Roman numerals in “non-roman” watches

Our transient and impetuous life is full of various digital values; everything that surrounds us every day can be connected with some number: birth date, workday start hour, number of guests on wedding, price of suit, telephone number, and dial of our wrist watch we look many times a day. All humanity literally depends on numerals without realizing it. As it’s know, a superstitious man, enchanted by magic of numerals, divides numbers in good and bad ones. Some people, influenced by prejudices, for example, will never move to apartment No.13 or on 13th floor (in some countries many-storied buildings don’t have 13th floor), others will be patiently wait for the end of scariest day – Friday 13th. “13” is opposite to “7”, which is believed to bring happiness and success.
A few people think about origin of numbers, first of which appeared in far primitive society, when man had to primitively count things. The first numbers didn’t have names and were indicated with the help of fingers and toes: one hand or foot – number “5”, two – “10”, so on. It’s interesting that such a bit transformed “finger” counting is reserved till nowadays. So, in China and Japan the household things, such as plates or cups, are counted by fives or tens, and in France and England twenties are popular. Then people learned to write down numbers, and after our remote ancestors made great efforts to invent various calculation systems, some of which are kept up to present day. One of the most mysterious calculations system, used by great number of nations and cultures till nowadays, is Roman. There are many legends about origin of this calculation system, and the scientists are not in lockstep as for its creation. A literate person, who even hasn’t studied Roman numerals, knows that one line (Roman I) means numeral one, II – two, III – three. Man’s hand has 5 fingers, therefore, the ancient people started symbolically present a hand by sign “V” not to draw five lines (according to some sources, it could also be two separated fingers), which indicates the numeral “5”. As for numerals six, seven, etc, I think there’s no sense to explain, since everything is rather logical. Ten is indicated by dagger (X) that consists of two fives, one is just upturned, and as we remember from school classes, five plus five equals to ten. The further development of ancient culture led to the appearance of other Roman numeral signs, such as C – the first letter of the word “centrum” (means 100), M - mille (1000), D – 500, L — 50. We’ve digressed though, as you won’t find such great number values on usual wrist watches. One may logically suppose that the powerful Romans invented the Roman system of numerals. Nevertheless, there are some facts which overturn the theory. For example, a quinary system is clearly traced in the Roman system, but there wasn’t any trace of quinary system in language of Romans. That’s why these numerals were sooner created by the Romans’ historical predecessors – Etruscans. The modest Etruscans, whose glory was simply rudely stolen by their adherents, are ancient tribes, populating the north-west of the Apennine peninsula in the first millennium BC. The culture of that nation was at rather high level, and the numerals were created by them in about 500 BC. The sly Romans adopted those magic “lines and daggers” from the Etruscans in the 5th century BC. Improving the rules of use, they didn’t feel shy to give their name to the numerals, which truly sounds beautifully and proudly. After the Romans conquered many nations and joined them with the Empire, the Roman numerals won wide popularity. And even after the Roman Empire fell, that quite uncomfortable numbering was applied in business papers of Europe. Today the Roman numerals are quite rare. The total use of Roman system of numerals in Western Europe finished only in the XV century, and in Italy the Roman numbering prevailed until ÕIII century. The slim Roman numerals-lines were replaced by undoubtedly more comfortable and a bit rounded Arab numerals.
