In this article, we introduce you 10 modern watches with craziest design.
This top 10 list is all about crazy watches – designs from another world and traditional classics with extremely elaborate complications. We have put together an alphabetical selection of crazy watches that look special and fantastic. Let’s start!
De Bethune DB 28 ‘Kind of Blue’ Tourbillon
The De Bethune brand is known for its futuristic designs and the very special, deep blue tone of its watches. The DB 28 “Kind of Blue” Tourbillon is no exception. Almost completely blue, it has only a few shiny metallic elements: screws, the hands and various parts of the movement. The hardened boards are also blued and decorated with stripes or pearls. The 43 mm titanium watch is amazingly light. For example, the tourbillon weighs just 0.2 grams, making it the lightest tourbillon in the world, according to De Bethune. Also note the moon phase made of steel and palladium at 6 o’clock. This exceptional watch is limited to 5 pieces and is offered for 250,000 EUR.
FP Journe Tourbillon Souverain
The FP Journe Tourbillon Souverain is a watch with a rather classic look. But the impression is deceptive. At first glance, it looks like a fairly normal watch with a tourbillon (if there is such a thing), but inside there is elaborate watchmaking art. The movement has an intermediate winding (Remotoire) and a jumping second. The intermediate winding keeps the gravitational forces in a constant equilibrium, which makes the watch run particularly precisely. At the jumping second, the hand jumps to the next second instead of gliding smoothly over the dial. This very complicated watch has a 40 mm diameter and is available in platinum or rose gold.
Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 1
The Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 1 is watchmaking at the highest level. This watch with double tourbillon consists of no less than 338 parts and has received various awards. The 43.5 mm case comes in a classic design, inside you will find really exceptional craftsmanship. Hour and minute dials are arranged in a ring around the double tourbillon. Due to the special arrangement of the digits, each dial ring needs two hands to always display the correct time. In addition, the Invention Piece 1 has a small second and a display for the power reserve. The engraved inscription on the back of the case is typical of Greubel Forsey watches.
HYT H1 Titanium
The Greubel Forsey may appear to have a retrograde dial, but this is actually the case with the HYT H1. Displaying the hours using a liquid makes this watch so spectacular and unique. Founded HYT in 2012 and is still the only brand worldwide that produces liquid display watches. Two flexible tubes, which are filled with different liquids, are clearly visible from both the front and the back. The time can be read where the liquids meet. You can already see the approximate time on the hour display, but the H1 also has a small minute dial that is positioned at 12 o’clock. The titanium watch measures a mighty 48.8 mm and is anything but small. I have owned an H1 for some time and can say that despite its size it is very comfortable to wear.
MB&F HM4 Thunderbolt
When it comes to crazy watches and designs, many people first think of MB&F. Nothing is normal or standard on the HM4 Thunderbolt. The design is inspired by aviation and is reminiscent of the engines of jets and planes. The watch is made of titanium grade 5 and has the dimensions 54 x 52 x 24 mm. It hardly fits under your shirt sleeves, but why should you hide such a watch? The power reserve indicator is placed on the left side of the watch, the time indicator on the right side. The crowns for setting and opening the movement are seamlessly integrated into the design. Through the sapphire crystal you can see the beautifully crafted work from all sides.
Ressence Type 3
The Ressence Type 3 is another mechanical watch that is filled with liquid. However, this is not used here to display the time. Instead, small rotating disks slide in a fluid and give the watch its very special look. The way the Type 3 displays time is as crazy as it is revolutionary. The discs rotate around the middle of the clock, creating a look that seems to be in constant motion. The Type 3 does not have a crown and is therefore very different from other watches. In this model, setting and mounting is done through the rear of the housing. The printed hands rotate, the rings surrounding them remain in their position. It is not easy to describe the watch and its mechanics in words. It’s best to watch the whole thing in a video.
Richard Mille RM 027 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
You won’t find anything ordinary in the Richard Mille collections. The RM 027 tourbillon “Rafael Nadal” was designed to withstand the vibrations during intense tennis matches. It consists largely of composite materials and titanium, even the glass is a special mixture. Despite its size of 48 x 39.7 mm , the RM027 hardly weighs 20 grams. Isn’t that crazy? This watch with tourbillon and manual winding only shows the time, but basically a watch doesn’t have to be able to do more.
Sarpaneva Korona K3
For our selection, we next look around Finland and find the Sarpaneva Korona K3 there. The Stepan watches all have the same unique case and pointer design. All models with the moon phase also carry the stylized portrait of the quirky watchmaker on the moons. His designs are always exceptional and stand out from the crowd. There are different versions of the Korona K3, but each comes with skeletonized hour markers and the same moon phase with two portraits. The 44 mm watch has a sapphire crystal on the back of the case through which you can see the movement and the lattice-like flywheel. The rotor is adorned with the typical representation of a moon with a face.
Urwerk UR-210
The Urwerk brand is not easy to describe. The designs are a bit reminiscent of the Predator from the cinema or something from the distant future. In any case, the Urwerk UR-210 also has a very special and crazy design. It is available in titanium or steel and has a rotating satellite complication and a retrograde 3D minute hand . Describing the clock is not easy, but let’s try it anyway. The UR-210 has three arms (or satellites), each with four hour displays. The indicator points to the minutes on a retrograde scale and frames the hours. At the end of each hour, the indicator returns to its starting position. The UR-210 comes with an automatic caliber, in which the spring is wound by small rotors.
Vianney Halter Antiqua
The last watch in this top 10 is the Vianney Halter Antiqua. With its unique steampunk design, it’s probably the most extraordinary watch on this list. This large model, measuring 46.5 x 42.5 mm, has been made from various precious metals over the past few years. It has an automatic caliber with a 35-hour power reserve. The time and a perpetual calendar with day, date and month are shown on the various displays. The watch also has a leap year indicator. Cool details are rivets that give the Vianney Halter Antiqua its characteristic look that is reminiscent of a porthole. The rotor can be seen through the back of the case and it appears that it is mysteriously moving independently of the central rotor.