Small numbered release. By Chris Melchior with UnconstrainedTime
Artist’s Note: “I was inspired by the complex, enchanting forms of intertwining tropical tree roots, in fascinating contrast to the bright facets of the raw quartz crystals. The sinuous flows meeting the brittle, hard-edged brilliance, the dark Yin quality of the smooth organic forms balancing the bright, Yang nature of the quartz, formed in fire, reflecting and shifting the light.”
Small numbered release (see below)
Prices are expected to start around $2,400
Free international shipping.
Sizes (to be announced. It is likely to be available in your choice of either 40mm and 30mm)
Each watch is a personalized order, available in these (mostly) recycled metals:
- white gold
- rose gold
- 18k gold
- black anodized aluminium
- blackened silver
- silver
- bronze (yellow)
- bronze (red)
Available with or without clear coat to decrease the metal’s reaction with the atmosphere (see below).
Strap/band (leather) available in:
- white gold colour
- rose gold colour
- gold colour
- silver colour
- bronze (yellow) colour
- bronze (red) colour
- matt black
- navy blue
- brown
- other (please contact us)
This watch will be released in a small limited edition, and is expected to sell out rapidly, so:
Don’t miss the launch:
Join our Priority List (above) for early access to our small numbered releases, exclusive creator insights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our artistic process before they’re shared anywhere else.
Images: The watch will be slightly different from the initial virtual renders shown above which are designed to give an approximate idea of the general visual concept of the watch. Any metal parts that protrude will be lightly polished, as shown above, while the inner areas will have a grainy texture (not illustrated), showing its authentic nature as a 3D printed form. Real photos coming soon.
Small, numbered release: This watch is expected to sell out rapidly. So make sure you don’t miss the launch . . . subscribe here for launch notification. The size of the release will be announced 14 days before the launch, and will be of 100 pieces or less, depending on estimated demand.
Details on the back-plate: the company (UnconstrainedTime) and logo, the name of this watch (Tropical Crystal), the name of the artist who created this watch (Chris Melchior), serial number and limited edition number. The engraving on the back-plate (which is made of 316L stainless steel, as used in many well-regarded watches) is high-quality but with a deliberately plain aesthetic, so that most of the focus is on the fractal. We include the artist’s name on the back-plate because it matters who made a piece of art, unlike design:
Time Display: All UnconstrainedTime watches are touch watches, which means that they display the time when the button is pressed. Details of how our watches display and set the time.
Authenticity and Provenance: Each numbered Tropical Crystal watch is permanently protected by unique blockchain product authentication, with a secure certificate of ownership, facilitating easy verification of authenticity, provenance, and ownership history, as used for watches like the “Genesis” by H. Moser and Cie, and the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra, as well as by brands such as Louis Vuitton who in collaboration with Prada Group and Cartier, launched a similar blockchain ownership certificate system: (Aura Blockchain Consortium).
Strap/band: The strap/band is made of high quality leather. The strap is high-quality but with a deliberately plain aesthetic, so that most of the focus is on the fractal.
Size: This watch is likely to be available in your choice of 40mm or 30mm.
Materials and construction:
Entirely custom-made. Each part of a Tropical Crystal watch was specifically designed and made for UnconstrainedTime only.
The metal of the case/body of a Tropical Crystal watch is solid metal, 3D printed then cast, usually in recycled metals, by small British artisan casting foundries. It is made using the traditional lost-wax casting process (a technique dating back to at least the fourth millennium BC), then hand finished with the protruding parts polished, leaving the non-protruding surfaces proudly showing their authentic 3D printed and cast origins. This makes it clear that Tropical Crystal is part of the art jewellery space (which can meet the definitions of art) rather than the fine jewellery space (which is design).
If the metal is silver or gold, the case/body will be hallmarked. Note that 3D printing has less environmental impact than most methods used in making watches.
Internal parts of our watches are 3D printed to ensure the indefinite availability of spare parts.
The time-display functionality is implemented using a single custom-designed flex/rigid printed-circuit-board, for maximum reliability. It utilizes quartz time-keeping and the components are assembled onto the board in the UK. A water-resistant coating is applied to rigid areas of the printed-circuit-board other than the battery-contacts which are gold-plated stainless steel.
