In 1996, it won the Watch of The Year award and the following year, it was permanently exhibited at the International Watchmaking Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The use of a quartz movement enabled the easy enjoyment of complicated functions. It managed to keep the price, including maintenance costs, affordable.
Shellman has introduced the world's inaugural super-complication watch with a quartz movement. The company has innovated the world's pioneering "practical super-complicated high-grade watch" and christened this masterpiece the "Grand Complication."
The Shellman Grand Complication comprises four primary intricate features, including a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, split-second chronograph, and moon phase. It offers an enriching moment to easily embrace the core essence of a high-grade watch, characterized by the meticulously planned and researched quartz movement by Shellman.
Quartz movement is chosen by Shellman as a facet of the Shellman Grand Complication to cater to dedicated watch enthusiasts. There is a firm belief that this movement not only offers the convenience but also upholds the quality akin to that of mechanical watches, all at an affordable price.
Some watch enthusiasts and experts might believe that complications are simplified in quartz movements, but the Shellman Grand Complication is undeniably a masterpiece.
The design combines a traditional chronograph case with an authentic guilloche dial. The dial features a multi-layered guilloche pattern, showcasing craftsmanship comparable to that of Swiss mechanical complications. The "Black" model, inspired by the night sky, features a midnight bLack disc adorned with a gilded moon and stars. This intricate design is achieved using an innovative technique, where an aluminum plate undergoes special anodizing treatment, followed by the application of thick gold leaf.
The Shellman Grand Complication’s Minute Repeater boasts a sophisticated mechanism that audibly indicates the hours and minutes with distinct chimes.
Additionally, the watch includes a time-checking function using a single hand, allowing for multiple checks per reading. It also features a stopwatch capability.
The timepiece is equipped with 60-minute and 12-hour cumulative counters, and the chronograph’s second hand is driven by a specially designed 1/4-second step motor. This mechanism aims to replicate the smooth motion characteristic of mechanical watches.
The Grand Complication Black features a PVD-coated belt and case, with a black-dominated dial, creating a cohesive all-black design. In contrast, the gold accents on the dial stand out boldly, adding a striking individuality to the timepiece. As it is now discontinued, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain.
Furthermore, the Shellman Grand Complication incorporates a moon phase disc calibrated to the 29.5-day lunar cycle. This disc exemplifies exceptional craftsmanship, meticulously replicating the enamel coating seen in the most prized antique masterpieces. Expertly Overhauled by Citizen in December 2024. The overhaul included the following:
1)Disassembly and cleaning
2)Battery replacement
3)Running test
4)Replacement of the case back gasket
As for the paperwork, we will provide you with the delivery note issued by Citizen, which details the overhaul work.