In the history of watchmaking we have become accustomed to enjoying sublime combinations of precious stones and noble metals. Yet someone wanted to go beyond the limit, arriving at unthinkable and paradoxical solutions. If we told you that there is a watch made of cheese … would you believe it?
Today, it is appropriate to say, we will give you a taste. But let’s start with something less strange and go step by step!
5. Graphene by Richard Mille
Let’s start with a scientific discovery: in 2010 researchers from the University of Manchester received the Nobel Prize in Physics for having studied graphene in depth. The latter is a nanomaterial with surprising characteristics: 6 times lighter than steel but 200 times more resistant.
After that discovery, Richard Mille worked on the design of a watch with an innovative case. Collaboration with McLaren Applied Technologies, North Thin Ply Technology and the University of Manchester gave birth to the RM50-03 McLaren F1.
RM 50-03 is the lightest hand-wound chronograph ever. In fact, it reaches a total weight of only 38 grams. All this was made possible by the development of an improved shape of the Carbon TPT® case.
The RM 50-03 introduces a completely new material to the world of watchmaking: Graph TPT®, inserted in the bezel and in some parts of the case.
We invite you to discover our article on the RM 50-03, where we describe the watch in detail.
4. Hublot and its denim
Denim and watches are definitely an interesting combination when you think about the strap. Denim (or jeans fabric) is a very resistant fabric, so much so that it is often used for workwear.
Hublot, however, amazes us, with a somewhat questionable choice. In fact, the Swiss company has decided to equip the Big Bang Jeans not only with a strap, but even with a denim dial.
It is definitely not a watch for all wrists… and not just for its size!
3. Romain Jerome and the wreck of the Titanic
If we had had to draw up a ranking of the craziest designs, surely RJ (Romain Jerome) would have fought for the top 3, but this is not the case.
Today, in fact, we will talk about a bizarre choice in terms of material. To be precise, we are talking about the Titanic DNA Steampunk collection, which includes watches whose bezel and other parts are made using metals obtained from the wreck of the Titanic.
The dial is also decorated in such a way as to recall a ship’s propeller.
Maybe this choice touches you a little, the most sensitive would reject the idea of wearing the symbol of a tragedy on the wrist. But on the other hand, it is certainly a model, a material and an out of the ordinary choice that we could not fail to mention.
2. Certina and Rado in tungsten carbide
Sifting through the archives, we discovered that in the 1970s, when Certina and Rado launched the Diamaster, all versions shared a special tungsten carbide case.
But what is tungsten carbide? It is a hard metal used for the construction of mechanical machinery, for milling and abrasion, characterized by extreme hardness and scratch resistance.
This case was produced through the sintering process: a particular high-temperature manufacturing process that makes an object by putting some material powder in a mold and heating it to a high temperature, but lower than the melting temperature of the material.
1. Moser & Cie. and cheese
As we told you, here’s the craziest of all materials … cheese!
The launch of the “Swiss Mad Watch” in 2018 is a provocation: it is a watch that caused a sensation because, in addition to imaginatively combining elements of the Swiss tradition, it represents a critique of the “Swiss Made” brand.
In 2017, in fact, the criteria for defining a watch as “Swiss” were changed. From then on, 60% of the materials are required to be produced in Switzerland.
The watch by H. Moser & Cie. Swiss Mad Watch is made from cheese. Yes, cheese, one of the most renowned cheeses in Switzerland: Vacherin Mont-d’Or, which has been treated with a multi-layer material, the itr2 composite (contained in carbon nanotubes).
The strap too is inspired by one of the most iconic animals in Switzerland’s landscapes: the cow.
The watch is powered by a hand-wound in-house caliber, HMC 327.
The Swiss Mad Watch was sold at Christie’s auction and the money paid was donated to the Fondation pour la culture horlogère Suisse.
Bonus: the Moser & Cie. Nature Watch
The maison, by now we know, has always stood out for its predisposition to irreverence and to go beyond the limits, and this is just another demonstration.
In 2019 Moser presents the Nature Watch: a symbol of our planet and a warning to preserve nature. The same authors affirm that this more than any other clock can be considered a “timekeeper”, as without taking care of it, it will slowly lose life.
In 2019 Moser presents the Nature Watch: a symbol of our planet and a warning to preserve nature. The same authors affirm that this more than any other watch can be considered a “time-keeper” because without taking care of it, it will slowly die, perfectly representing the passage of time.
I would say this watch is suitable for an Avatar style movie!
Let us know if you know of any other similar watches that deserve to be on this list.
Author: Federico Chiesa
