7 Retrograde dial watches that you will love

The term ‘retrograde’ signifies ‘backward movement’, and one can identify a retrograde dial watch by witnessing the presence of one or more sweeping hands. Majorly, the movement of the hand is displayed in the form of an arc, but the movement could be linear as well. The sweeping hands travel back to the point of departure once they complete the arc. With its intricate mechanism, a retrograde dial is a more difficult complication than a function. Here is the list of few retrograde dial watches that we loved so far -

Breguet Classique Chronométrie 7727

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This 41mm timepiece is crafted in 18K rose gold with a silver Guilloché dial in six different patterns featuring Roman hour markers and blued "Breguet" steel hands. The seconds counter encircles the 12 o’clock with a running indicator on its right that rotates every two seconds, and a retrograde hand near 5 o’clock displays the 60-hour power reserve. The self-winding automatic Calibre 574DR powers the timepiece which beats at a high frequency of 10Hz. The watch is water resistant to 30m and comes with a brown alligator strap. The other version of the watch is made in 18K white gold flanked with black alligator strap.

Louis Moinet Tempograph Spirit

The 40.7mm Louis Monet limited edition timpeices are crafted in 18K rose gold or grade 5 Titanium, featuring a semi-skeleton dial with a hour and minute subdial between 4 and 5 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock (coated with red, blue, and black), and 20 retrograde seconds between 1 and 2 o’clock. The watches are powered by the exclusive in-house Calibre LM85 with beautifully decorated oscillating weight in "Clous de Paris” hobnail pattern and "Fleur de Lys”. The watch offers about 48-hours of power reserve. The Louisiana alligator leather strap flanks the case, and the timepiece is water resistant up to 50m.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar Ref. 103463

This 40mm octagon-shaped perpetual calender watch stands out for its thin mechanical movement structure crafted in satin-polished platinum case. The gradient blue lacquered dial features retrograde date, day, month, and leap year at different counters. This automatic winding timepiece is powered by BVL 305 calibre, boasting a 60-hour power reserve. The watch comes with a blue alligator leather strap together with a platinum pin buckle, and offers water resistance up to 30m.

Bovet Récital 21

The 44.4mm watch with trademarked “writing slope” case is crafted in 18K gold. Its textured dial features Roman hours, and minutes on a centrally placed blue brushed finish disc, day and month window at 12 and 6 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, retrograde date on the periphery of central dial, and leap year window at 3 o’clock. This manual-winding timepiece is powered by the caliber 13DM05-QPR, and comes with a reserve of about 5 days. The case is complemented with a blue alligator leather strap. The watch is water resistant up to 30m.

Chanel Monsieur Retrograde Minutes

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The 18K white gold made 40mm case timepiece features an Ivory opaline dial, displaying a larger than usual jumping hour window at 9 o’clock, and a 240 degree retrograde minute counter with a small seconds counter inside. Beating inside is Caliber 1, Chanel’s exclusive in-house manual winding mechanical movement. The watch strap is black alligator pattern calfskin with 18K white gold ardillon buckle.

Van Cleef & Arpels Pierre Arpels Heure d'Ici & Heure d'Ailleurs Ref. VCARO4II00

The 42mm timepiece features 18K white gold Rhodium plated case, bezel and honeycomb crown. The white lacquered dial of the watch displays dual time zones with jumping hours through a circular window, and retrograde minutes. The self-winding mechanical movement powers the watch with about 48 hours of reserve. A black shiny alligator strap with ardillon buckle flanks the case.

Baume and Mercier Clifton 10449

The 43mm Baume and Mercier Clifton 10449 is crafted with stainless steel with a sleek polished finished bezel. The white dial features Arabic numerals as hour markers, retrograde date between 2 and 4 o’clock, days counter between 8 and 10 o’clock with blued steel hands, and retrograde 40 power-reserve located at 6 o’clock. The watch is powered by self-winding automatic movement. The watch comes with a blue alligator strap.

Images: Courtesy Brands

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