The good thing about having friends in high places is that they will rally around you when it comes to important moments. Like anniversaries. Such is the case with homegrown luxury timepiece retailer The Hour Glass which turns the big 4-0 this year. To mark that coming-of-age, it has rolled out something that watch collectors would dig: Limited-edition timepieces created by some of the most happening names in the horology fraternity that are stocked at the Singapore retailer.

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Choose from indexes rendered in ancient Chinese oracle bone script or Hindu-Arabic numerals

Think Chopard and Tag Heuer, which have each announced special one-off watch collections for the event. But of all the tributes, the one by German-based watch company Nomos Glashutte caught our eye for its stylish and fashion-forward designs. For the outing, the label which is known for its Bauhaus-inspired tickers, has churned out four special designs based on its best-selling Tangente steel model. Each of these handcrafted designs ($4,850) is numbered to just 200 pieces and will be stocked at The Hour Glass and Watches of Switzerland stores.

The special touch for the slender 38.5mm-wide automatic watches is the treatment given to the dials and the typography used for indexes. Two watches which come with salmon and silver coloured dials feature numerals in ancient Chinese oracle bone script instead of the usual sleek font used for the Tangente’s indexes. Meanwhile, two other models with ruthenium and midnight blue feature Hindu-Arabic numbers. The subtle contrast between the watches’ clean lines and the cross-cultural nod make these the kind of eccentric design – and history – freaks will appreciate. Goes to show that it also pays to have friends with good taste.