De Grisogono Meccanico DG Watch

De Grisogono’s Meccanico DG watch is the world’s first mechanical digital watch - recreating an LED-style display with wholly mechanical clockwork components. In fact there are 651 components that make up the movement with 23 cams and gears responsible for rotating the cylinders which display the digital readout.

The ’digital readout’ is displayed by an array of 23 horizontally and vertically positioned microsegments. Vertical segments are 9 mm high and weigh at most 25 milligrams, while the horizontal segments measure 2.90 mm in length and weigh only 10 milligrams. The segments have four faces: two opposing visible faces fitted with coloured strips and two opposing unmarked faces. Time changes are effected by 90° rotations of the required segment or segments. Involving one to twelve segments, time changes are lightning fast.

Only 177 pieces of each colourway are being made - in red gold, titanium-and-gold, titanium-and-platinum and titanium-and-rubber. Most of us like the version with the green readout, as it is more distinctive and unique.

This watch is not for slim wristed people, nor for those with shallow pockets as its size is 56mm x 48mm and nearly 20mm deep - the price tag is an equally sizeable £220,000.

Despite the large size, the ergonomics of the watch are superb; alhough on the proper release version a faceplate now sits in front of the rotating cylinders - which to my mind detracts significantly from the prototype pictured above.

All in all though, a beautiful, innovative and imaginative watch - albeit a little too grand for most.