Legendary horological master Christophe Claret has long been a quiet but immensely respected force in haute horlogerie–known for his incredible tourbillons, minute repeaters, and automata work, he has supplied brilliant technical solutions to a number of the world’s finest watch brands (including Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, Corum, and others).  Christophe Claret was also the star watchmaker that Harry Winston Rare Timepieces chose to collaborate with on “No.4″ of their spectacular Opus watch series. Claret even has his own ultra-exclusive haute horlogerie brand–Jean Dunand–which he co-created with Thierry Oulevay.

With that as a brief introduction, some of the master’s most amazing realizations are tourbillon movements executed with transparent sapphire bridges.  Two companies who have collaborated with Monsieur Claret to produce incredible tourbillons of this type, are Ulysse Nardin and Corum.

The Ulysse Nardin Royal Blue Tourbillon watch brings Ulysse Nardin’s characteristic color–blue–to the forefront, with sapphire bridges of the same hue.  The use of various saturations of synthetic sapphire, allow this blue theme to emphasize and magnify the beauty of the gear train and the flying tourbillon.  A sparkling diamond and sapphire dial flange (rehaut) sets off this spectacular execution perfectly.

Equally magnificent, the Corum Billionaire Tourbillon also employs a sapphire bridge movement to create an incredible visual effect.  As its name implies, this Corum watch is wildly opulent, being an incredible achievement of fine jewelry as well as watchmaking. This extremely exclusive watch series radiates incredible splendor with an extensive setting of diamonds, or combination of diamonds and sapphires.