The Hour Glass recently concluded its highly anticipated inaugural Iamwatch 2024—a four-day celebration of the Pan-Asian watch-collecting community—that brought together horology enthusiasts and independent watchmakers.
Against this dynamic backdrop, some of the industry’s most creative minds unveiled their latest innovations. What ensued was a showcase of artistry and technical mastery that sought to redefine modern haute horology.
One standout piece was Urwerk’s UR-150 Scorpion, a bold reimagining of the brand’s signature satellite hours complication. With its tip sweeping across the minutes track, the UR-150’s large, openworked hand elegantly frames the current hour. At the 60th minute, the hand retrogrades back to zero, while the satellite hours rotate on their axes, instantly revealing the next hour. In 1/100th of a second, this intricate dance of mechanics resetting the cycle and displaying craftsmanship and innovation is mesmerising.
Also making waves was MB&F’s latest collaboration with master engraver Eddy Jaquet. The LM Split Escapement Eddy Jaquet edition presents eight watches, each inspired by a different iconic literary classic. All feature dials with intricate engravings depicting key moments and scenes from the stories they honour. Similarly to Jaquet’s earlier Jules Verne series, these engravings are not based on existing artworks but are entirely original creations, conceived after an immersion through the books and other creative interpretations.
Krayon’s Anywhere Arborea, an exclusive limited edition of 15 platinum timepieces, is inspired by Henri Rousseau’s iconic painting, ‘The Virgin Forest at Sunset’. The dial has 575 hand-painted miniature alveoli, each unique in size and shape and portraying a tropical scene bathed in the vivid hues of the setting sun. Unique to this watch is its complication that displays sunrise and sunset times at any location on the globe.
Lastly, Ulysse Nardin’s Freak One Navy Blue is a bold reinterpretation of the iconic collection. It features a 44-mm titanium case with satin-polished black DLC and a Carbonium bezel known for its low carbon impact and high durability. The watch defies tradition by using the flying carousel calibre UN-240 movement to indicate minutes and a rotating blue disk to indicate hours.
Enhanced by an oversized silicon oscillator and DiamonSil-coated escapement, it also has a 90-hour power reserve courtesy of the Grinder automatic winding system. Finished with rubber straps made from 30 percent recycled materials, it embodies both technical innovation and sustainability.