Although we got used to simple and easy Arab numbering long ago, we can’t but agree that the Roman numerals make things mysterious, great and magically antique and exotic. In modern world the use of Roman numerals is appropriate quite rare. For example, numbers of century or millennium are written with the help of Roman numerals. Also such numerals are suitable for number of monarch (Louis XIV). In this case they pay a tribute of respect to a great man, therefore, the roman numerals are simply irreplaceable. In some countries the Roman numerals are also used in a year number. Besides, today the lines are daggers of Romans can be met in some book editions in many volumes, and as numbers of book pages that is much rarer, also for indication of some important events (Euclidean axiom V, World War II). And, of course, very often some watch companies apply the Roman marking on dials of their watches to make them graceful, sophisticated and powerful. Such Roman marking of wrist watch dials is considered to be a perfect “antique” feature. No doubt, the main attribute of classic wrist watches is the time indication by means of Roman numerals. Such watches don’t need many supplementary decorative things, as the Roman numbering is the main adornment. From the appearance of first mechanical watches only Roman numerals, as a symbol of eternity and infinity of time, were traditionally used for dials marking. Up to now arts critics and connoisseurs of vintage and retro-watches rack their brains over an amazing fact – the Roman numeral “4” isn’t indicated according to generally accepted subtraction principle (if a less numeral stands before a greater one, then the less numeral is subtracted from the greater one), i.e. instead of “IV” we see “IIII” on dials. Traditions are “contagious” in a good sense of this word. That’s why many modern watch companies keep “incorrect” writing of “4”. Pay attention to, for example, Swiss wrist watches of Vacheron Constantin, Longines, Patek Philippe, Ñartier, Breguet, Daniel Roth, Tissot and many others. The experts suggest several versions, explaining such transformation of Roman numeral “4” on dials. The official interpretation of such mysterious numeral says that IIII on a dial seems visually bigger, than IV, that gives a kind of visual balance to VIII on the opposite side of a dial. Besides, the dials of standard wrist watches are provided with four indicators with the Roman symbol “I”, four – with the symbol “V” and four – with “X”. That’s real time symmetry! The second version of appearance of mysterious four goes back to Roman times. In the beginning of their existence the Romans used the numeral “IIII”, and “IV” refers to a later period. It’s connected with the religion – 2000 year ago the Romans used letters I and V (instead of J and U) in their alphabet, that’s why the name of Jupiter started with the letters “IV” in Latin. The use of first letters of the great God’s name as numerals would have been blasphemy. According to the latest version of IIII appearance, once a famous French watchmaker created an excellent watch for his king. The dial of that watch was adorned with the traditional IV. The king thought that it would be more correct to write that numeral as IIII. Well, the poor watchmaker couldn’t make the ruler, who, obviously, live according to the principle “King is always right”, change his mind, and the four acquired four lines. Such a whim of capricious man that changed the watch history! Perhaps, it is just a legend, because other sources say that it happened in other country, not in France. Some other records run that the Roman numeral “4” acquired such appearance thanks to a London watchmaker, to say more exactly, to an English king, who ordered to change that mysterious numeral on the dial of tower clock “Big Ben”. But in 1854, due to the mechanic Benjamin Vulliamy, designed the great Big Ben, the writing of four was replaced by “IV”. It’s an upturned cipher of the Queen Victoria (Victoria I). And today the numeral “4” represents “IV” on the London clock. Even more specialists and historians will rack their brains over this mystery of magic Roman numerals, but our task is to draw your attention to beauty and greatness of wrist watch models for men and women with Roman marking, to value their excellence or even their disadvantages. Of course, tastes differ. The fans of Roman dials consider that it is very beautiful, exotic and, so to say, “non-popular”. And those, who are maybe lazy to learn the reading principle of ancient numerals and prefer usual Arab numerals, are against the Roman numerals. Although what kind of discomfort may they feel, reading the Roman numerals on a watch dial, if we all perfectly remember its marking even without any numbers? The Roman numerals are a feature of elegant and classic wrist watches. Despite the Roman system of numerals was crowed out from everyday life, it won its symbolic niche. The watches with such marking represent untouched beauty of ancient times, they became a specific symbol of times and epochs.

