Mecca

This is the second time Christophe Claret has introduced the mirascope, an optical phenomenon, into the laws of mechanical watchmaking. Coming after the effigy of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, enthroned at the centre of the Aventicum watch, here the watchmaker offers a subtle interpretation of the symbols of the Muslim faith. A miniature Kaaba appears to burst out of the dial, like a hologram. This astonishing sight is underscored by a wealth of symbolic details: a spinel and a white ceramic stone on the dial represent the stone all Muslims must touch before completing the seven circles of Tawaf. The oscillating weight, visible at the back of the watch, bears a transferred world map with white dots that symbolise pilgrims converging on Mecca. Inside the 44-mm titanium case, precision is guaranteed by a self-winding movement whose twin barrels ensure a comfortable 72-hour power reserve.