Like a piece of jewellery, but not quite: Audemars Piguet dresses up the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked in white Frosted Gold. This 37mm timepiece combines two of the brand’s recent innovations – the 3132 automatic movement distinguished by two balance wheels (a feature meant to improve stability and accuracy); and a gold-hammering technique that gives the precious metal a sparkling, textured finish.

Less is definitely more in the case of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton, which has a slim, openwork movement measuring just 2.35mm in thickness. Complementing the architectural look of the skeletonised manually wound movement is the watch’s 40mm Octo case, which juxtaposes defined edges with sweeping curves. And so that the watch feels as light as it looks, its case is crafted from titanium.

The RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands by Richard Mille has a romantic inspiration – not cars or athletes, but a poem. Paying homage to a French poem called Le Temps, the Dizzy Hands plays with the concept of time. Push the button in the crown, and the sapphire-crystal disc bearing the hour numerals moves counter-clockwise while the hour hand moves clockwise at a different speed. The idea of this 42.7mm watch (its case is made from red gold and titanium) is to allow the wearer to be temporarily unshackled from time.

One of our favourite Hublot models since it was launched in 2016 in black ceramic or titanium, the Meca-10 has a skeletonised movement with a playful, industrial feel inspired by Meccano building blocks. The latest incarnation of this manually wound watch – which has an impressive 10-day power reserve – comes in a striking 45mm blue ceramic case.

With sweeping bridges, an outsized tourbillon (its off-centre balance wheel measures an unmissable 14mm) and plenty of space, Franck Muller’s Gravity Skeleton offers an impactful, architectural take on the skeleton watch. Giving this blackened-titanium watch – it’s 53.7mm long and 44mm wide – even more oomph are its hands and tourbillon cage, which are made from anodised aluminium that can be rendered in vibrant shades such as the purple shown here.

The first watch to emerge from the partnership between Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse motor-sport division, the Excalibur Aventador is an attention-getter – and not just because it comes in a large 45mm case made from multi-layered carbon. Its unusual, highly skeletonised movement is also inspired by its automotive partner: The X-shaped strut bars and bridges, for instance, are inspired by those of an Aventador S engine.