Complications

Categories of complications

Simple complications (premium 30–80%)

Date

• Date at 3 o'clock
• Example: Rolex Datejust, Submariner Date

Day-Date

• Day-of-week + date
• Example: Rolex Day-Date "President"

GMT

• Second timezone via 24-hour hand
• Example: Rolex GMT-Master II, Patek 5990

Power Reserve indicator

• Shows remaining mainspring power
• Example: AP Royal Oak Power Reserve

Medium complications (premium 80–200%)

Chronograph

• Stopwatch with sub-dials + start/stop pusher
• Example: Daytona, Speedmaster, Patek 5170

Annual Calendar

• Self-adjusts every month except February
• Example: Patek 5396, Longines Master Annual Calendar

Moon Phase

• Shows lunar phase
• Example: Patek 5054, IWC Portofino Moon Phase

World Timer

• Shows 24 timezones simultaneously
• Example: Patek 5230, Vacheron Constantin Overseas WT

Complex complications (premium 200–500%+)

Perpetual Calendar

• Self-adjusts every year including leap year — see perpetual calendar
• Example: Patek 5320, AP Royal Oak Perpetual

Minute Repeater

• Chimes hours, minutes, seconds
• Example: Patek 5074, AP Royal Oak Concept Repeater

Tourbillon

• Rotating cage reducing gravity's effect on escapement
• Example: Patek 5101, AP Royal Oak Tourbillon

Equation of Time

• Difference between solar and mean solar time
• Example: Patek 5160G

Grand complications (premium 500–2000%+)

Grand Complication

• Combines chronograph + perpetual calendar + minute repeater
• Example: Patek 5208, AP Royal Oak Grande Complication

Sky Moon Tourbillon

• Sky chart + tourbillon + perpetual
• Example: Patek 5002, 6002

Resale impact

Standard models (Rolex)

• Submariner Date 126610LN: THB 420,000
• Submariner No Date 124060: THB 318,000
• Date complication adds: +32%

GMT

• GMT-Master II 126710BLRO Pepsi: THB 720,000
• Submariner Date 126610LN: THB 420,000
• GMT complication adds: +71%

Chronograph

• Daytona 116500LN: THB 1,580,000
• Submariner 126610LN: THB 420,000
• Chronograph + premium model adds: +276%

Sky-Dweller (Annual Calendar + GMT)

• Sky-Dweller 326934: THB 650,000
• Datejust 41 126334: THB 285,000
• Annual + GMT adds: +128%

Caliber complexity and service

Complications carry:

• More parts — Patek Grande Complication has 686 vs Submariner ~200
• Higher service cost — perpetual calendar service THB 80,000–150,000 vs Submariner THB 28,000
• Shorter service interval — 5–7 years for complex, 7–10 for simple

Function testing

Chronograph test

1. Start, second hand starts smoothly
2. Stop: immediate halt (no flicker)
3. Reset — returns to 0 instantly
4. Sub-dial sync — minute counter aligned

GMT test

1. Set 24-hour hand
2. Independent of main hour hand
3. Verify timezone-two time

Date/Day-Date test

1. Quick-set function (if present)
2. Date roll-over at midnight
3. Day-of-week language

Perpetual calendar test

1. Verify date matches current
2. Set leap year indicator (if present)
3. Moon phase position

Seller playbook

Complications functioning normally

• Baseline premium

Complications not working

• Chronograph broken: -12 to -18% (Service-repairable)
• GMT hand not moving: -8 to -12%
• Perpetual calendar wrong date: -10 to -15% (needs adjustment)

Service before sale

For THB 1M+ complications — service at Authorised Service Centre before sale:

• Patek service: THB 55,000–95,000 → +THB 80,000–150,000 payout

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Sources: Patek Philippe complications guide · WatchCharts complications premium analysis · Hodinkee guide to complications