Introducing the Christian Klings “Open Version” Wristwatch (with specs and price)

German independent watchmaker Christian Klings recently completed the "Open Version", a time-only wristwatch with a skilfully open-worked movement and an unusual silk fabric dial.

Based in the Saxon town of Wechselburg, located about an hour from Dresden, Christian Klings is a German watchmaker who crafts his own timepieces. They are all classical in style and construction, significantly influenced by the likes of Breguet and Daners. His latest timepiece is the Open Version, a wristwatch commissioned by a noted collector.

The Open Version has a hand wound movement with the bridges of the movement reduced to beautifully shaped, tubular steel bridges. This reveals most of its mechanics, including the gear train, barrel and escapement.

While the base plate has a frosted, gilt finish, all the steel bridges are hand polished to a mirror finish. And four of the movement’s 19 jewels are secured by screwed chatons.

The cock for the fourth wheel

The raw parts of the Open Version watch

Most unusually, the central portion of the dial is a silk fabric, while the chapter ring and sub-seconds are solid silver. Naturally, the hands are blued steel. Like many of his other creations, the case has tear drop lugs, and is in white gold with a 40 mm diameter. Klings’ repertoire also includes tourbillons, of which he has made several. Amongst his tourbillon wristwatches is the No. 18, a hand wound, one minute tourbillon with a power reserve display and moon phase.