Time talk: UK's coolest watch designer showcases unique new collection

Fresh from staging her first Baselworld exhibition alongside the big-gun independents, such as MB&F and HYT, this week, Scotland-born watch designer Fiona Krüger unveils a month-long solo exhibition of her pieces at Harrods. And if it seems that she is fresh on the scene, like any horologist worth her salt, Krüger has been working towards this breakthrough moment for a long time.
To return to the beginning, Krüger had been well on her way to becoming a fine art academic when a brush with haute horology changed her course. During a one-year masters at the ECAL university of art and design in Lausanne, Switzerland, Krüger came across watchmaker Audemars Piguet, a course sponsor.
'I’d never heard of them,' she recalls. 'I didn’t know anything about watches – the differences between mechanical and quartz – nothing.' Cue a later trip to the Patek Philippe museum – where she discovered a watch shape 'could be anything you imagined' – and the bug was firmly caught. She fused her new-found love for horological history and her own fascination with time and mortality – and launched her first skeletised 'Skull' timepiece in 2013.
Inspired by a 17th century timepiece known as the Mary Queen of Scots’ 'Skull watch' and Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations, Krüger has stayed true to her theme. Where the debut 'Skull' was highly mechanical in style – its hand-painted, gold lacquer details mirroring the underlying movement – her second, the 'Black', was more aesthetic. Strongly graphic with a hand-painted supernova that glows in the dark, it is multi-dimensional and, like all her watches, has a deep, edgy vibe.
In contrast, the eye-poppingly bright 'Celebration' model is a joyous homage to life, its vibrant colours each linked to their original meanings in the Dia
de Los Muertos – while further reflecting Krüger’s own memories living in Mexico as a child. Supernova details again transform the watch into a subdued number come night, giving it a genius split personality.
Finally, her latest 'Petit' series, on show at Harrods, takes on a time-honoured, decorative technique: guilloché. Working with varied patterns, the result is highly sculptural and – in their diminutive sizes – extra precious.
Pictured: Fiona Kruger
As these first mock-ups show, Krüger’s range is inspired by Mary Queen of Scots’ 17th century ’Skull watch’, and Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations
However, Krüger’s passion hasn’t always been watches. She had been well on her way to becoming a fine art academic when a brush with haute horology changed her course. Pictured: ’Petit Skull’ trio
During a one-year masters at the ECAL university of art and design in Lausanne, Switzerland, Krüger caught the horology bug
Where Krüger’s debut ’Skull’ was highly mechanical in style – its hand-painted, gold lacquer details mirroring the underlying movement – her second, the ’Black’, was more aesthetic. Pictured: ’Black Skull’
In contrast, the eye-poppingly bright ’Celebration’ model (pictured) is a joyous homage to life
Finally, her latest ’Petit’ series, on show at Harrods, takes on a time-honoured, decorative technique: guilloché. Pictured left: ’Petit Skull’ Black. Right: ’Petit Skull’ Silver
INFORMATION
Fiona Krüger’s pop-up exhibition will be on view at Harrods until 27 April. For more information, visit Krüger’s website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Corner Corner may be London's most unique entertainment destination yet
The newly-opened venue combines food, jazz and—yes—urban farming beneath one sprawling roof
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
The Wallpaper* Design Issue comes with our Salone del Mobile must-sees
The May 2025 issue of Wallpaper* is on sale now, taking in Milan Design Week, the Venice Biennale, and a very stylish tea party
By Bill Prince Published
-
Aboard Gio Ponti's colourful Arlecchino train in Milan, a conversation about design with Formafantasma
The design duo boards Gio Ponti’s train bound for the latest Prada Frames symposium at Milan Design Week
By Laura May Todd Published
-
Samuel Ross unveils his Hublot Big Bang watch design
Samuel Ross brings a polished titanium case and orange rubber strap to the Hublot Big Bang watch
By Pei-Ru Keh Published
-
Playful design meets chic heritage in the Hermès Kelly watch
The new Kelly watch from Hermès rethinks the original 1975 timepiece
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Discover the tonal new hues of the classic Nomos Club Campus watch
The Nomos classic wristwatch Club Campus now comes in two new collegiate colours. The perfect graduation gift from the Glashütte manufacture
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Bulgari unveils the thinnest mechanical watch in the world
The new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra watch is a record-breaking feat of engineering
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Breitling and Triumph unite on a racy new watch and motorcycle
1960s design codes are infused with a contemporary edge in the collaboration between Breitling and Triumph
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Gerald Genta’s mischievous Mickey Mouse watch design is rethought for a new era
The Gerald Genta Retrograde with Smiling Disney Mickey Mouse watch pays tribute to Genta’s humorous design codes
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Shinola honours Georgia O’Keeffe with a new watch
Shinola Birdy watch stays faithful to the minimalist codes of Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting, My Last Door
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Bulgari’s new book celebrates women and high jewellery
Bulgari Magnifica: The Power Women Hold, published by Rizzoli New York, takes a closer look at the female muses who inspired the spectacular Magnifica high jewellery collection
By Hannah Silver Last updated