Historically important is an understatement for this watch. This first series, first year of production, unpolished Harry Winston timepiece houses the first ever Bi-Retrograde Perpetual Calendar. This movement was designed by world-renowned watchmakers Roger Dubuis and Jean-Marc Wiederrecht for use by Harry Winston in this watch. It is this very movement that later on made Roger Dubuis famous when he started his eponymous watch brand in 1995. The Bi-Retrograde Perpetual Calendar movement is considered to be a technical masterpiece amongst watchmakers because of its new approach to displaying the perpetual calendar. The design is praised for its simplicity and symmetry, and is made all the more beautiful by the inclusion of the partially open-worked dial and the flawless lapis-stone moonphase.
Beyond being historically important, this watch is also very rare. Very few examples have surfaced to the market, and even fewer include the factory original bracelet complete with “HW” Harry Winston deployant. In fact, to the best of our knowledge there are only three other examples that are known in the market that include the bracelet. Very little information is known about these bracelets other than that they were an additional cost, and some collectors believe that the bracelet may have cost as much as the watch itself when purchased at retail.
This example is in an excellent state of preservation. The watch remains unpolished, with a very full bracelet that will fit an 8.25-inch wrist and weighs a whopping 176 grams (over 6 ounces). This Harry Winston gem is a showpiece worthy of any sophisticated watch collector that appreciates historical importance, rarity, and beauty.
