This looks like an exercise in “odd design” but I suppose there are a few interesting innovations here. This was made by the same bloke, Jean-François Ruchonnet, who created the TAG Heuer Monaco V4 Concept Watch. I’m not quite understanding this whole thing, but here’s a quick discussion:
Winding the watch and setting the hour and minutes are effected using a winding stem in the form of a movable “winch” that links directly to one of the small “capstans” that are found at the four exterior angles of the case: at the upper left, it acts directly on the fusee and, by the intermediary of the chain, allows the barrel to be wound; at the upper right, it acts on the minute cylinder which is connected to that of the hours. The two other small “capstans” are only there for decoration and to complete the aesthetics of the case. Once the small winch is used, it is easily stored in the buckle of the watch’s bracelet.
Complication for complication’s sake? You decide.
Operation Cabestan: When two independents come together to shake up the world of watches [EuropaStar]
