The Gresso Grand Wind Skeleton Watch

Gresso launch their first watch collection at Baselworld 2010 - the Gresso Grand Wind Skeleton Collection. Gresso are manufacturers of luxury mobile phones (or "luxury communications devices"), which are high tech in both appearance and function.  Now after three years development, the company realise their horological ambitions and the result is anything but subtle. With a rose gold or white gold watchcase measuring 45mm x 12mm and strong comtemporary styling this is definately a "look-at-me" piece.

The watch front is split in two comprising the dial for indicating the hours and minutes and another window which shows a view of the rotor which is located right there - on the front of the watch, an unusual and perhaps distracting feature (the constant swaying of a rotor is no match for a mesmerising gently spinning tourbillon, I feel...).  The two windows on the watch front are framed with carbon inlays with large Roman numerals on the bezel at 12 and 6 o'clock adding to the bold technical styling.

The watchback features two more sapphire windows, directly opposite those on the front, one with a view of the movement, the other showing the second hand which takes the form of a three-blade propeller, rather like a Mercedes-Benz pointed star.  The movement is the Gresso G1 with the ETA 2671 as its base with a power reserve of 38 hours.

A particular feature of the Gresso company is the bespoke facility with which you can order a customised mobile phone, so it will be interesting to see how their watch manufacturing department develops.  In any case the Gresso Grand Wind Skeleton is reassuringly limited to a world wide release of 100 pieces in each version.