A masterclass in the combined arts of skeletonization and meticulous hand engraving, the Kudoktopus by German master watchmaker Stefan Kudoke is an outstanding watch in every sense. Featuring a fabulous three dimensional octopus motif whose tentacles twist and sprawl where normally there would be a conventional dial, it is an unusual but beautifully executed watch, and one which instantly catches the eye.

Over the past decade, this talented young watchmaker has built a reputation for his extraordinary skeletonisation techniques and the elaborately hand engraved dials, and in 2019 received the GPHG Petite Aiguille award, one of the watch industry’s highest accolades. The Kudoktopus is a piece which will delight aficionados of this classical and demanding craft, and in every aspect the uncompromising hand finishing and attention to detail is breathtaking.

The Kudoktopus is encased in a round 41mm case of polished stainless steel with sapphire glass above and below, and features long and elegant lugs, a stepped bezel and a fluted onion style crown. The body and tentacles of the octopus itself is crafted in rose gold with rhodiumised suckers, and its mass replaces the dial and movement plate, with its head dominating the upper part of the display and its eye at the centre of the otherwise open-worked barrel. The writhing tentacles double up as the bridges, which secure the moving components in place, and between the seven and nine o’clock positions the balance and escapement are partially exposed.

Elsewhere, the wheels, gear train and the mechanical architecture of the movement are also visible, and here too each surface has been finished with a perlage decoration, while around the edge of the dial area, any other mounting points are hand engraved. The time is shown via a pair of elegant Breguet style blued steel hands.

The beautiful craftsmanship continues on the underside of the movement too, and through the sapphire caseback the tentacles of the octopus reach through to adorn the skeletonised Unitas 6498 hand winding mechanism, and contrast with the engine turned perlage finishing and fan-like spokes of the open-worked barrel. Beating at 18’000vib/h it has a minimum of 46 hours of autonomy between winding.

With each piece being meticulously crafted by hand, no two examples of the Kudoktopus can be identical, so each one is a unique and exclusive watch from another one of independent watchmaking’s exciting rising talents. A stunningly beautiful piece, it is presented on a black crocodile leather strap with steel pin buckle, with the option of a folding clasp available upon request.