Clear Choice: the Best Transparent Timepieces
With so many outstanding novelties on the market, it’s sometimes difficult to pick a favorite watch, but these models are a clear choice! Transparent dials not only allow manufactures to showcase their movements; they also highlight the sheer beauty of these haute horlogerie creations. Here are our top five transparent timepieces:
Part of Arnold & Son’s Instrument Collection, this 44.6 mm stainless steel timepiece showcases its skeletonized pyramid-shaped movement between two sapphire crystals. The Calibre A&S1615, which boasts a 90-hour power reserve, was designed and developed in-house at the brand’s La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture. The face of the Time Pyramid features two off-center subdials, with the hours and minutes at 6 o’clock, and the seconds on a smaller subdial above. The dial also features two power reserve indicators, seen on either side of the linear gear train, which display the energy level for each barrel separately via graduated dots (as the first barrel winds the second one, the power reserve indicator of the first barrel goes down, while the second one goes up).
This 48mm rose gold timepiece showcases an open-worked tourbillon movement, highlighted by Graff’s famous diamonds. The case, crown and bezel are set with 188 bespoke diamonds (approximately 22 carats), cut to match this model’s design perfectly. The MasterGraff Skeleton boasts a 72-hour power reserve, and functions include hours and minutes. Only 10 piece were produced.
This 45mm timepiece features a skeleton tourbillon movement housed in an 18K King Gold case and bezel. The manual-winding MHUB6010.H1.1 boasts a 120-hour power reserve. Functions include hours and minutes. The openworked sapphire dial features gold-plated hour markers and hands, and the Hublot logo is printed on the inner side of the sapphire crystal. Only 99 pieces were produced.
This limited edition timepiece, of which only 20 were produced, showcases a stunning blue and white transparent face. At its heart is the Caliber UN-970, a manual-winding tourbillon movement with 84 jewels. Functions include hours and minutes, as well as seconds on the tourbillon carriage at 6 o’clock and a date indicator at 12 o’clock. It is housed in a 46mm 18K white gold case.
This timepiece frames an openworked movement in a 40mm platinum case. The Caliber 558 SQ2, which was entirely engraved by hand, boasts a tourbillon regulator and a 50-hour power reserve. The dial features off-center hours and minutes at 12 o’clock, as well as running seconds on the tourbillon carriage at 6 o’clock.
Photo credit: Haute Time.
