Horology Planet Exhibition Series — 02
In October 2026, Beijing becomes a meeting point for Chinese imperial aesthetics, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary design. Held at the National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing), the “Forbidden City Divine Craft” Chinese Imperial Aesthetics & Contemporary Creation Exhibition and the “Horology Planet” International Creative Exhibition bring together a range of creative works that explore the connections between Eastern cultural heritage and modern craftsmanship.
The exhibition is about more than the objects on display. It also asks how traditional art forms can continue to evolve, finding new relevance through modern materials, innovative design, and precision engineering. From decorative techniques rooted in imperial workshops to the intricacies of independent watchmaking, the works on show offer different perspectives on how the past can inform the present.
As part of this exhibition series, Horology Planet takes a closer look at the participating watch brands and the ideas behind their creations. We begin with DALKOMM, a brand that draws on Chinese cultural traditions while exploring new possibilities in mechanical watch design.
CRONUSART: Where Material Innovation Meets Contemporary Luxury
CRONUSART is a high-end international watch brand developed by Shenzhen Leqi Cronus Technology Co., Ltd. With a long-standing focus on the customization and modification of world-class timepieces, the brand brings extensive technical experience to a new generation of watches designed for style-conscious, trend-driven consumers.
Integrating design, research and development, manufacturing, customer service, and after-sales support, CRONUSART places material innovation at the heart of its creative approach. Sapphire crystal, NTPT carbon fiber, advanced ceramics, aerospace-grade aluminum-magnesium alloys, and titanium are among the high-performance materials that inform its designs. Combined with contemporary aesthetics and a strong technological sensibility, these materials give the brand's watches their distinctive character.
CRONUSART's approach reflects a broader shift in modern luxury: mechanical watchmaking is no longer defined by tradition alone, but also by the freedom to experiment with form, material, and personal expression. Its creations appeal to collectors who appreciate technical complexity while seeking a watch that makes a clear statement about individual taste.
For the “Forbidden City Divine Craft” exhibition, CRONUSART presents three limited-edition tourbillon timepieces. Each explores a different relationship between material and mechanics, demonstrating how contemporary watchmaking can reinterpret the spirit of craftsmanship through modern engineering.
SR Super
car Series — Sapphire Supercar Tourbillon
Inspired by the sculptural lines and exhilarating spirit of high-performance supercars, the SR Supercar Series Sapphire Supercar Tourbillon transforms automotive design into a striking mechanical wristwatch. Its defining feature is a case crafted from synthetic sapphire, whose exceptional clarity reveals the watch's intricate construction while giving the exterior the fluid, aerodynamic character of a supercar body.
Creating such a form requires more than selecting an unusual material. Through precision cutting and shaping, the sapphire is formed into complex, car-inspired curves that capture and refract light across the case. The result is a shifting interplay of transparency, reflection, and shadow, evoking the sensation of speed without relying on conventional automotive ornamentation.
Eleven gemstones set along the inner bezel introduce another visual reference to the world of performance automobiles. Like illuminated indicators on a dashboard, they punctuate the transparent architecture with precise points of brilliance.
At the center of the design, a floating, free-sprung tourbillon rotates within the transparent structure. Its exposed mechanical movement creates a compelling contrast with the clarity of the sapphire case: engineering becomes part of the visual experience, while the watch's transparent construction gives the mechanism a sense of suspension in space.
The concept also resonates with the traditional Chinese principle of cai mei gong qiao (材美工巧) — the harmony of beautiful materials and ingenious craftsmanship. Rather than treating the material as a passive enclosure, CRONUSART allows sapphire itself to communicate the character of the design. Light, structure, and mechanical movement work together to express a contemporary interpretation of tian gong, or the extraordinary artistry of creation.
Limited to 99 pieces, the Sapphire Supercar Tourbillon is a meeting of high-performance inspiration and precision watchmaking, created for collectors drawn to unconventional materials and bold mechanical design.
Key Specifications
- Watch Type: Manual-winding tourbillon
- Case Material: Synthetic sapphire
- Edition: Limited to 99 pieces
- Movement: CRONUSART custom tourbillon movement
- Case Dimensions: 50.8 × 41.28 mm
- Case Thickness: 13.05 mm
- Power Reserve: At least 42 hours
- Approximate Weight: 95.91 g
Storm Chronograph Tourbillon Series
A storm begins beneath the surface, where opposing forces gather before releasing their energy. The Storm Chronograph Tourbillon Series translates this tension into a watch defined by the contrast between dark carbon fiber, the warmth of 24K gold, and the continuous motion of a tourbillon.