The parts which need to be electrically non-conductive, including the battery-cover, are 3D printed from PC-ABS. (All quartz watches necessarily use a non-electrically-conductive battery-insulator.)
The parts which need to be transparent and polished (for optimum optical transparency), resistant to shocks, are complex in shape with thin sections, are 3D printed from clear resin.
Other internal parts are 3D printed from 316L stainless steel.
The PC-ABS parts are 3D printed in Holland, all other 3D printed parts of our watches are made in the UK.
British made, by hand: Each UnconstrainedTime watch is individually assembled, checked and finished, by hand, in Britain, by a leading watchmaker (Horologium UK).
Metals, patinas and clear coat: Some metals, such as bronze or silver, react with the atmosphere which changes their colour and texture. Some people like the patina formed by this reaction, especially with bronze watches. Others might prefer the metal to retain its original colour and surface texture, so we provide the option of adding a clear coat on the outside of the watch, which acts to give metals some degree of protection from patina, tarnish, oxidation, fading etc. Note that the transparent parts under the gemstones of our time-display elements of our Tropical Crystal watch are 3D printed from clear polymer resin, so don’t use any patination chemicals which could damage those parts, or the gaskets under them.
In use: In terms of use, Cross #1 is closer to being a piece of jewellery than a typical watch, and is definitely not a sports watch. It is designed for careful gentle use, is not scratch or dent resistant. It is not defined as water resistant . . . there is an O-ring/gasket inside the back-plate, under each of the 12 time-display elements and under the button, with internal components having additional protection against moisture, so it will be OK in normal dry use, but our watches are not intended for use near water or any other liquids.
Shipping: Each Tropical Crystal watch is made to order: Each piece not only represents artistic vision but becomes uniquely yours through personalised material selection. Your choice of metals transforms these unique sculptures into individually crafted expressions that reflect both the creator’s artistry and your personal aesthetic. This means we can’t start making it until you specify your personal choice of metal as you order your watch. While we will do everything we can to get your watch to you as rapidly as possible, it takes time to make and hand-assemble a made-to-order watch, and test and polish it by hand, so it might take up to 90 days to begin the shipment of your watch to you. We provide free international shipping using DHL.
Accuracy: UnconstrainedTime watches use quartz timing, with an accuracy of within 53.6 seconds per month (at room temperature).
Battery life: UnconstrainedTime watches use a simple, unique electronic touch time-display with 12 small time-display elements to allow as much focus as possible on the unique creative aesthetics. The CR1216 battery used will last for approximately one year if the time is displayed 5 times each day. You can get the battery in an UnconstrainedTime watch replaced by any reputable watch repair service or jewellers. Alternatively it can be sent to the original watchmakers (Horologium UK) or their network of approved service providers.
The battery life will be significantly longer after planned updates to the firmware which will be implemented before the watch is shipped to you.
Spare parts available forever: Because most parts of our watches are 3D printed, spare parts can be made as needed, at any time in the future.
Make sure you don’t miss the launch . . . subscribe here for launch notification.
Inspirations and Development.
The concept began with a fascination with the complex, enchanting forms of intertwining tropical tree roots, and the sinuous, dark, Yin quality of their smooth organic forms.
These contrast beautifully with the bright facets of the raw quartz crystals, with their brittle, hard-edged brilliance and Yang nature, formed in fire, reflecting and shifting the light, and a fascinatingly creative way to implement our simple 12-point time-display.
The concept started with an exploration of different algorithmic methods of generating something similar to tree roots entwining a tropical tree-trunk, examples shown below:
Some of these early algorithmic ideas were beautiful, such as the one above, right, which, to me, evokes the complex organic forms of some eroded rock formations I’ve seen on my travels, so I’ve kept them for possible use in later sculptures, but they were not close enough to what I was aiming at for this specific sculpture, so different algorithms were experimented with.
The final algorithm uses the concept of thin strands twining around the thicker core-ring. The starting-point of the basic concept is shown below left. This was developed, through experimentation, to the point where it used a range of strands of different thicknesses and twining around the core a different number of times, below centre. The result was then smoothed to make it more organic in nature, like the real tropical tree-roots, below right.
