103rd Auction

2020/11/7

Lot 20

Glashütte Original, Glashütte i/SA, "Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon", Movement No. 07/25, Case No. 016127, limited edition serial number 07/25, Ref. 1-89-01-03-03-04, 48 mm, 278 g, circa 2012
A heavy "Grande Complication" in practically new condition, with 37 world time zones, perpetual calendar and flying one-minute tourbillon - limited edition no. 7 of only 25 pieces produced worldwide - with original box and integrated watchwinder, operating instructions, guarantee card, certificate and DVD
Case: platinum, screwed on glazed back with additional hinged back, original platinum deployant clasp. Dial: silvered, window for tourbillon cage.
The "Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon" with Universal Time indication was launched in 2012 – it is the most complicated wristwatch ever produced by Glashütte Original. The extremely small edition of only 25 pieces is certainly due to the highly sophisticated production process. The "Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon" enables globetrotters to read day-/nighttime of two out of 37 world time zones simultaneously at home and on the road; the watch is already prepared for the eventuality of new time zones - including 15-minute time zones - being created. As many as 96 time zones can be displayed without requiring any update of the movement. All details such as time and date of the destination are displayed by a perpetual calendar, which takes into account all changes of time, be they backward or forward. The complexity of this timepiece is crowned by a flying minute tourbillon.
Local time is displayed in a 24-hour day/night indication at 6 o’clock, while the main dial displays the current time zone which is set through the crown at 2 o’clock. This updates the display in the two windows at 8 o’clock. The upper of the two is marked DST (Daylight Saving Time) and shows summer time, the lower window marked STD and shows winter time (Standard Time). The mechanism takes into account whether the watch travels from west to east (forward) or from east to west (westward). Instead of city names or GMTs, three-lettered international airport codes are displayed.
Whereas the time zones need a little explanation, the perpetual calendar is displayed in the traditional way. The leap year sits at 3 o’clock, the panorama date at 4 and the day of the week at 9 o’clock. What makes this perpetual calendar fascinating though is the fact that it can move in reverse when required by the time zones.
The third complication is the flying tourbillon with a beautiful perlage plate and an exquisitely shaped cage, which sits at 12 o’clock and rotates once per minutes with the balance around the same axis – an altogether magnificent example of watchmaking skill at its most advanced.

Sold

estimated
60.000120.000 €
Price realized
110.000 €