Ulysse Nardin Michelangelo Big Date (REF.236-68/41)

Watch hands are specific scissors, cutting a piece by piece of our time. And numerals help us to count these time pieces and to waste no one precious minute. Perhaps, neither tourbillon, nor minute repeater, nor perpetual calendar, nor any other genius complication, but just numerals on dial are one of the most important features of any wrist watch. As only numerals are a kind of ambassador of great time, they help us to read current hour, minute and second and measure our precious time, follow it. The Swiss watch of the company “Ulysse Nardin” from the collection “Michelangelo” – Ulysse Nardin Michelangelo Big Date (REF.236-68/41) – is an excellent example of original and charming Roman numerals of the dial of men wrist watch. The collection’s name itself (Michelangelo) amazingly takes us back to the past, to the Renaissance, and the graceful Roman numerals of the dial emphasize even more the influence of antiquity and create a magic image of past epochs. The color decision (brown tones) of this men wrist watch also makes this model incredibly elegant and sophisticated. The fascinating smooth lines in design of 18-carat pink gold case amaze by their simplicity and unusual complexity at the same time. The barrel-shaped case of 35 mm x 37 mm sizes makes up 12 mm in thickness. The big Roman numerals are seen through transparent sapphire glass, and the brown strap from best crocodile leather completes a unique image of this men wrist watch. The self-winding movement of caliber UN-22 with 42-hour power reserve is set into the case, water resistant at up to 100 meters. In spite of antique magic trend, the Swiss watch “Michelangelo Big Date” is also provided with modern elements, which don’t spoil a complete image at all, but tone perfectly with the design of this mechanic wrist watch. The hour, minute and second hands are luminescent, made of rich blue color. It’s interesting but such gaudy hands don’t destroy an elegant image of mechanical wrist watch with golden Roman numerals on silver dial. Apart from standard functions (hours, minutes, seconds), the elite watch “Michelangelo Big Datå” shows the current date at “2” hours. The so-called “Big Date” is a big date indicator, invented by Ulysse Nardin in 1995 (patent ¹ ÑÍ 688671). Such indicator is specific for the use of two disks, which rotate at the same level and form a rather big two-digit date indicator. The construction consists of two “apertures”: one shows tenths, another – units. It’s interesting that this patented construction of “giant date” switches the indicator at midnight instantly. First, Big Datå was used by the Swiss watch company “Ulysse Nardin” in its revolutionary watch “Perpetual Ludwig” of 1996. The unique crown of Swiss watch “Michelangelo Big Datå” is provided with position of quick date correction, and it’s possible to “travel in time” both forward and backward. The union of modern watchmakers’ designs and mysterious beauty and charm of dial with Roman numerals makes the watch “Ulysse Nardin Michelangelo Big Date” an embodiment of high art, which would have been highly valued by great Michelangelo himself.

Rotonde de Cartier Tourbillon Sapphire Skeleton

Up to now we’ve been telling you about excellent watches, provided with time indication by Roman numerals. We should note that it’s quite popular way of time indication. Many watch companies issue wrist watches with Roman numerals on dials. But we’ll dare to suppose that practically no one fan of horlogerie has met a dial on Roman numerals (!). The Swiss watch company “Cartier” managed to successfully surprise the connoisseurs of watch art by presenting an excellent model of men wrist watch of luxury class, named “Rotonde de Cartier Tourbillon Sapphire Skeleton” (ref. W1580031), in 2010. This Swiss watch is a peak of horlogerie, the main and most complicated model of collection “Rotonde de Cartier”. Well, we won’t keep our reader in suspense any longer and note, perhaps, the main feature of wrist watch “Rotonde de Cartier”. The watchmakers from Cartier provided their striking model with a thin Swiss watch movement of hand-wound caliber 9455 ÌÑ, which sizes make up 35,5 mm in diameter and 5,63 mm in thickness. The movement, consisting of 165 elements and working on 19 jewels, is situated at the center of “dial”, and the movement’s plate is made in the form of excellent Roman numerals. The experienced fans of Swiss watches have known since a long time that the Roman numerals on dial is one of the most recognizable elements of products from Cartier. It means that so usual and favorite Cartier Roman numerals are literally cut from the movement itself. It’s a specific “origami”! Besides, the skeletonized movement-dial allows admiring an excellent flying tourbillon, situated at “6” hours. Let’s remember that such kind of tourbillon, as flying tourbillon, is one of the most complicated devices, the carriage in which is fixed only from one side that allows doing without a bridge. The mechanical watch “Tourbillon Sapphire Skeleton” wouldn’t be a real Cartier, if the talented watchmakers didn’t put the symbolic letter “C” around the tourbillon, which also represents a part of caliber 9455 ÌÑ, marked with Genevan stamp. The manual winding watch movement makes 21 600 alterations per hour, and the power reserve makes up about 50 hours. The hour and minute hands are painted in deep dark-blue color, and the Roman numerals XII, III and IX show current time on the dial, which is absent in principle. Looking at the watch right through the skeletonized case of men wrist watch, you look for a dial, then you find it, but you realize that it’s not the dial, it’s the watch movement. Looking at the movement, in fact you see the dial. A dizzy rotation! Cheers to amazing resourcefulness of talented watchmakers and designers! And the Roman numerals suit best of all to performance of this idea, as few masters could manage to turn the watch movement’s plate into, for example, Arab numerals. Besides the name of Swiss company on the dial, this watch can be called a true Cartier thanks to its unique form of crown with round graining and spinel in the form of cabochon from Cartier. The round case of men wrist watch “Rotonde de Cartier Tourbillon Sapphire Skeleton” is crafted in 18-carat white gold, the water resistance – 30 m. The case makes up 45 mm in diameter that has become quite popular today and 12,35 mm in thickness. The sapphire glass covers the skeletonized dial, and the transparent back case from the same sapphire glass allows “watching through the time” indeed. This model of Swiss wrist watch is also precious thanks to limited edition of Rotonde de Cartier Tourbillon Sapphire Skeleton of only 100 timepieces: each of them is provided with individual number and equipped with a black strap from crocodile leather with a buckle of 18-carat white gold. The men elite watch “Rotonde Tourbillon Skeleton” embodies the newest design and complex characteristics from the watch mechanic’s point of view, but keeps the spirit and style of legendary Swiss brand “Cartier” at the same time. It’s just a bit “new” Cartier, which managed to unite the most complicated movement and ageless classics and charm of Roman numerals. Any watch-skeleton is unusually interesting in itself, since it allows looking into the time, which is impossible to see, but the skeleton from Cartier is a new stage of horlogerie, which raises apprehension of time and space at a higher level.