I made a simplified sketch showing the crystals (varying slightly in size, as natural crystals will) to be added to the sculpture (left), which resulted in the final early version of this watch (right).
The images below show the reference for the tropical tree roots which is one of my own photos taken in SouthEast Asia, and the early version of the resulting sculpture with quartz crystals added:
Later versions have a thicker core-ring-shape to accommodate the time-display mechanism, and smaller crystals. The final watch is likely to be somewhere between the two versions, and I will be excited to see how it will evolve as I continue to explore the concept, materials, finishes, how it will be made etc.
At UnconstrainedTime, we anticipate the questions that arise when encountering truly original artistic expression—so we provide pathways to deeper appreciation through thoughtfully crafted content and experiences . . .
See more on the UnconstrainedTime brand philosophy.
FAQs.
The UnconstrainedTime philosophy.
We understand your scepticism. Unlike watches that simply incorporate artistic elements into traditional designs, each UnconstrainedTime piece is conceived and executed as a unified artistic vision. Every watch includes its creator’s signature, and is part of a small, numbered release – bringing true fine art from gallery walls to your wrist.
Unlike other artistic watches that simply decorate conventional designs, our entire timepiece is conceived from its genesis as a unified artistic statement – making us the first brand to truly unite the worlds of fine art and horology.
Our pieces evolve out of a synergy of art and time, leading us to choose materials and concepts based on artistic vision and the optimal functionality of our unique time-display rather than convention. Just as contemporary sculptors might use any material that serves their vision, we use contemporary technology when it best expresses our artistic intent.
Each component is carefully chosen and, unlike many of our competitors, designed and made only for us – including our 3D printed parts which ensure lifetime repairability, unlike many microbrands that cease parts production.
Every quartz watch necessarily has a battery-insulator component, which, in most quartz watches in the world (whatever their price) is made from nylon. In our watches, the battery-cover is made from PC-ABS for improved toughness as well as electrical non-conductivity, and 3D printed so spare parts are available indefinitely
Each UnconstrainedTime piece is a small numbered release in a new category of horological art. While we can’t predict future value, we’re creating something genuinely new in watchmaking – and history shows that innovative firsts tend to become significant.
Our time display draws directly from fundamental horological traditions – the 12-point ring display dates back to ancient Near Eastern timekeeping. We’re not rejecting tradition; we’re combining it with fine art to explore new creative territory. This is evolution, not revolution.
That’s exactly why our collectors love these pieces – they spark fascinating conversations. We give you informational content to ensure that you can talk about how your watch relates to various fields. Each watch also comes with its artistic story and concept, allowing you to share not just a timepiece, but a piece of horological history in the making. You’re not just collecting watches; you’re collecting stories.
Specifications and details.
In terms of use, Tropical Crystal is closer to being a piece of jewellery than a typical watch, and is definitely not a sports watch. It is designed for careful gentle use, is not scratch or dent resistant, and it is not designed to be water resistant. There is an O-ring/gasket inside the back-plate, and under each of the 12 time-display elements, and under the button, and internal components are protected, so it will be OK in normal dry use, but our watches are not intended for use near water or any other liquids.
Some metals, such as bronze or silver, react significantly with the atmosphere which changes their colour and texture. Some people like the patina formed by this reaction, especially with bronze watches. Others might prefer the metal to retain its original colour and surface texture, so we provide the option of adding a clear coat, which acts to protect metals to some degree from patina, tarnish, oxidation, fading etc.
UnconstrainedTime watches use quartz timing, with an accuracy of within 53.6 seconds per month (at room temperature).
UnconstrainedTime watches do not store or display the date, they only display the time (to the nearest minute).
Your strap/band is secured with a standard 22mm spring-bar. To change the strap you can either visit any reputable watch repair-shop or jeweller, and it is normally something they’ll be able to ked in any physical shops?do while you wait. Alternatively you can swap a strap at home easily, using a small forked watch tool or a small flat head screwdriver.
Leather is porous, so the longevity of a watch strap can vary from person to person. The leather will absorb oils and will develop a natural patina which gives the strap its character. The lifespan of your strap can be extended by avoiding letting it come into contact with water, moisture, oils, perfumes or cosmetics which will significantly deteriorate the lifespan of the item. Avoid over-exposure to extreme heat or direct sunlight.
