Is it Halloween yet? Kopf Concept Skull Watch

Watches can lead you on unexpected journeys.  I don't own this crazy looking watch and it's not something I'd normally consider but I would really love to own one.

Having lived in a suburb of Bristol, England for more years than I care to mention it was a revelation to find the watchmaking studios and shop where this unusual piece is made. 

The Horological Underground has a small shop-front down a narrow covered arcade and the window hints as to what was inside.  I ventured in and saw mainly 70's refurbished watches for sale but also some unique pieces of horology, ranging from Audemars Piguet pocket watches to mechanical instruments that flew in space.

The proprietor, German Polosin is a genius watchmaker and just about the most modest man you could meet but also with a wicked sense of humour.

Apprentice, Finn welcomed me and after realising that I was a watch nut, gave me the full tour.  Inviting me into the watchmaking rooms upstairs, where I was treated to a demonstration of a minute repeater pocket watch, hand carved watch dials, unusual chronograph movements and more. I could honestly have spent hours there but had to let him get back to some customer repairs. 

He also showed me the Kopf Concept watch which was dreamt up by German Polosin and it shouldn't be dismissed.

Yes, it's a crazy design but oh so clever too.  The case is milled (not 3d printed) and comprises several parts.  The sunken area around the nose and eyes has a hand hammered finish.  The 'Jaw' acts as an articulated set of bottom lugs. The middle 'Tooth' inside the jaw is the crown.  Now to the mechanics.  Yes this is a mechanical watch.

Using an ETA base movement, German has adapted it and built his own module which separates the central minutes and hours to the eyes.  The left eye is the hours and the right, the minutes. The luminous material are individually set Tritium tubes (there's also one hidden in the 'Jaw'.  Watches should be fun, after all, we don't really need a mechanical piece of wonderment on our wrists to tell the time (it's on your phone), so why not go the whole hog and have something crazy AND functional.

Functional it is too. I have a 6½" wrist and wore this watch all evening at a Redbar event, where the watch felt surprisingly, extremely comfortable. Plus I very soon got used to telling the time in it's unusual format.  Of course, everyone I met wanted to know all about it.

I've since been back to the shop many times (they currently have a vintage diver of mine for service) and now count the team there as friends. An unexpected watch journey with great rewards.