“Moments in Time” are a series of watch sculptures by British designer and inventor Dominic Wilcox.

He has created unique, miniature animated scenes using a collection of watches and customised model figures.

Reflections on human behavior and delightfully surreal scenes, each tells a story or conveys a message and draws on everyday and imagined situations.

A man in a suit extends his arm towards his colleague expecting a handshake. The colleague crosses his arms in clear disregard for their friendship, in “The unrequited handshake” (above)

Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 052 Skull watch

An ingeniously conceived titanium skull offsets the familiar signature case shape of Richard Mille’s new Tourbillon RM 052 Skull watch.

The skull plays an integral part in the design and engineering of the human skeleton and Richard Mille has taken the motif and made it an integral part of his new skeleton watch, the Tourbillon RM 052 Skull.

The skull is usually used as a decorative feature on watches but the Tourbillon RM 052 incorporates the form into the movement using it for both style and function.

The movements center bridge has been constructed from the back of the skull and the ruby of the tourbillon cage is held between the upper and lower jaws. Four bridges connect the movement to the case and form the crossed bones of the skull and cross bone design.

Limited edition of 21 pieces, which includes 15 pieces in titanium and 6 unique set pieces in red or white gold.

Harry Winston Histoire de Tourbillon No.3

“Gravity cannot be held responsible for people falling in love.” said Einstein.
It could, however be the cause of your attraction to the Histoire de Tourbillon No.3 .
Its visual spectacle is all about gravity.

An arsenal of Three tourbillons combat the adverse gravitational effects on time with this the third in Harry Winston’s series focusing on the tourbillon.

Each has been offset by intervals of 36, 40 and 120 seconds in order to create the most accurate regulation of the movement.

Its two predecessors were large watches and No.3 is even more so with dimensions of 65.9mm x 45.9mm, a substantial case no doubt needed to accommodate the array of tourbillons.

Functionally, time is shown using two discs and sapphires that go from dark to light coloured indicate the power reserve and add a touch of glamor.

Limited to 20 pieces it will probably be priced in a similar range to the preceding models which were in the $700k area.

I’m excited to learn that Ludovic Ballouard has a new watch coming out called the “Half Time” and it is due to be available in May 2012.

This will be his second watch following his wonderfully whimsical and technically masterful “Upside Down Watch” with its cleverly designed dial featuring inverted hour markers.

Cabestan Trapezium

The latest version of Cabestans Winch Tourbillon watch is named “Trapezium” after its case design.

Watchmaking and geometry have always intertwined, cases usually being round, rectangular or square..Cabestan offers an alternative with a trapezoidal enclosure. In geometry this is defined as a quadrilateral whose sides are unequal. No matter the angle of vision, a trapezoid is recognizable at first glance and sets the watch apart. Applied to the watch design, the result is a complex combination of quadrilaterals giving the timepiece an imposing appearance, and turns the case of the Trapezium into a perfect showcase for its amazing mechanism.

To the new case Eric Coudray has added case crowns which have been completely redesigned to reinforce the idea of inclination. Without effort, the mechanism engages and allows a single movement of the thumb and index finger to adjust the time and wind the watch.

For Baselworld 2012 new watch brand HYT will launch an unprecedented watch: it displays the time using liquid.

Named the H1 it uses two liquids, one fluorescent coloured and one transparent that circulate through microtubes.

Technically the closest watch I can think of to this is Concord’s C1 Quantum Gravity which uses liquid to indicate the power reserve – incidentally Vincent Perriard the leader of the project was previously the CEO of Concord. This is however the first time liquid has been used to indicate time in a wristwatch.

The seeds of the idea lie in Egypt according to Lucien Vouillamoz the inventor of the technology who states: “I began with the Egyptian clepsydra – the first instrument to indicate the time using water – to rapidly arrive at the concept of two non-miscible liquids in a tube. I then felt the potential of this idea.”

The H1 comprises of two parts: a mechanical movement and a fluid system.
Two pistons move the liquid around the micro tubes in bellows-like fashion. Alcohol has been added to the coloured liquid in order to prevent gelling, whilst oil has been mixed with the transparent one.

Christian van der Klaauw Aquarius Planetarium

Christian van der Klaauw specializes in Astronomical watches and his latest model the Aquarius Planetarium is the first in a series of twelve unique pieces. In this version the solid gold dial has been decorated by well known master engraver Kees Engelbarts and shows the constellation Aquarius.

The Aquarius Planetarium is a variation of his well known Planetarium watch which was the first to feature the worlds smallest planetarium.

The platinum case measures 40mm and the watches featuring the remaining 11 constellations will be available by special order.

Previously announced at this years Baselworld, Graff have just released their “Master Graff Skeleton”.

Master Graff Skeleton

An exuberant piece it should interest those partial to watches that glimmer – and those with limitless coffers.
The watch resembles a celebration of the diamond. Not only is it covered with them, but even the case mimics the shape of one. The overall effect it creates is one of a dazzling radiance, and probably best appreciated by viewing the video below.