The CR1216 battery in your UnconstrainedTime watch should last approximately 1 year if you display the time 5 times a day.
When you do need a replacement battery for your UnconstrainedTime watch you can get it replaced at any reputable jeweller or watch repair shop, usually while you wait. The battery is a commonly available and inexpensive CR1216.
The watch strap for the 40mm Tropical Crystal watch is 22mm wide.
Yes, definitely, since, for the 40mm version, it is a standard 22mm spring bar, which is commonly available.
No. While we do use gaskets / O-rings inside the back-plate and inside each of the time-display elements and the button, to help protect the watch in normal dry use, and internal components are protected in various ways, our watches are not design to be resistant to water or any other liquids.
The cases of our Cross # watches are 3D printed and hand cast by an artisan foundry in the UK. Each watch is then assembled by hand, polished by hand (by a leading British watchmaker), individually tested then shipped from the UK.
You can choose the colour of your high quality leather strap, from the options near the top of the product page.
Tropical Crystal will have a small, numbered release. So make sure you subscribe for email notifications so you don’t miss the launch.
Maintenance.
Most minor marks and scuffs will rub off with your finger, but if you’d like to carry out a more thorough clean we would recommend using a lightly dampened microfibre cloth to wipe the case – but do not use abrasive compounds as they could scratch the watch.
Our leather straps are much like any other leather item you own, and benefit from a gentle polishing occasionally – we also don’t recommend submerging our leather straps on a frequent basis as that may reduce the durability.
First of all, with a dry cloth wipe off any dirt or debris from your strap. Then with a very small amount of mild soap and water, gently rub your strap in small circular buffing motions. You do not want the strap to become damp as this can do more harm than good to the leather, so use only a small amount of water. Make sure you have removed all the soap residue from your strap, then leave it to air-dry, avoiding direct sunlight. Then you can use a leather balm to recondition your leather once it has been cleaned.
We recommend replacing the gaskets approximately every 3 years. An UnconstrainedTime watch has 12 gaskets under the time-display elements, one under the button and one under the back-plate. Since some of the gaskets used might not be easily obtainable, and the unique internal components of the watch need to be removed and replaced carefully and correctly in order to replace all the gaskets, we highly recommend that they be replaced by the renowned watchmaker who originally hand-assembles the watch for us: Horologium UK.
Ordering and purchasing
We accept most credit and debit cards.
If you’re purchasing a watch for someone else, please let us know so that we can make the paperwork out in their name.
Each Tropical Crystal watch is permanently protected by unique blockchain product authentication, with a secure certificate of ownership, facilitating easy verification of authenticity, provenance, and ownership history, as used for watches like the “Genesis” by H. Moser and Cie, and the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra, as well as by brands such as Louis Vuitton who in collaboration with Prada Group and Cartier, launched a blockchain ownership certificate system: (Aura Blockchain Consortium).
Can I choose the metal my watch is made from? Yes, the UnconstrainedTime Tropical Crystal watch offers a choice of different solid metals.
Your choice reflects not just aesthetic preference, but a chapter in your own story – marking time through both its display and its significance. Each piece not only represents artistic vision but becomes uniquely yours through personalised material selection. Your choice of materials transforms these small numbered release sculptures into individually crafted expressions that reflect both the creator’s artistry and your personal aesthetic.
If you have any questions, contact us.
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer serial number or release number requests on our watches. Each individually made-to-order watch will be assigned a release number and a serial number, by us.
We are currently only launching one watch at a time. When we launch one of our watches, it is available on our website as a small numbered release, sold on a first come first served basis, and expected to sell out rapidly
For this reason we recommend you subscribe to our Priority List so you don’t miss watch launches by UnconstrainedTime.
Currently, UnconstrainedTime watches are only available directly from our own website. We plan to collaborate with creators such as art jewellers to produce one-off watches which are likely to be exhibited in art galleries.
UnconstrainedTime watches are art in synergy with time, presenting individually crafted, personalized, made-to-order pieces, which don’t align with the concepts of mass production. Our watches are for the very few people who appreciate unusually unique watches which genuinely fit the definition of art. Like fine art prints, our watches make sense in small numbered releases.
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer pre-orders on any of our watches. You can sign up for our email list to receive updates on upcoming watch launches.
