertical segments are 9 mm high and weigh at most 25 milligrams while the horizontal segments measure 2.90 mm in length and weigh only 10 milligrams. The segments have four faces: two opposing visible faces fitted with colored strips and two opposing unmarked faces. Time changes are effected by 90° rotations of the required segment or segments. Involving one to twelve segments, time changes are lightning fast.
Forward to 40 seconds in to hear Fawaz Gruosi, the CEO of Di Grisogono, talk about the watch. "Some people, they say, 'Do you smoke something when you came out with the idea?'" he tells the CNN journalist. Available in four styles—red gold, titanium and gold, titanium and platinum and titanium and rubber—the Meccanica DG is waterproof to 100 feet and, presumably, is heinously expensive. [Sybarites and timezoneitalia.com and YouTube]
Comments
Could she have crawled any higher up his arse?
Goddammit, finally a cool-ass watch and it has to be all that expensive.
Grrr
thats cool! it reminds me of the flipping analog clocks that used to be in train stations/airports and a nixie clock combined. ALthough the mechanicals are much more complex in this thing. I think it's pretty sweet, if not totally impractical, haha
now that is some really cool stuff
mecha-digital display, i wonder who the hell is steady enough to put it together, not a project for the hung-over
This will come in handy when the giant emp activates and destroys all integrated circuitry thereby resetting civilization.
"This video is not available in your country."
WTF?
Well, I just got back from the watch fairs, and had the opportunity to hold the different versions of this watch in my hands while I was in Basel! The titanium version of the watch (the one with the green indications) is simply AMAZING, and - believe it or not - it is not as insanely priced as many far less interesting (but far more expensive) watches which the "big" brands were launching this year!
When you hear your watch flipping and changing all of the sudden - It might display an AMBER alert or Road Warning Ahead data.
The Swiss make some cool stuff though ...
I don't think I could wear one (even if I could afford it) but I do think it is really cool and well done.
What are we talking about diplomate?
Gimme some numbers here
"CNN's luxury week" oh dear
i think it's cynical that he's talking about the economic downturn and fears of recession while they're showing uber-expensive jewelery.
now that is some mechanical sweetness.
@godwhacker you probably couldn't even think about putting together that many tiny parts with a hangover. Your head might just explode.
There is a great article in Forbes about using watches as long term investments... instead of Bear Stearns.
It is a marvel of artistic engineering, but I wonder if anyone really wants to spend $5k ($10k? more?) for a watch that looks like a $3 digital.
@Walter: um, yeah.
@weatherman: looking at the mechanism in the pics its pretty crude compared to some of the IWC and other top end perpetuals.
WHY?
an electronic one would be - in many ways better
This video is no longer available? WTF?
This would be so incredibly awesome if it weren't going to be priced similar to a new sedan.
Presumably the digital bit isnt always 2 hours behind the hands??
Simply put: A masterpiece.
I envy those who will be able to own this watch. unfortunately rent, food, and fuel still ring up as more important than a beautiful timepiece in the grand scheme of things. C'mon Lottery!
@scoobjay: The article states the the digital section portrays a second time zone. try reading. because knowledge is power.
@desostros: The big brands always come out with 300K+€ watches, pretty much every year. But this year, even companies like Maurice Lacroix felt that they were entitled to present a 300K CHF watch!!! C'mon, one might spend that for Patek, but Maurice Lacroix?!?!?!
@weatherman: if Casio made a watch that looked like that, I would own one.
They don't, so I don't.
This, good sir, is a marvel to look at, and not some drop crane prize from your local Chucky Cheese.
Where can we watch the video?
If you are getting the "Not available" message, download the video here:
[cache.googlevideo.com]
(Right-click and Save As, then rename to .mp4)
That watch is so last gen, seriously, xbox 1 theme?
@LordZedd: "We're sorry, this video is no longer available." WTF
The clock/watch lover in me just wet himself...
That is by far the coolest thing I've seen. Make one that a sane (to be read "not stupidly rich") person can afford and I'll be humping its leg.
;-]
"Comprising of"? Your writing makes Autoblog look literate, which, just to clarify, it isn't.
SIIIICK!!!
Now this is definitely worth something instead of that other one that tells day or night.
@ripfire4: I liked the pointless day or night watch
do want. damn, i wish i could afford something like that. can't wait to see how long a fake will take to be produced.
What others said, too freaking cool, too freaking expensive damn it.
wow a mechanical analogue digital watch!
Lol, if you guys saw the Dolce & Gabbana booth... All flashy and shit. Lol. Kinda cool.
This colossal waste of time (forgive the pun) and resources reminds me of the story of the American space program designing a pressurized pen to write in space while the Russians just used a pencil. A $1.99 Gumball Machine Casio gets the same thing done.
@flyboy:
CRude? That would be the last word I would use to describe this movement. Also, I don't think you really understand what a "perpetual movement" is. As far as I can see (as someone who apprenticed watchmaking and have worked in the watch industry) the complication is great and extremely well executed. You might want to check what a "complication" is in watch lingo.
I just shat a brick
Anyone found a price yet? Man, this thing is astonishing.
So a price anyone? Why has the price been mentioned so many times without an actual number being put up?
We all know it's going to be expenive, but there is a big difference between 10k expensive and 100-300k expensive.
@ps61318:
$8.99 available at Walmart
@N@tedog: Really!?!?! That's fant..as.... hey, wait a minute... you were just kidding, weren't you.
Humph, had me there, by gum. Heh, heh, heh, good one.
Didn't think someone could make a watch cooler than the Nixie:
[www.cathodecorner.com]
@Frizzaper: 200K CHF, IIRC.
@Diplomate: per xe.com: Live rates at 2008.04.11 15:46:20 UTC
200,000.00 CHF = 199,977.85 USD
Switzerland Francs United States Dollars
1 CHF = 0.999889 USD 1 USD = 1.00011 CHF
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