Vincent Calabrese “Horus” Wandering Hours

Model: Vincent Calabrese “Horus” Wandering Hours Year: 1998 Limited Edition: 100 Pieces Features: The History. Wandering hours are so hot right now. Whether it’s the high-end Audemars Piguet Starwheel, the more affordable Xeric Triptych, or the somewhere-in-the-middle Otsuka Lotec No. 5, this 400-year-old complication is enjoying a full-blown renaissance. And if you’re currently weighing up your wandering hour options, you might be interested to know that Vincent Calabrese brought his version to market all the way back in 1988. The Maker. Vincent Calabrese's rise began in 1977, when he won a Gold Medal at Geneva’s Inventors Fair for his “Linear Movement.” Corum promptly bought the rights and, in 1980, unveiled the now-legendary Golden Bridge featuring his design. He later sold Blancpain the rights to his eight-day flying tourbillon, which they use in some extremely high-end models, and he currently holds 14 watch-related patents. In 2023, he won another Gold Medal in Geneva’s for his hairspring-less escapement. The Leader. Riding high on his success, Calabrese co-founded the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) in 1985 - a sort of pseudo-union for independent watchmakers that allowed members to share ideas, boost visibility, and collaborate freely. Today, there are 40 members and it reads like a hall of fame - including the likes of Georges Daniels, François-Paul Journe, Philippe Dufour, Kari Voutilainen and Hajime Asaoka. The Complication. Unlike most modern interpretations, Calabrese’s setup hides the complication beneath a mystery dial. Strictly speaking, it’s a jump hour wandering hours system - the hour “hand” snaps forward every 60 minutes with satisfying precision. The Design. Unlike most modern interpretations, Calabrese’s setup hides the complication beneath a mystery dial. So while it is a normal wandering hours complication under the hood, Calabrese’s presentation of it is both novel and mind-bending. The piercing blue dial and unusual case shape certainly cement this watch as the eye-catching horological oddity it was born to be. The Name. Named after the Egyptian God of the Sun, Horus, due to its orbiting design. Specifications: Condition: In great condition overall. Recently serviced. No marks of any real significance. Scope: Box and papers Movement: In-house Vincent Calabrese Automatic Dimensions: Case Width: 36.2mm Lug to lug: 43.9mm Case Thickness: 9.6mm