Currently we do not sell straps unless they are purchased with a watch.
Shipping
We offer free worldwide shipping via DHL. Once your order is ready to ship you can expect an email from DHL directly with tracking and delivery information.
We use DHL.
International shipping is free of charge for all watch orders purchased from our website.
We offer free worldwide shipping, to any country that DHL can ship to (which you can check on their website, and at the time of writing does not include North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Myanmar, Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus).
As soon as your order ships you will receive your tracking number and a link to manage your delivery preferences from DHL.
Yes, all DHL shipments will require a signature, unless you state otherwise when you manage your preferences with DHL.
UnconstrainedTime watches are individual personalized orders, which means we can’t start making your watch until you specify your choice of metal. While we will do everything we can to get your watch to you as rapidly as possible, it takes time to make and assemble a personalized watch and polish it by hand, have it passed by our quality control, then get it to you, so it might take up to 90 days from the day you buy a watch, for us to begin shipping your watch to you.
How long the shipping process itself takes will vary according to which country you are in. The DHL website will provide further details.
For your peace of mind, all our products are tracked and insured by us and shipped on a signed-for basis to confirm receipt. We will keep you updated by email as your watch is made, assembled, finished by hand, tested and shipped to you, and you will receive tracking details from DHL once shipping is started.
All watch shipments are tracked, and the DHL tracking details will be shared with you once your order is dispatched. We monitor all shipments until they arrive safely with you.
Problems, returns and warranty:
Yes. Most of the parts of this watch are 3D printed, so they can be created whenever needed at any time in the future. If we ever go out of business, we can easily make the 3D files for each part publicly available at no cost.
If you have received your order and it is incorrect or damaged, then please contact us.
We take photographs of our watches to give you an idea of the colour of the metals and other materials used, but each computer monitor or smartphone screen displays colours slightly differently, and it’s never possible to know that you’re looking at the physical watch in the exact same lighting conditions it was photographed in. So the colour indications on photos on our website are only approximate indications of the colour you will see when you look at one of our watches.
If you have received your order, and would like to return it for a refund, we are able to accept returns within 30 days of the tracked shipping marking your watch as having been delivered to you, provided the watch is unworn and not damaged in any way. Once it has been inspected a refund (minus return shipping fee) will be processed. Please contact us, to arrange a return.
Please note: The return payment can take up to 10 days to process. For more details of our returns policy, see our returns policy and warranty page.
We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return. To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags and any paperwork, and in all its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase. Returns within 30 days will qualify for a full refund (minus return shipping fee).
Once your returned watch is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to the original method of payment, within 10 working days.
To return your product, you need to contact us to find out where to ship it to. When shipping, please make a note of your tracking number and ensure you keep a copy of proof of postage. We recommend that you use a trackable shipping service when returning your items, as the goods are your responsibility whilst in transit.
To start a return, you can contact us. For more details of our returns policy, see our returns policy and warranty page.
We include a 2 year warranty which extends to workmanship defects, valid from the date of purchase. This covers any form of mechanical fault and we will arrange a repair free of charge. You ship the watch back to us, and we will repair it and ship it back to you.
The warranty does not cover: battery, aesthetic changes to the leather straps, nor does it cover accidents or damage caused by lack of care, or normal wear and tear, nor does it cover damage due to intrusion of water or other liquids, or scratches or dents. For more details of our warranty, see our returns policy and warranty page.
It is usually not possible to change the details of the watch you ordered, after it has been paid for, because we will start making it individually for you very soon after payment has been made.
An exception is the strap, which we might be able to change for you before the watch reaches the stage of the strap being added, if the colour was chosen from our recommended colour options. If you requested your own choice of strap colour, that cannot be changed after you’ve made your order.
If your watch strap is faulty, or is returned unworn within 30 days of delivery, we will either send you a new one, or send you a full refund on the strap. Please contact us for details.
General questions:
Sign up for our Priority List, which will notify you about our launches as well as giving you priority access to behind-the-scenes secrets of our brand, and also follow us on our social media (links at the bottom of every page of our website).
We are always here to help. We try to provide as much information as possible on our product pages, but if you’d like to know something specific please contact us.
Please contact us with your question.
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