Tick-tock Evolution

In 18th and 19th century Europe, regulators had a distinct role: standardising time across expanding work spaces. This led to the adoption of clocks with regulator-type displays, where hours, minutes and seconds were shown in separate sections on the dial. Everyone, particularly in factories and transportation, could now read the time, even from a distance, synchronise their work easily and manage their schedules effectively. While these early regulators were valued for their accuracy, this feature has largely faded from modern interpretations. Today, a “regulator” typically refers to a watch with the time displayed in three distinct areas. Historically, regulators were designed in a no-nonsense, utilitarian way. That all changed in 2011, when Patek Philippe introduced the Annual Calendar Regulator Reference 5235, with its satin-brushed dial. This was followed by Chopard’s…