The impossible watch ad

James Randi found an ad run by Neiman Marcus for a "Jaeger-leCoultre watch" on the back-cover of a recent issue of TIME magazine:

But what really caught my probing eye was the fact that whoever designed this ad, might be more accustomed to using an hour-glass or a sun-dial rather than a mechanical watch. This is the result of an artist choosing the most pleasing placement of the variables, regardless of whether or not he's representing a realistic view.
The watch shown could not exist.

Randi looked for more information on the watch, but could not find it listed on the Neiman Marcus web page. When Randi phoned the local store to ask about this particular timepiece he was told by the store they had never heard of it.

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Anonymous Adgrunt's picture
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Robblink's picture

Hmmmm...but if the watch doesn't exist, why does googling "Reverso Squadra Chronograph GMT" come up with so many webpages?

TDD's picture

Robblink wrote: Hmmmm...but if the watch doesn't exist, why does googling "Reverso Squadra Chronograph GMT" come up with so many webpages?

Accordiing to Randi, there are "are three major reasons" the watch shown in the ad "could not exist".

Dabitch's picture

That watch is confusing as hell.

TDD's picture

A WATCH TO WATCH

The watch problem from last week generated a huge amount of interest, a great variety of solutions, and some interesting misconceptions. I thank you all for your participation. Obviously, most readers only guessed at the function of the three auxiliary dials, though some of you actually looked up the timepiece on the Internet and ascertained those functions. That provided a much clearer view of the situation, of course.

Some 20 or so readers assumed that I doubted the existence of the watch and/or of the company that makes it; they deluged me with Internet references. Others were sure I

Dabitch's picture

All the minor dial-hands are shown in +45