Kross Studio’s Latest Creations Break Watchmaking Boundaries and Delight Pop Culture Fans !
Discover the Hasbro Collaboration for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the new Game of Thrones House of the Dragon Collaboration, and the New Kross Studio KS 05 Watch Models – Each Bearing Kross Studio’s World-First Central Floating Tourbillon KS 7’005 Movements.
Kross Studio has upended Swiss watchmaking ever since the brand’s launch in 2020. Within a remarkably short period of time, the daring design studio and manufacturer has released a succession of wildly creative projects that bridge the worlds of high horology and beloved pop culture universes in partnership with giants of the entertainment industry, including Lucasfilm Ltd., Warner Bros. Discovery, DC Comics, and Hasbro.
Along the way, the brand has challenged industry norms.With each intricate, entertainment-inspired timepiece, Kross Studio elevated and upended the classic character watch, and with each immersive and sculptural watch holder, Kross Studio reimagined the scope and wonder of the humble watch ‘box’.
Kross Studio’s latest timepieces and collector sets – celebrating the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts film and the Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon series – underline the manufacturer’s position as a leader in this space: the only manufacturer to create luxury collector sets consisting of high-end timepieces and functional sculptures inspired by pop culture icons. With its new KS 05 collection, Kross Studio reveals its first branded timepiece to bear only the Kross Studio name outside of any external collaboration.
At their core, the three distinct creations bear a remarkable beating heart: Kross Studio’s patented KS 7’005 movement. This world-first central floating tourbillon movement testifies to the brand’s manufacturing prowess and vision, blending the best of heritage Swiss watchmaking and future-forward innovation.
Kross Studio x Hasbro Transformers
Rise of the Beasts Collector Sets
Watchmaker Kross Studio and Hasbro joined forces to create a 10-piece limited collector’s set inspired by the global powerhouse Transformers franchise and its new film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. This collaboration marks the first high-end timepiece created by a Swiss watchmaker in tribute to the Transformers universe. Key elements of the franchise feature in the design, such as the Mechatron green, Cybertronix language, Maximal faction emblem, and engravings as seen in the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts movie.
The Kross Studio “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” tourbillon timepiece is equipped with the in-house KS 7’005 movement, a marvellous, highly technical central floating tourbillon developed and patented by Kross Studio. With the tourbillon and its fixed second wheel levitating above the movement and hands, the design provides a never-before-seen perspective into its mesmerizing mechanics and to admire it from every angle. Its hours and minutes are displayed in a unique peripheral format made possible by a planetary gear system that orbits 360° around the tourbillon. Kross Studio applied Green SuperLuminovaⓇ to many aspects of the dial, including the hour hand and its Maximal emblem, the minute track, and its indexes. Film flourishes also adorn the Grade 5 titanium dial’s fixed hour wheel, depicting the Maximals’ Inca murals.
The circular 45mm case in satin-finished Grade 5 titanium also features black lacquered engravings that further the immersive experience into the Transformers universe. The streamlined case prioritizes ergonomics by placing its clever D-ring winding and time-setting system on the case back where the Autobots icon takes center stage, surrounded by Inca representations of the Maximals. The flush set “Time Set” push button, located between 3 and 4 o’clock, also ensures a comfortable wearing experience. The words “Time Set” are engraved in Cybertronix language, set apart with Mechatron Green lacquer.
Poise and Power
The functional sculpture included with the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Collector Set is a reproduction of a major enigmatic movie element, created in honor of the Maximal Airazor. The Maximals were introduced into the Transformers universe in 1996 and have become essential and iconic characters in the franchise. Airazor – with her alt mode of a peregrine falcon – is the vigilant protector of her team and allies.
In the film, the Airazor artifact has kept a well-guarded secret for thousands of years. Here too, in this Kross Studio x Hasbro collector set, the Airazor artifact conceals an equally precious object: the Kross Studio Transformers: Rise of the Beasts central tourbillon timepiece. The Hasbro and Kross Studio teams developed a clever mechanism that reveals the watch within in dramatic fashion by applying pressure to the polyresin sculpture’s head. This action deploys its wings and activates a lever system to reveal the watch within, greenlit under a Mechatron LED light. The same pressure on the sculpture head enables the sculpture’s closure.
Limited to just 10 sets, the new Kross Studio x Hasbro Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Collector Sets (98’000 CHF / $107,867 USD) are available at kross-studio.com, or through official partners and select authorized retailers.
The Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon Collector Set
Kross Studio has created a series of collector sets dedicated to the dragons of the Game of Thrones “House of the Dragon” series.
The limited-edition sets include both a Kross Studio central floating tourbillon watch and a dragon egg functional sculpture. These masterfully crafted works of art seamlessly blend inspiration from the iconic world of Westeros with cutting-edge watchmaking.
The watch, designed by Kross Studio Founder Marco Tedeschi, embodies the Targaryen’s distinct aesthetic codes, from its opulent watch case to the intricate details of its manual-wound, patented floating central tourbillon. With the tourbillon and its fixed second wheel levitating above the movement and hands, the design provides a never-before-seen perspective into the mesmerizing mechanics of the tourbillon. The hours and minutes are displayed in a unique peripheral format.
The watch’s design synthesizes key elements of the fantasy series and its renowned dragons, such as its dial, made of Damasteel®. Reminiscent of Valyrian steel, fans will recognize its shimmering, striated appearance. The ‘Damasteel’ Damascus steel featured in the dial was sourced from the same foundry that created the HBO series’ swords.
The ergonomic, grade 5 titanium watch case imitates the scales of a dragon through intricate three-dimensional engraving. Furthermore, the Targaryen House sigil, a three-headed dragon breathing flame, takes pride of place in the center of the watch case back. Each case back is uniquely identified by the engraved name of the singular dragon that inspired the collector set, with only one set dedicated to a single dragon.
