Basel 2008: Harry Winston Opus 8 Watch With Frederic Garinaud and CSH

The Harry Winston Opus 8 watch is the latest in the brand's extraordinary Opus series of timepieces--each of which represents a unique collaboration with the world's foremost horological creative minds.  Conceived in partnership with the remarkable Frédéric Garinaud and his specialist watchmaking firm Cellule des Spécialités Horlogères (CSH), the Opus 8 watch unites the worlds of digital and mechanical technology, to create an object of art, emotion, and absolutely unique technical distinction.

Inspired by the design of a retro television set, the Harry Winston Opus 8 watch's 18K white gold case measures 45.8 mm X 33.5 mm; the strap lugs are arched in a manner suggestive of the entrance-way to the Harry Winston boutique.  The crystals, mounted on both front and back, are in sapphire.  The remarkable time displays are animated by a hand-wound, elliptically shaped movement, which is comprised of 437 individual pieces.  Both front and back of the watch display time in an unprecedented way, inspired by the design of pin art games; on the front, hours and AM/PM are shown via anthracite microsegments, while minutes-in a 5-minute format--are displayed to the right, in a vertically-oriented linear display.  The segments for the "digital" hours will only appear when the wearer activates the bolt on the right side of the case, at which time the hours can be read for up to five seconds.  The design of the hours is inspired by the symmetrical hexagonal typography found in liquid crystal mechanics.  Turning the watch on its back reveals yet other surprises--resembling a printed circuit, an equally novel second time display shows AM/PM status to the left, hours and minutes in the upper center, and a power reserve indicator to the right; the lines on the lower dial point to the watch's co-designers (Garinaud & CSH) and the individual watch serial number.

The Harry Winston Opus 8 watch is water resistant to 30 meters, and is fitted with a leather strap and an 18K white gold buckle.  Only 50 pieces will be offered, worldwide.