Following the introductions of the 21 Blackjack and the Baccarat, this year Christophe Claret completes his trilogy of gaming watches with the Poker. For my money, this is the best of the three, both because the game it plays – Texas Hold ’em, is so compelling, and because the play on the watch is so realistic.
Claret initially wanted to launch the Poker as the first piece in the series, but he could not because the technical challenges the game and the movement presented required two years of work to overcome. The watch allows up to three players. Angled louvers over the hole cards make them visible only to the player holding those cards. Claret’s team had to devise a mechanical mechanism that allows a complete 52 card game following the rules of poker. Their solution allows the watch to display 32,768 different hands for each player, or a total of 98,304 combinations for three players. The probabilities have been calculated so that each player has approximately the same chances of winning. A chime sounds each time cards are dealt.
During my visit, I played a couple of three-handed games. The play was quite realistic. I won the first hand, hitting a straight on the river. Alas, the watch was not in the pot.
The movement is a marvel of complexity, with 655 components fit into a case measuring 45 x 16 mm . The 72 hour power reserve can handle marathon games. Oh yes, it also tells the time.
Poker is available in four versions: two-tone, black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium and white gold; two-tone, black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium and red gold; monochrome, black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium, with blue spinel hands; and monochrome, black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium with red ruby hands. Poker is covered by a worldwide patent. Each case material is limited to just 20 pieces. Prices start at SFr. 160,000.