Blancpain Le Brassus Carrousel Repeater (ref. 0233-3634-55B)

As it’s known, the Romans are a great nation, created a great Empire and developed civilization, preceding and lying at the root of European one. The spirit of martial and powerful Romans still lives in the modern world. That spirit penetrated insensibly through centuries into our life, realized in magic Latin letters, language, books and manuscripts about powerful Roman sovereigns and courageous warriors. And the Roman numerals are the main and largest footprint, left by the Roman ethnos and kept almost in original form up to present days. Most part of the world is amazed by unseen magic and power of simple, as it would seem, numerals-lines and daggers. And today the Roman numerals literally embody the mysterious time itself with power and grace. The world watch companies, discovered unique features of these numerals, use them in their watch masterpieces and place them on dials, as a symbol of eternal and centuries-old time. The time seems to revive on a dial of wrist watch and show unknown facets of great eternity and frightening infinity to a watch’s owner. The Swiss watch company “Blancpain”, created its excellent men wrist watch “Le Brassus” with Roman numerals on the dial, immerses its fans into mysterious and secret world of the past, but keeping the present at the same time. All wrist watches from “Le Brassus” line, which seem to be taken off from the Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar himself, represent a top of horlogerie of the Swiss company “Blancpain”, and thanks to complicated ultrathin movement are a desired object of any collector. Now we’ll start from the beginning. First of all, the aforementioned complicated movement of men wrist watch “Blancpain Le Brassus Carrousel Repeater” (ref. 0233-3634-55B) of caliber 233 is 32,8 mm in diameter and 7,4 mm in thickness. The watchmakers from Blancpain assembled that manual winding movement on 48 jewels from 414 tiny elements. The power reserve of movement, engraved by hand, makes up 60 hours. This men wrist watch from collection Le Brassus is provided with classical complication of all modern elite watches – tourbillon. But the craftsmen of Blancpain chose unfixed carrousel tourbillon, invented by Bonniksen in 1892, only for their model of mechanical watch. This tourbillon is specific for the carriage, equipped with supplementary spacer, linked with anchor. One more great complication, used by Blancpain, is a minute repeater, which sounds so loud and clear due to two rings of gong, fixed to the case. When the repeater sounds, a new watch system functions, splitting bond between crown and movement that keeps the latter well. Let’s pay our attention to the appearance and design of Swiss watch “Le Brassus Carrousel Repeater”. The watch case makes up 45 mm in diameter and 13,31 mm in thickness and is made of amazing 18-carat red gold, and the transparent back case from sapphire glass opens a view to incredible manual winding movement. The graceful grey dial is half-skeletonized. The outer circle of dial-half-skeleton has enough places left for magic Roman numerals, which indicate the time (hours and minutes). The Roman numerals like confine the complicated movement of men wrist watch “Le Brassus” in ring. The brown strap is made of crocodile leather. Only 10 collectors of expensive watches will be able to travel to the past and feel the magic of Roman numerals, since the golden wrist watches Blancpain Le Brassus Carrousel Repeater” are limited. It should be noted that today there is a limited number of watch companies in the world, able to design such complicated movement. The Swiss watch manufactory “Blancpain” can also boast of creation of principally new minute repeater with gong rings. Also the talented watchmakers managed to combine this repeater with carousel tourbillon in one model of men watches. The lines of mysterious Roman numerals on the dial give two natures to this horlogerie masterpiece – nature of great antiquity and modern contemporaneity.