There will be dragons
The Targaryen house’s prestige and its dragon bond are inextricably, transcendently linked across ages, myth, and memory. Kross Studio looked to the origins of the show’s dragons – their eggs – to inspire this collector set’s unique functional sculpture. Designed by Marco Tedeschi, the dragon’s egg sculptures are produced in collaboration with French workshop and WB licensee Leblon Delienne, long renowned for their incomparable expertise in crafting figurines and pop sculptures. Each resin Dragon Egg has been painstakingly airbrushed to create a unique finish that is wholly individual and linked to a particular dragon. The outer shape of the egg was created using a 3D scan of the TV show props.
The egg opens, serving as a nest to store the Kross Studio Floating Central Tourbillon timepiece or any watch of choice. The watch base features seven slots: one for each of the saga’s seven kingdoms. The two towers that hold the watch cushion are inspired by the design of Dragonstone castle, the ancestral seat of House Targaryen.
From the delicate details showcased in the tourbillon watch to the impressive functional sculpture elements, the collector set represents the epitome of luxury and exclusivity, a must-have for any fan of the series, fine art collector, and connoisseur of the art of watchmaking. Kross Studio Game of Thrones – House of the Dragon Collector Sets (CHF 150’000.- each) will be available for individual sale at kross-studio.com, or through official partners and select authorized retailers.
The Groundbreaking KS 05 Timepiece Collection
The launch of the groundbreaking new Kross Studio KS 05 Timepiece Collection marks two significant firsts for the renegade Swiss manufacturer: it is the first collection issued solely by design studio outside of any partnerships or collaborations, and its central floating tourbillon movement heralds a world-first technical advancement, the first of its kind In the luxury watch industry.
The new Kross Studio KS 05 timepieces are stripped down to their essence to fully display the manufacturer’s ingenuity and technical prowess. At the heart of the KS 05 collection is the patented caliber KS 7’005, a manual-winding central floating tourbillon- boasting a power reserve of 120 hours or 5 days. The floating tourbillon showcases a cage crafted from grade 5 titanium, chosen for its high strength and lightweight.
A New Breed of Luxury Timepieces
The oversized domed crystal of the KS 05 provides an unobstructed, panoramic view of the watch’s dials and inner workings from all angles, including the time display mechanism – which orbits the periphery 360 degrees around the tourbillon. The KS 05 collection offers a trio of striking and precious dial variations, each unique iteration composed of several elegant and functional outer and inner sub-dials. The dials are crafted from black or blue aventurine glass or natural stones including turquoise, jade, and obsidian, among others, with personalization options available.
The outer dial, affixed directly onto the case, carries the time markings and indices, designed here by Kross to promote a highly legible, instant reading of the time. Its design and position offer a seamless aesthetic transition from the case to the watch’s interior, drawing the eye towards its groundbreaking central floating tourbillon. The intermediate dial is mounted on top of the movement, specifically on the fixed hour wheel. It serves as a harmonious bridge between the outer dial and the heart of the watch. The inner dial, designed with an opening at 9 o’clock, is fixed onto the main plate of the movement. Positioned beneath the floating tourbillon and the time display mechanism, this innovative dial design offers a nuanced view of its depth and complexity.
The KS 05 collection is distinguished by a meticulously crafted grade 5 titanium or 18-karat red gold case that equally balances functionality, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal. Devoid of lugs or edges, the KS 05 case exhibits a sleek, seamless profile. Instead of a visible crown at 3 o’clock, a clever D-ring crown integrated into the case back enables winding and time adjustments without disrupting the watch’s clean lines. Both titanium and gold iterations can be fully adorned with 281 pavé-set D-F VVS1 diamonds, adding up to approximately 5.09 carats.
The KS 05 Collection encapsulates Kross Studio’s aptitude for revolutionary timekeeping while maintaining the core principles of traditional watchmaking. This collection heralds a transformative era in luxury timepieces, effortlessly merging artistic craftsmanship, pioneering engineering, and distinctive personal expression. Each variant is restricted to 10 numbered pieces, rendering each timepiece a limited-edition masterwork. The KS 05 collection is now available for purchase at kross-studio.com, through official partners, and at select authorized retailers.
ABOUT KROSS STUDIO
Kross Studio is an independent watchmaking manufacture and Swiss design studio, founded in 2020 by Marco Tedeschi. Within a few months in operation, Kross Studio achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first luxury watch brand to partner with Star Wars. Their joint effort culminated in an exceptional collector set comprising a top-of-the-line watch, a functional art piece, and a screen-used movie prop. Since then, exquisite collector sets have been unveiled, one after the other, and six unique movements have been developed for each of their timepieces. The collector sets created by Kross Studio draw inspiration from iconic pop culture universes, in collaboration with major players in global entertainment such as Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO, DC Comics, Lucasfilm or Hasbro. In the early months of 2023, Kross Studio launched its central floating tourbillon movement, marking a world-first achievement that has been patented. Equipped with this caliber, the inaugural line of Kross Studio’s exclusive timepieces elegantly harmonizes with its collaboration collection. With its in-house expertise in designing and manufacturing high-end watches, Kross Studio can offer products that are both exclusive and innovative. The brand is committed to challenging conventions and deeply respects ancestral know-how, providing each collector with a unique way to indulge in their passion. Kross Studio’s products are available at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons (UAE), Al Majed (Qatar), Berger and Emwa (Mexico), Chronopassion (France), Europe Watch (Hong Kong & Macau), Pisa (Italy), Sonraj (Pakistan), Swiss Prestige (Taiwan), Watches of Switzerland (UK & USA), and on kross-studio.com.
© KROSS STUDIO
Photo credits : Courtesy of the press agency and Kross Studio.
