Can you make a design even more imposing when you take something away? At Chronoswiss, they prove that this can indeed be the case as with the Flying Grand Regulator Skeleton, they take one of their most iconic designs to the next level by taking away most of the dial and leave only the bare essentials of the movement. This results in a watch that has an incredible sense of depth when you look at it from the dial side. Originally the dial already had several levels, and Chronoswiss retained most of this structure, not only to add the extra sense of depth but also to ensure that this version of the Grand Regulator remains just as easy to read as the ones with a solid dial.

At Ulysse Nardin, they write innovation in capital letters. What makes the brand so interesting is that they not only apply this philosophy on their movements but many of their designs as well. A perfect example of this is Executive Skeleton X. Traditionally are skeleton watches dominated by their movement for obvious reasons, but Ulysse Nardin has found a way to unite this aspect with an equally enticing case. More so, their design even incorporates a skeletonized dial, that hides hardly anything but does add a nice dose of functionality to the mix.

Black is a color that is nearly always appropriate to wear. Also in watchmaking does it have a dominant position, especially when it comes to dials and straps. Black cases were for a long time a rarity. At the beginning of the last century, some brands, like Cartier, for example, experimented with bakelite cases. These watches were scarce then, and even more so now. Later on, new technologies such as PVD-coatings made it that more watches with black cases entered the market. Today there are several materials which a brand can utilize to create a black watch case. Next to the traditional PVD-coating, are there now coatings made from 'Diamond-Like Carbon,' which are more resistant to wear. Next to coatings did also a whole new generation of materials emerged. Ceramic was one of the first to make its entrance, but now even carbon, in various forms, is being used to craft watch cases. Their popularity is increasing, and for a good reason, because no matter what black-colored material is selected, it often results in watches that are true dark delights!

For centuries the small town of Glashütte has been the epicenter of German watchmaking. While there are indeed plenty of similarities between their approach to watchmaking and that of the Swiss, there are also enough things different. This allowed a certain number of manufactures to find their niche and rise to new levels of greatness when the Berlin Wall came down, and East Germany was joined with West once more. Among them was Glashütte Original, who presents with a Senator Moon Phase Skeletonized Edition a German take on how a skeleton watch should look.

The Tonneau is one of Cartier's oldest wrist-watch designs that are still in production today. It was launched in 1906, two years after the legendary Santos was introduced. Unlike the Santos, has the Tonneau spend most of its career outside of the limelight. In its early years, it was made in small numbers, often on request and as of 1998, it was part of the legendary CPCP-collection, which La Maison discontinued in 2008.

Roger Dubuis has always had a strong drive to innovate, not only in a technical but also in an aesthetic sense. This means that they need to think outside the box in all different dimensions and keep their eyes open to new materials, but also new applications of existing materials. With the Excalibur Blacklight, they took the lab-grown sapphire crystals, commonly used in the watch industry as the 'jewels' or 'rubies' which are used inside the movement as bearings for the gears and other parts that are prone to wear, and applied them in a completely different way.

Of all the cities in the world, Cape Town is most certainly one of the more unique. Located on South Africa's southwest coast, the city is built on a peninsula, providing much of its charm. In Cape Town, you always feel the presence of the imposing Table Mountain, which forms a beautiful backdrop and serves as a further testimony of South Africa's rich nature. It gives the vibrant city a one-of-a-kind appeal, similar to that of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo which was on the wrist to explore it.

What happens when you strip down a Breguet to its core? Take away everything that's not really necessary? Then you get the new Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395, which Breguet introduced earlier this month at their Swiss manufacture during #TimeToMove, the Swatch group's event where they launched the novelties from their top tier brands.

In a relatively short period of time, Cartier has put itself forward as one of the experts when it comes to skeleton watches. Thanks to an innovative approach to this craft, the brand has been able to embed it in its DNA. One of the ways that they have been able to do this is by connecting it to another hallmark of them; the Roman numerals. By crafting the bridges in their shape, and organizing the different parts of the movement below them, a very expressive watch is created in the process, especially when this movement is fitted in the case of the Santos de Cartier.

For Hublot, Baselworld is their main show, but that doesn't stop the brand from already giving a little appetizer in January. As a serial innovator, Hublot thrives on pushing the envelope and introducing new novelties, so don't be surprised that even in this little taste of things to come there are some very serious novelties!

With the fourth day, the SIHH is slowly winding down, but goes out with a bang! This is the only day that the fair is open to the public and a lot of people joined journalists and retailers from around the world to admire all the great watches. For us, it is the time to have our last appointments and do the final photoshoots, and once again we were delighted by what we got to see!

Few watches have made such a mark on the industry in recent years as the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo. That it is a design statement is not so surprising, it is after all a Bvlgari, but it is also the watch that cemented the brand's reputation as bonafide manufacture among the general watch-buying public. The fact that Bvlgari did this with a range of ultra-slim movements is very surprising, yet at the same time not so surprising at all. When most brands want to truly establish themselves as a manufacture, they start making complicated watches, not ultra-slim movements that only tell time. However, one of the benefits that ultra-slim movements provide is far more freedom regarding the design of the watch. That is of course when you are able to design and make a reliable, ultra-slim movement in the first place.

It has become an Haute Time tradition: to pay attention around Halloween to an exceptional category of watches: the skeletons. They are a true balancing act, as the watchmakers want to take away as much of the material as possible, yet at the same time must not disturb the integrity of the overall movement. If they succeed, a unique watch is the result. One that allows you to admire their most inner parts, which are often only be seen by the watchmakers themselves. Not very scary, but remarkable for sure!

When people hear the name Graff, many minds wander immediately towards the most stunning diamonds ever seen. While this is rightly so the brand also has a collection of highly technical watches, in which no gemstone can be found. Well, except one, as the Graff logo is represented by an emerald.

Earlier this year Cartier had quite a few surprises for us in store: not only did they release an updated version of the Santos de Cartier, but they also introduced a skeleton version which was not only available in pink gold but also in stainless steel.

The tourbillon is still the undeniable king of the complications. It is often the one that envokes the most feverish reactions from watch collectors and connoisseurs alike. Part of its magic is its undeniable ability to captivate through its mesmerizing motion and the technical complexity to achieve this. These are some of the most recent watches with a tourbillon that were able to capture, and hold our attention!