ian Guobiao, also known as “A Biao”, is a famous independent master watchmaker and specialist in grand complications. The new Kung Fu watch draws inspiration from Chinese martial arts, embodying the spiritual core of “combining strength and softness, and cultivating both inside and outside” into the precise art of advanced watchmaking.

The overall design of the watch dial is inspired by the half-liang coin of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE) in China, featuring a square inside a circle, also known as the “Circular Coin with a Square Hole”. The four systems of the hour and minute display, power reserve indication, balance wheel and regulating pin mechanism were arranged in a circular dial, drawing on the geometric symmetry of the square to create an orderly layout.

The new release from Behrens cleverly combines Chinese elements with modern watchmaking techniques to give Kung Fu a unique soul. The titanium version is limited to 90 pieces and the platinum version has a global limited edition of 9 pieces.

The power reserve display at 11 o’clock adopts a cylindrical scale arranged in ascending order from bottom to top: the constantly rising and falling power reserve scale is like a Kung Fu master practicing martial arts with a plum blossom stick.

Another important design element is inspired by crossbows from the Qin Dynasty. Qian Guobiao broke tradition by placing the balance and regulating pins, which are usually positioned on the back of the watch, on the dial side. Behrens drew inspiration from the Qin dynasty crossbow’s long-arm concept and the use of sliding grooves to control accuracy to design a device that increases the calibration accuracy of the regulating pins in a way that is both aesthetic and practical.

The watch is powered by Behrens’ new in-house calibre BM03, a hand-wound movement, which adopts multiple new technologies and processes.

Price: $17,700 (Titanium), $28,500 (Platinum)

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