Breguet Classique 5717 Hora Mundi (Ref. 5717BR/US/9ZU)

The environment is full of wonderful things, created by both nature and skilful hands of man. But as the history shows, nothing can exist forever, there’s nothing that would be always popular and modern. Except, perhaps, classics. The Swiss watch company “Breguet” destroys all generally accepted time frames and standards, creating its unique collections of elite wrist watches, which could be safely referred to “ageless classics”. Speaking about the role the Roman numerals play in time counting, it’s necessary, first of all, to pay attention to the main and one of the most cult collections of watch giant “Breguet”. This is an excellent collection of men wrist watches “Classique”, which was completed by a masterpiece of horlogerie – men wrist watch “Hora Mundi” ref. 5717BR/US/9ZU – in 2011, demonstrating luxury, technical and aesthetic excellence. The model of Swiss watch “Hora Mundi” from Marine collection, released by Breguet in 1996, made a stir even then, evoking admiration and ovation of Swiss company-legend fans. The elite watch “Classique 5717 Hora Mundi”, presented at Baselworld 2011, continues its victory march “on wrists” of most experienced collectors and connoisseurs of watchmaking. 15 years have passed since the first model “Hora Mundi” was issued, that’s why the modern “brother” of that watch underwent significant changes from both mechanic and aesthetic points of view. The experts and all connoisseurs of horlogerie say in one voice that the Swiss watch company “Breguet” is, probably, one of the most recognizable manufactories at the watch market. Thanks to its individual peculiarities and unique distinguishing features, the watches of this brand can’t be but recognized. As the leadership of Breguet proudly announces, today the men wrist watch “Classique 5717 Hora Mundi” is the first example of mechanic watch with the function of instant-jump time zone, the movement of which has been developed during long three years. This function is just a treasure for a traveler, as it allows to know the time easily of two chosen watch zones without disturbing the general march of time by simply switching one button. The complicated self-winding movement of caliber 77F0, adjusted at 6 positions, consists of base caliber 777, provided with supplementary plate, and works on 43 jewels. The power reserve is 55 hours. The rotor of watch movement is made of 18-carat pink gold, engraved by hand, and the Swiss rectilinear lever escapement is silicon, as well as the flat pendulum spring. The round case of Breguet Classique 5717 Hora Mundi of 44 mm diameter and 13 mm thickness is made of 18-carat pink gold and subtly riffled on sides. The case, water-resistant at 30 meters, is equipped with a screw-locked crown and a pushpiece crown at “8” hours. The back case represents transparent sapphire glass, which also protects the golden dial with amazing picture of Northern and South America and hand engraving. The dial is also provided with silver-plated golden indicator “day/night” with hand engraving, date aperture at “12” hours and city indicator at “12” hours. The applied chapter ring with excellent Roman numerals from pure gold completes this picture. And the blued steel hands with round ends or “Breguet apples”, a distinguishing feature of the company, moves smoothly from one Roman numeral to another, counting the time. Now, when the technical characteristics are clear, let’s see how this accurate watch functions. Imagine that you put it on your wrist and look at the watch in working process. First of all, the date aperture – it’s rather big, therefore, it places three numerals, following one after another, and the appropriate one (current date) is circled. But the most important and interesting thing is the instant-jump time zone system. To use this function, you need to simply choose two cities from 24 offered ones. For example, you’re interested in local time of Paris, the 17th, 6:00 a.m. You need to rotate the crown and find the word “Paris” at “6” hours in the aperture, then you set the hands at required time – 6:00 a.m. and the 17th – by means of the crown and check the indicator of day/night shows “day”. Paris is done, now you have to find the second city in the aperture with the help of the same crown – for example, Sydney. You find it and see a miracle! The watch automatically transfers you to Sydney time, when the hour hand will jump 9 hours forward, and the date will shift to the 18th. Simply there is a deep nigh of next day in Sydney – 3:00 a.m., therefore, the day/night indicator shows the Moon. To return to Paris, you just need to push the button at “8” hours, and all indications are synchronized. That’s it, a simple push on the button at your wrist watch makes the latter a “flying carpet”, and you moves in space, travels around the world and will never get lost in time. The watch returns you easy as well. Besides the aforementioned model of wrist watch “Hora Mundi”, the Swiss company “Breguet” manufactured watches with European and Asian dials. And the fans of excellent platinum will travel on quite expensive “flying carpet”, made of 950 noble metal, with American, Asian and European dials. So, a happy journey!

