4 Top Watch Brands Are Creating Inspiring Futuristic Timepieces

Top watch brands are reaching beyond the boundaries to create futuristic 3-D timepieces embracing a bold look forward. Thanks to progress in nanotechnology, these visionary watches are architectural wonders bordering on the Space Age while remaining true to the tenets of fine timepiece design.

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Urwerk UR-T8
It doesn’t get much more futuristic than this. The UR-T8—with the T standing for transformer—features a dial that ips up and reverses, giving the wearer the option of looking at the dial side and time display, or at a notched and patterned reverse side that is akin to an armadillo’s back. The time is displayed via a patented satellite complication wherein the 12 hours are formed in three groups of four on a carousel beneath the dial that continuously rotates. The UR-T8 is created in an initial series of 60 pieces in titanium or titanium with a black PVD coating. $100,000, urwerk.com

Richard Mille RM 056 Tourbillon Sapphire Jean Todt 50th Anniversary Limited Edition
Watchmaker Richard Mille’s designs have always looked to the future, with a unique blend of artistic air that still honors traditional timekeeping. This watch features a totally transparent sapphire case—one of the most dicult to create. In fact, it takes 1,000 hours to machine just one incredibly hard, scratch-resistant case like this. The watch is powered by a mechanical movement with a high-performance split-seconds chronograph function. The collection is limited because of the extraordinary time it takes to build a single watch. $1,939,000, richardmille.com

Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari Aperta Watchmaker
Hublot’s collaboration with automaker Ferrari has given birth to another unique timepiece, the MP-05 LaFerrari Aperta. The movement is equipped with a suspended vertical tourbillon and oers transparent display rolls for the hour, minute, seconds and power reserve—which is a massive 50 days. The case is a polished smoked sapphire crystal material that is incredibly dicult to create. Inspired by the LaFerrari Aperta ubercar, the watch is designed and developed in-house by Hublot. $553,000, Hyde Park Jewelers, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Denver; hublot.com

Harry Winston Histoire de Tourbillon 8
This eighth watch in a special series of the raried complication by Harry Winston is equipped with two biaxial tourbillons—each with two cages rotating at dierent speeds. On the right side of the dial, two 3-D cones rising up from the dial display the hours and minutes, giving a forward-looking time-telling aspect to this masterpiece. Only 10 pieces will be made. Price upon request, Meridian Jewelers; harrywinston.com