Abundant in exuberance and with a shimmering bezel beset with a joyful selection of diamonds and precious stones, the Petit Skull Celebration Eternity watch by Fiona Krüger blurs the lines between artistic expression and Haute Horlogerie. Featuring a contemporary rendering of the skull motif, which has been used by watchmakers for centuries to evoke time and mortality, the model combines the theme with the aesthetic spirit of the Mexican Día de los Muertos festival, creating a timepiece which is an emotive statement of the brevity of life and its intimate relationships with time itself. Not limited to the significant craftsmanship involved in its manufacture, the timepiece offers a technical aspect, with a glimpse of its self-winding mechanical movement visible through its métiers d’art dial, and a more thorough appreciation enabled via a sapphire window in its caseback. This Petit Skull (Celebration) “Eternity” model is part of an exclusive series of which just 18 pieces will be made.

Capturing the imaginative spirit of their creator, Fiona Krüger watches are expressive statements of the artist’s philosophy of life and her well considered approach to design. With a background in Fine Art and Product Design, followed by a Masters of Advance Studies in Design for the Luxury Industry at ECAL in Switzerland, Fiona established her eponymous company in 2013. Having collaborated with some of the most prestigious names in the watch industry, her timepieces are indicative of her eye for detail and her knowledge of mechanical horology, and her evolving portfolio of exclusive timepieces blend the two disciplines harmoniously, resulting in an extraordinary collection defined by originality.

Presented in a skull shaped case of stainless steel measuring 48mm by 34.5mm, the housing of the watch is beautifully crafted. Giving a spectacular aesthetic to its bezel, an array of multi-coloured diamonds and precious stones, representative of an eternity ring Fiona’s grandmother wore add further resplendence, while the lugs are tucked within the caseback to ensure an ergonomic wear, and with the crown at the topmost position, the profile remains uninterrupted.

Exhibiting stunning depth and beauty, the handcrafted dial comprises of 3 layers, and is hand-painted with seven specially selected coloured lacquers, each chosen for its particular relevance to the Día de los Muertos festival. Beginning with a hand-polished brass base plate upon which hand-painted lacquers have been applied, followed by a layer of shot-blasted, rhodium-treated brass with further hand-painting with lacquer, the dial has a final layer of hand-finished brass which is both hand-painted and also beautifully decorated with perlage, giving added drama around the mouth of the skull. And, bringing a sense of animation to the facade, the balance and the mainspring of the movement are visible through the open sectors in the skull’s eyes. By daylight it is ornately exquisite, yet boldly vivid. After dark, the outline of Super-LumiNova around the skull transforms it into an otherworldly spectacle. Finishing the dial, the shapely blued steel hands, also hand-crafted are a final flourish.

Adhering to the design dialogue of the watch, the Swiss self winding movement is revealed through an opening shaped like the rear of a human cranium. Through this sapphire window, one can admire the customised oscillating mass which is openworked, engraved and hand-painted with lacquer.

A watch which displays stunning depth and beauty, the Petit Skull Celebration Eternity watch by Fiona Krüger is part of a collection which is limited to only 18 pieces. The model comes presented on a hand-stitched leather strap with steel pin buckle.