A record, whether industry-wide or for a brand, is nothing without the specificity of what has been accomplished. For instance, there was some debate about the Grosse Pièce and how many complications it had, which impacted how historic the watch was in the annals of the brand’s history (and, in the end, it seems most people found it equal to L’Universelle). Those arguments are somewhat moot in light of a watch that outshines both the Grosse Pièce and the “Universelle” in terms of complications. So, what are the complications? Well, it’s tricky in more ways than outlined above.
For clarification’s sake, there are 30 complications, 17 indications, and 17 technical devices. Audemars Piguet does not count hours or minutes as complications (rightfully so), but it does list the tourbillon (which, from a historical perspective, is a regulating device, not a complication). Some of the complications in the Universal Calendar duplicate the main perpetual calendar list, but the Universal Calendar is sort of its own thing and does duplicate some functions on the front dial side. That’s why you may see some complications listed twice. But in theory, the Universal calendar allows you to view calendars for two different years at the same time (by comparing the caseback’s calendar to the dial), which is probably a complication in its own right. Many complications are carry-overs from their base caliber found in the RD#4, but there are certainly plenty of new ones. Here they are, broken down by type.
Mark Kauzlarich
2026-02-03 08:00:00