Mega Watches

I always love to tell people that the fact that I have big feet and big hands is proof that God has a sense of humor (let it sink in...get it?). If you've also got big 'ol paws like mine, you need to make sure that your watch is sufficiently large or else it may appear that you're wearing a ladies' timepiece - which wouldn't be a problem if you were actually a large woman. Regardless of your sex, if you're a high-roller in the market for a luxury watch, chances are you're looking for a Mega Watch, which is a term coined by duPont Registry publisher Tom duPont to describe limited-production oversized watches (44-47mm for men and 37-40mm for women) that retail for more than $60,000.

Despite the debacle going on in the financial markets, industry insiders like Corum President Michael Wunderman believe that Mega Watches are here to stay:

“Oversized watches are no longer only a trend or a gimmick,” says Wunderman. “It is what watches have become – bigger, stronger and more intricate in design. Less than 10 percent of people actually use the chronograph function on their watches, but complicated watches are dominating the mechanical watch market. Oversized designs allow for complex movements and robust construction with room for interesting design elements for the winding crowns and chronograph pushers using multiple materials and various surface finishing throughout.”

If you're in the market for a Mega Watch, keep an eye out for the second annual duPont Registry A Buyers Gallery of Fine Watches which features 44 pages of more than $1.5 million of rare watches, including:

IceLInk 6Timezone Snow - $290,000
Divided into six individual faces, the IceLInk 6Timezone Snow is separated into four dials displaying time zones, one the date and one full of floating diamonds set in a fluid called IceFuel, all of which are displayed within the 26-karat diamond-encrusted bezel that would make a breath-taking addition to any collectors’ watch box.

Franc Vila FVa No Cuatro - $265,000
Limited to only eight pieces, the intricate sapphire crystal features of the FVa No Cuatro timepiece blend beautifully into a skeleton watch that comes alive when the 18-karat gold “Esprit Unique” case begins to move.

Corum Golden Tourbillion Panoramique - $215,000
Innovative with cemented crystal walls and platinum casing, only five Corum Golden Tourbillion Panoramique units weighing a mere 120 grams will ever be produced.

Wempe Chonometerwerke - $110,500
Sleek and refined, the hand-made 152 components of this German timepiece were handmade by Thierry Albert and master watchmaker Daniel Malchert, and sure to dazzle with a mere 25 pieces ever to be produced worldwide.

Ulysse Nardin Sonata - $59,800
On a classic blue leather strap, the large faced Sonata displays not only a cathedral-type alarm, but also dual-time, big date and count down inside the 42mm, 18-karat white gold casing