The visual centerpiece is a carbon-fiber texture interwoven with 24K gold. Against a deep black background, the gold introduces flashes of warmth and luminosity, creating a layered surface that feels both technical and expressive. The contrast recalls the traditional Chinese decorative technique of gold detailing on dark lacquerware, in which restrained colors allow fine metallic accents to command attention.
Here, that aesthetic reference takes on a contemporary character. Carbon fiber contributes a modern, performance-oriented identity, while the gold introduces a sense of refinement and visual depth. The result is not simply a combination of contrasting materials, but a carefully balanced composition of strength and elegance.
The mechanical architecture reinforces the concept. An automatic tourbillon chronograph brings together two distinct expressions of precision: the continuously rotating tourbillon and the chronograph's ability to measure elapsed time. Their functions coexist within the same movement, creating a complex mechanical narrative in which motion and measurement follow their own carefully coordinated rhythms.
Titanium forms the case, complementing the watch's technical character. Known for its combination of strength and low weight, the material is well suited to a design that emphasizes mechanical presence and contemporary engineering.
Limited to 99 pieces, the Storm Chronograph Tourbillon Series brings together advanced materials and sophisticated complications in a design that balances visual intensity with mechanical order. Its dark, dramatic aesthetic reflects a distinctive interpretation of modern luxury, where power does not need to announce itself loudly and complexity can coexist with restraint.
Key Specifications
- Watch Type: Automatic tourbillon chronograph
- Case Material: Titanium
- Edition: Limited to 99 pieces
- Movement: CRONUSART custom tourbillon movement
- Case Dimensions: 55.0 × 44.0 mm
- Case Thickness: 15.4 mm
- Power Reserve: At least 42 hours
- Approximate Weight: 136.66 g
Supreme Treasure Tourbillon
The Supreme Treasure Tourbillon takes inspiration from the appreciation of precious objects in traditional Chinese court culture, where clarity, brilliance, precision, and rarity were central to the pleasure of collecting and contemplation. CRONUSART reinterprets these qualities through a transparent synthetic sapphire case that opens an expansive view of the watch's mechanical interior.
The most distinctive aspect of the design lies in its construction. Drawing on the traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon principle, the sapphire case uses an interlocking structural approach inspired by one of China's most enduring architectural techniques.
In traditional timber architecture, mortise-and-tenon joinery connects individual components through carefully shaped joints rather than relying on nails or metal fasteners. The method reflects a sophisticated understanding of structural relationships, precision, and the balance between individual elements and the whole.
CRONUSART brings this principle into contemporary watch design, applying the idea of interlocking connections to the construction of a synthetic sapphire case. The result places structural ingenuity alongside material transparency: the case is not merely a clear shell surrounding the movement, but an essential part of the watch's design language.
Within this transparent architecture, the tourbillon provides a constantly moving focal point. Its precise rotation contrasts with the clarity and stillness of the sapphire, transforming the mechanical interior into a visual composition that can be appreciated from multiple angles.
The design also reflects a broader connection with traditional Chinese craftsmanship. Just as fine objects were valued for the relationship between material, construction, and visual refinement, the Supreme Treasure Tourbillon brings these qualities together through modern engineering. Its transparency invites close observation, while its construction draws attention to the intelligence behind the finished form.
Limited to 99 pieces, the Supreme Treasure Tourbillon offers a contemporary interpretation of Eastern collecting aesthetics. By bringing an architectural principle into the world of high-end watchmaking, CRONUSART demonstrates how traditional structural thinking can inspire new expressions of mechanical art.
Key Specifications
- Watch Type: Manual-winding tourbillon
- Case Material: Synthetic sapphire
- Edition: Limited to 99 pieces
- Movement: CRONUSART custom tourbillon movement
- Case Dimensions: 50.5 × 42 mm
- Case Thickness: 12.1 mm
- Power Reserve: At least 65 hours
- Approximate Weight: 69.51 g
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Exhibition Guide
- Exhibition Name: “Forbidden City Divine Craft” Chinese Imperial Aesthetics & Contemporary Creation Exhibition, and the “Horology Planet” International Creative Exhibition
- Opening Date: October 23, 2026
- Exhibition Dates: October 23, 2026 – December 16, 2026
- Venue: 3rd Floor Art Space, Building D7, National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing), No. 3 Jinhang East Road, Shunyi District, Beijing
- Organizer: National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing)
- Academic Support: Research Group on Qing Dynasty Court Craftsmanship Inheritance Examples, The Palace Museum; Watchina
- Executive Curator: Horology Planet