Almost every area has been adorned with triangular and trapezoidal baguette diamonds, even including the case lugs and buckle, 164 in total. It must be like having a diamond jamboree on your wrist. To further enhance the effect of luminescence that’s been created, the plates and bridges have been made of transparent synthetic sapphire.

Matching its impressive appearance is its cost, a prodigious $2m
Graff will produce 10 versions of the watch, five in rose gold and five of white gold.

In 2008 Concord released its ground breaking, and breathtakingly stunning C1 Quantum Gravity, an imposing futuristic piece with a Tourbillon mounted outside the case of the watch and connected by cable-stayed bridges and featuring green phosphorescent nano-particles held in a vertical column used to indicate the battery’s power level!

Now they have just released a new edition called the C1 Tourbillon POP Gravity Collector’s edition.

For those who don’t recall the awesome C1 Quantum Gravity here’s a video refresher courtesy of Bruno Constans, Head of Design at Concord.

2008 witnessed the launch of “watchmaking’s free spirit”, the C1 Tourbillon Gravity that propelled Concord into a whole new era of bold innovation through a resolutely futuristic approach.

2011 now brings the introduction of a new raft of unique and provocative new models from the explosive C LAB series: the C1 Tourbillon POP Gravity collector’s edition, issued in a titanium case measuring 48.5 in diameter and 18.5 mm thick. These eye-catching variations on a resolutely nonconformist theme feature skeletonized dials topped by perforated grids in four vivid shades of blue, pink yellow or green anodized aluminum straight from the psychedelic POP art color palette.

De Bethune DB28: Award winner

The Geneva “Grand Prix Watch Of The Year” can be described as the equivalent of the “Watch Oscars” and is intended to “promote horology and its prime values – namely innovation …”

This year the winner was the De Bethune DB28 for which it was awarded the top prize of  Aiguille d’Or . The DB28 is an unusual watch with three striking features:

-3 dimensional moon-phase.
-Triple parachute system.
-Floating lugs.

The patented “floating lugs” are a clever innovation enabling them to pivot so as to follow the shape of the wrists and consequently make for a more comfortable fit. It also features a 3 Dimensional moonphase function , the only other watch I can think of with this would be the Konstantin Chaykin Lunokhod which we profiled earlier in the year. For its 3 Dimensional moonphase the DB28 uses a sphere made of platinum and blued steel and is accurate to within one day every 122 years.

The other feature is the intriguing “triple parachute system” , a technical innovation that protects the mechanism from shocks. It does this by means of a titanium bridge which is supported by a system of springs pressing on stones that have been inserted in the two axes that act as pillars, disturbances are reduced to a minimum and the pivots are protected. You will see this feature at the bottom centre of the dial.

Other points of note are:

- Handwound movement with a 6 day power reserve
- 276 components, twin barrels
- Titanium or rose gold

Priced at 80,000 Swiss Francs

IWC Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia

The result of ten years of research and development the IWC Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia is an astronomical watch that is a technical tour de force and the most complicated watch created by IWC so far. Its a showcase watch that IWC hopes will attract new customers and also a way of displaying IWC`s technical prowess.

IWC Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia

A reason for IWC deciding on an astronomical watch would be that astronomical watches have shown to be the most desireable watches to collectors. Astronomical complications possess a mystique and an allure due to their visually exciting displays, rather than their practical application. Given the watches special astronomical functions IWC chose the Paranal Observatory in Chile for its launch.

The new IWC Calibre 94900 movement has over 500 pieces and features a “constant-force” tourbillon, a new technological advancement .
Since the power provided by a mainspring varies dependant on its wound state, the purpose of a constant force escapement is to maintain a constant power rate. This in turn increases the watches accuracy.

The large tourbillon which displays the seconds adorns the front of the watch on the left, along with a subdial at the 12 O’clock position which displays sidereal time (true star time) , solar time and power reserve are also indicated.

The rear of the watch is no less impressive and displays various astronomical data. A section of the night sky is represented by a celestial chart , the location of which is chosen by the customer. According to IWC its capable of displaying between 500 and 1000 stars.

This celestial chart rotates depending on the position of the stars in relation to your position on earth. Surrounding the chart are small hands that indicate sunset/sunrise, day/night, sidereal and solar time. A perpetual calendar is also included at the top of the dial, it displays a count of what number day it is and the leap year.

Ziiiro Celeste

Available for order from November 18th is the new watch from Ziiiro, the Celeste.

Similar in style to their other models the Orbit and Gravity, the Celeste features a rather minimalistic and unconventional design that forsakes hands and markings for the use of overlapping coloured discs to tell the time (see the image below for an explanation). When these transparent coloured discs overlap they make various attractive colour combinations.

Ziiiro Celeste

Its available in two colour designs, grey and blue and green and blue. They come in either matte-finished stainless steel in chrome, gunmetal or black cases. The wristband is made of stainless steel with a matte finish.

Price €149 / $205
Check out the video below to see it in action.