7 Zany Timepieces From the World's Most Exclusive Watch Show

Split-seconds chronographs let you time two overlapping events using an extra hand to calculate the time difference between them. Collaborating with Formula One car maker McLaren, Richard Mille has created the lightest split-seconds chronograph ever, which weighs in at just 40 grams, including the elastic strap. The case is a proprietary carbon composite called Graph TPT that includes graphene—only flakes are used in the composite though, so it’s essentially marketing fodder. Pick one up and it’s so light it feels like a toy, making it easy to forget the engineering that goes into making tiny high-performance machine like this. Priced at $980,000. [Read the full report](https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/richard-mille-rm-50-03-tourbillon-split-seconds-chronograph-ultralight-mclaren-f1-introducing) at Hodinkee.

OK, so it’s not a watch, but there was no way I was leaving this clock off this list. Manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Atmos 568 was designed by Marc Newson and is essentially massive block of Baccarat crystal that magically tells you the time. The movement contains a pressurized gas–filled capsule that expands on contracts with changes in temperature and is connected to a bellows system which in turn winds the clock. One degree of change equals two days of power. Want to make your Common Projects-wearing, Vitsoe shelf-having friends jealous and have $28,000 to burn? This is your answer. [Get the detailed breakdown](https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/jaeger-lecoultre-atmos-568-marc-newson-introducing) at Hodinkee.

There are complicated watches and then there’s this insanity. The Celestia has 23 complications—distinct mechanical functions other than showing the hours, minutes, and seconds—all focused around astronomy. There’s a tide indicator with a tiny little model of the Earth, hands for showing solar time vs. sidereal time (star time), sunrise and sunset trackers, and even a translucent sapphire crystal star chart on the back side. Each is made to order and the functions are calibrated for exactly where the wearer lives. Craziest of all? This thing is only 45mm across, meaning it’s actually a wearable size. This watch costs approximately $1 million—Vacheron won’t give an exact price, and it's available only by special order. [Take a closer look](https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/vacheron-constantin-les-cabinotiers-celestia-astronomical-grand-complication-introducing) at all the complications at Hodinkee.

Comprised of densely packed carbon nanotubes, Vantablack is the blackest material ever made by human beings. Watchmaker MCT teamed up with artist Anish Kapoor (who has exclusive artistic rights to use the material) and created this special edition of the Sequential One watch. The inside back of the watch is coated in Vantablack, making the mechanical movement look like it’s floating above a bottomless pit. It’s actually kind of disorienting if you stare into those corners for too long. $95,000.