Van Cleef & Arpels Monsieur Arpels Laterale (REF.WMSD02K2)

One of the main and most beautiful adornments of wrist watch dials both in modern watchmaking and at the beginning of its origin is, undoubtedly, the excellent and graceful Roman numerals we’ve said much earlier. The watchmakers often use the Roman numerals on a dial scale to make a model sophisticated and elegant. The Roman numerals are thought to create easy time readability, especially if the numerals and hands contrast with dial color. Of course, if an owner of wrist watch is used to know the Roman numerals. According to some specialists, the Arab numerals are more comfortable in everyday life, but they are less distinguished from each other by form and width, than the Roman ones, therefore, they are not so good for quick orientation at watch dial. But this is only one version about significance of ancient numerals on dials of many modern watches. Special charm and, probably, a kind of antiquity and powerful spirit of the Middle Ages is created by unusual writing of the Roman numeral “4” (“IIII” instead of “IV”), which is very popular in watchmaking. A partial use of “lines and daggers”, representing the numerals of Romans, is a very interesting variant of Roman numbering application in watchmaking. Oftentimes the watchmakers reduce the number of numerals on dials twice or more times, sometimes combining the Roman numerology with other variants of hour scale markings. So, the Swiss watchmakers from the watch company “Van Cleef & Arpels” showed incredible energy of Roman numerals, used by the designers of that company on the dial in combination with laconic indexes of hour scale, by the example of their men wrist watch “Mr Arpels Laterale” (REF.WMSD02K2). Four elongate silver Roman numerals (XII, III, VI, IX) are placed on polished (or matt) steel of snow-white dial; the rest numerals are replaced by indexes-lines of the same color. The designers and watchmakers of Van Cleef & Arpels were aimed to create an absolute classic masterpiece of horlogerie with the highest degree of technical accuracy, noticeable from the first look at that wrist watch. Let us conclude that the aim was reached perfectly. The white dial, as well as a simple classic form of case and an ascetic design of wrist watch, makes the process of time reading most comfortable. The company’s watchmakers managed to achieve maximum elegance of Van Cleef & Arpels Mr Arpels Laterale by means of original position of second dial, moved to “4 hours 45 minutes” and controlled with the help of a special wheel, preventing vibrations. The men wrist watch “Mr Arpels Laterale” is embodiment of matchless style of the most famous Swiss company “Van Cleef & Arpels”, influenced by unique asymmetry, creating a modern style of Swiss watch, combined with classics. Without any supplementary scales and points the ascetic dial of this watch shows the time as well as the restrained elegance and sophisticated taste of its owner. Besides, the sophisticated wrist watch “Mr Arpels Laterale” offers its owner a drastically new way of reading information about power reserve thanks to a special small display on the side of this mechanical watch. Here the name Laterale comes (in French “Laterale” means “side, lateral”). Another distinguishing feature of this horlogerie masterpiece is the combination of technical characteristics that allowed achieving high-quality functioning of mechanical watch and maximum accuracy of movement. Now, when our reader has a general idea of described model, as an example of successful use of the Roman numerals in watchmaking, we’ll speak about technical characteristics of men wrist watch “Mr Arpels Laterale” from Van Cleef & Arpels in details. First of all, the heart or the head of any watch is the movement – manual winding movement works on 21 jewels, the power reserve makes up 42 hours, indicated by means of unique aperture, as we’ve said before, which is situated on the side of case at “9” hours. Next. The round case with central fixing is made of high-quality stainless steel that makes this model available for wide range of customers. The diameter of case – 40 mm, the water resistance – 30 m. The anti-scratch sapphire glass protects the white dial, provided with four Roman numerals, indexes-lines, hour and minute hands, and a supplementary second dial. The bracelet from stainless steel with rather big links completes a perfect classic image of Swiss watch “Mr Arpels Laterale”. It would seem that it’s a standard mechanical watch, lack of various functions, except hours, minutes and seconds, but still it has some charm and attraction. Great Coco Chanel once said: “Innovation! One cannot be forever innovating! I want to create classics”. The Swiss watchmakers seemed to follow those wise words of wise woman, when they created the original model of men wrist watch “Van Cleef & Arpels Mr Arpels Laterale”.

To be continued ...