Those who prefer a crisp and clean aesthetic will enjoy the BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire, which takes transparency to another level. This Bell & Ross timepiece is powered by the skeletonised Calibre BR-CAL.209, specifically developed for this watch, which takes on the shape of a skull with a spring balance at 12 o’clock symbolising its living brain. The movement has a rhodium-plated main plate and bridges as well as a 48-hour power reserve. The skull and crossbones have the illusion of floating in mid-air by being sandwiched between two sapphire crystals.
Framed by a 38mm rose-gold case with 82 diamonds set on the bezel, the dial of this Arceau Hermès Story is filled with fantasy animals, each painstakingly crafted. For instance, the tiger took five days to complete as it is composed of wood marquetry, combining plum, tulipwood, ash-olive, maple and sycamore in 290 pieces of wood that have been cut, stained and assembled with great care. Hand- engraved and painted with gold applique, other animals — including a peacock, turtle, rabbit and praying mantis — add life and dimension to the scene.
As a tribute to the world of dance and inspired by one of the world’s most famous ballerinas, Anna Pavlova, the Lady Arpels Ballerine Enchantée embodies grace and femininity. This Van Cleef & Arpels piece features a sculpted white- gold ballerina adorned with a white-gold crown studded with round diamonds and a round and rose-cut diamond dress, as well as a white-gold tutu decorated with champlevé enamel, round diamonds and sapphires. Her white-gold wings are coloured with plique-à-jour enamel.
See also: Defying traditions
Making De Bethune’s DB25 Starry Varius Aérolite literally out of this world is a dial of Muonionalusta meteorite, composed mainly of iron and nickel and which is said to have plummeted to earth more than one million years BCE. The brand’s expertise with such an ancient material and thermal oxidation of metals has brought this starry sky and Milky Way — with hand-fitted white-gold pins and patterns gilded with 24-carat gold leaf — to life on the blued meteorite. The open caseback of this 42mm watch allows the latest generation balance wheel of the DB2109V4 calibre to be viewed through sapphire crystal.
See also: Testing QA Urban luxury
Celebrating the colour of nature, the Piaget Polo Green Skeleton exudes energy through the hypnotic 1200S1 self-winding manufacture calibre, revealed in all its glory through the front and back. Boasting a 44-hour power reserve, the movement features green bridges which matches a stunning alligator leather strap. The 42mm stainless steel case also looks rather fetching with the interchangeable steel bracelet, if you are so inclined.
As with most H. Moser & Cie watches, the Endeavour Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon is a minimalist masterpiece. The mesmerising “Grand feu”enamel dial in the new Aqua Blue fumé colour with a hammered texture features bold hammers and gongs placed at 10 o’clock that have been redesigned to enable a clear flow of the acoustics in a rectangular format. The 40mm red-gold case houses the complex HMC 904 calibre — a manual-winding movement composed of more than 400 parts, which also includes a tourbillon, visible at 6 o’clock.
Bringing together the world of luxury boating and watchmaking, the Panerai Submersible S Brabus Blue Shadow Edition features the P.4001/S, a skeletonised movement with a one-piece off-centred oscillating weight that allows for bi-directional winding. Containing this edgy and bold calibre is a 47mm titanium case shaped by a method of 3D-printing technology called Direct Metal Laser Sintering, which produces a strong and lightweight piece. The unidirectional rotating bezel and lever are made from Carbotech, a carbon fibre with a unique variegated pattern.
