No, we don’t mean being stuck in some distortion of a time-space ‘ dis’-continuum. What we do mean is flaunting a timepiece that is not your typical symmetrical watch… Think warped dials and elaborately designed straps that break the conventional norms

of watchmaking and define the quintessential nonconformist. It’s time to strap on some rebellion!

BY DESSIDRE FLEMING

TIME WARPED

Cartier The Crash Skeleton watch is one of the Maison’s first shaped movements, the calibre 9618 MC. The timepiece transcends the general perception of shape and design in watchmaking.

Chopard The Xtravaganza timepiece reinterprets that idea of eternal roundedness with Roman numerals, frosted with diamonds, making up the dial. The watch pays homage to the dance of numbers, as the four hour-markers make for a stunning frame.

Breguet From the Reine de Naples Haute Joaillerie collection, this timepiece boasts of an iconic shape and bracelet set with diamonds and sapphires. The dial is a beautiful mix of bluish natural mother-of-pearl, white gold and diamonds, which is highlighted by baguette diamonds on the bezel and case band.

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Bulgari Reintroducing an eternal masterpiece is Bulgari’s all-new Serpenti watch, which has been reinterpreted in a fantastical, or what one could call a geometrically abstract, manner. The pink gold case and black-lacquered dial come with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds and 12 set-diamond hour-markers.

Jaquet DrozThe Lady 8 Flower is an expression of refined femininity, enhanced by astounding design. With its distinctive silhouette, the watch raises the bar for elegance in watchmaking. The timepiece is made up of two circles, superimposed to form an ‘8’—an emblematic number for Jaquet Droz. The lower circle which forms the dial features a delicate butterfly with outspread wings.

Dior The Dior Grand Soir 28 mm reproducible timepiece is inspired by the whalebones of a petticoat. The shaded hues of the baguette diamonds evoke the pleats, while the asymmetrical shape and the corolla wavy movement of the bezel symbolise the swirl of a ballgown. The mother-of-pearl marquetry is engraved and hand-painted.

de GrisogonoThe Crazy Skull by de Grisogono is a superlative masterpiece in watchmaking that thumbs its nose, literally so, at conventions. The watch is a provocative symbol of freedom and non-conformity. The skull-shaped dial is set with more than 890 black diamonds and is embellished with a heart-cut white diamond for a nose.

GraffThe Diamond Swan Watch is one of the most delightful jewellery watches by Graff. The fully diamond-paved timepiece is a motif of the swan—the guardian of time—floating gracefully across a sculptural diamond bracelet as one wing slides to reveal a secret delicate dial. The entire watch is laden with no fewer than 900 diamonds.

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Gucci The Diamond Horsebit bracelet watch comes in a stainless steel case with a mother-of-pearl dial enclosed by a diamond-encrusted bezel. The dial is in the shape of a horseshoe, which is known to be a symbol of good fortune. 

PiagetFrom the Mediterranean Garden collection, this timepiece by Piaget is set in an 18-carat pink gold case and encrusted with 668 brilliant-cut diamonds. The dial is in the shape of a rose in full bloom, in diamond frosting. The bracelet features 12 pear-shaped green tourmalines and 488 brilliant-cut diamonds.

Chanel From the latest collection titled Les Éternelles de Chanel, the high jewellery Plume Secret Watch features a majestic feather—the inspiration for Mademoisselle Gabrielle Chanel—set across the diamond cuff swarming in a trail of pink sapphire droplets. The feather moves to reveal a dial paved with pink baguette sapphires.

Van Cleef & Arpels The Cadenas watch is an amalgamation of beauty and functionality. Taken from the French word meaning ‘lock’, the timepiece features a dial in the shape of an elaborate lock, which symbolises union and alliance.

Jaeger-LeCoultreFrom the collection of Extraordinary Haute Joaillerie watches, this timepiece conjures up a fairy tale with its enchanting design. Set in a white gold case, the bracelet is festooned with white diamonds and the dial is in the shape of leaf, which glides over to reveal the hands of the clock.

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