Independent Chinese watchmaker Qian GuoBiao has introduced his first partially skeletonized wristwatches, the Skylight Original and Skylight Sun. Both models feature the hand-wound AB-05 caliber and emphasize openworked dials that reveal the movement's structure. The watches will debut at Time to Watches in Geneva this month.
Qian GuoBiao's Skylight models mark a step forward in his design approach, building on visible balances and bridges from prior pieces. The new dials expose more of the gear train and keyless works while maintaining an organized layout. Qian GuoBiao stated, “I have always believed that a watch should never hide its soul. In my earlier pieces, I placed the balance, springs, and bridges on the front so the wearer could feel that heartbeat with every glance. With the Skylight, I wanted to go further, opening the architecture in a way that lets the movement and dial come together as one living structure.” 39mm cases with 10mm thickness and 46mm lug-to-lug measurements ensure wearability, complemented by front and rear sapphire crystals and 50m water resistance. The AB-05 caliber runs at 18,000 vibrations per hour with a 40-hour power reserve. The Skylight Original adopts an industrial aesthetic, while the Sun version features a hand-hammered dial in gold tone with a blue strap for added character. Qian GuoBiao noted on the dial process, “The hammer dial technique was one of the most demanding but also one of the most rewarding challenges in the project. Every strike had to be carefully controlled. Too light and the texture disappears, too strong and the metal distorts. Each dial required more than twenty hours of focused hammering and finishing.” Pricing stands at CHF 29,000, with production limited to 12 pieces for the Original and 18 for the Sun.