Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Chinese Indie Watchmaker Qian GuoBiao Presents the new AB-05 Skylight Series
An openworked design that reveals more, while showing balance (literally) and demonstrating restraint.
Over the past few years, Qian GuoBiao, an independent watchmaker working in Dongguan, China, known as “the tourbillon doctor“, has established a quite disciplined design language, shaped by his background in the restoration and application of traditional hand-finishing. His earlier watches focused on clarity, proportion and the display of mechanics, incorporating visible balances without resorting to skeletonisation, as showcased in his Facing the Sky series, the more recent Double Balance Wheel model, and his latest Split-Seconds Chronograph, which exposes the rattrapante clutch mechanism.
The new Qian GuoBiao Skylight model is an evolution of the watchmaker’s vision, retaining the key elements for which his work is known, and it is launched as the AB-05 Skylight Original and AB-05S Skylight Sun versions.
The Skylight’s idea is not to expose everything, but to reveal what matters. The watch introduces a partially openworked dial, opening areas to display the balance wheel, sections of the gear train, and key structural components for an animated, three-dimensional presentation. The Skylight case continues Qian GuoBiao’s preference for compact, wearable dimensions. Made of 316L stainless steel, it measures 39mm in diameter, 10mm thick and 46mm lug-to-lug, and features a stepped bezel and sapphire crystals on both sides. Water-resistance is 50m.
Dial finishing defines the character of each variant. The Skylight Original offers a mostly monochromatic look, with a silver-toned, industrial-style dial that highlights the mechanical elements. The Skylight Sun, in contrast, introduces a warmer, more expressive tone, with a gold-coloured, hand-engraved tremblage surface. The balance wheel is prominently positioned on the dial side at 8:30, and the opening allows the wearer to follow the transmission of energy through the movement. Time is indicated on the marked chapter ring by the centrally positioned blued steel lance-shaped hands, with the arrow-shaped bridges adding a dynamic to the movement’s spectacle already in motion.
The new Qian GuoBiao Skylight is powered by the in-house, hand-wound calibre AB-05. Beating at 18,000 vibrations/hour and offering a 40-hour power reserve, it reflects the watchmaker’s traditional approach to chronometry, favouring a slower frequency and clear mechanical layout. The movement is developed and finished by Qian GuoBiao, with visible craftsmanship without decorative excess.
The Qian GuoBiao Skylight is worn on a custom strap produced by JeaYou, matched to the dial’s tone. The Skylight will be presented during Time to Watches 2026; mark your calendar.
Production is limited to 12 pieces of the Skylight Original and 18 of the Skylight Sun. The price is set at CHF 29,000 or EUR 32,000, in line with the positioning of small-scale independent watchmaking. For more details or to order your Skylight, please visit @qianguobiao or qianguobiao.com.
