We all love concept models — be it cars, motorcycles, boats, furniture, albums, whatever — except the only frustration is knowing the beauty you’re looking at will probably never see the light of day production-wise. Well same goes for watches — sometimes their avant guard design ideas and mechanics push traditional wristwatch language into the 22nd century, but perhaps are too progressive to make them marketable. A couple of these watches are said concepts, while 2 others just might see their way onto the wrists of those not worried about looking traditional. Onwards to 2010 then…

Toxic Linear Time Watch by Virtual Ideas

This linear movement watch by Swiss firm Virtual Ideas features a “hand” that slides across a scale telling the hour on top and the minutes below, with no second indicator. The “hand” then skips back to the beginning of the scale when it reaches the end. Beautiful.

Big Time Watch by Virtual Ideas

Similar to the Toxic above (also by Virtual Ideas), the Big Time instead has a vertical layout with a rose gold case. Like the Toxic it has 2 sections, one that tells the hours and the other the minutes. The Big Time differs not only in its vertical layout, however, but also because the indicators do not “skip” back to the beginning of the scale and start over. Instead, they loop up and down using continuous movement, which hence utilizes both sides of the tracks.

LED Watch by 100%

You would be more accurate in describing this piece by 100% as a bracelet that tells time, more so than a classic wristwatch. It’s pretty simple really: press a button and the LEDs shine through the bracelet’s interlocks to display the time. Super simple, really, and this one — designed by Hironao Tsuboi — may actually see the light of day.

HM2.2 Black Box by MB&F and Alain Silberstein

The HM2.2 Black Box is an update of MB&F‘s HM2, except this version is done in collaboration with watch designer Alain Silberstein, a French artist known for his bold use of color and patterns. Most of the Black Box’s case is titanium coated with a special type of fingerprint-proof PVD, just to keep your very pricey watch flawless. The interior is made of steel. This watch will actually be made, but with only 8 pieces ever to be manufactured it might as well be a concept. On the bottom edge of the watch is engraved the inscription “Le vrai bonheur est d’avoir sa passion pour métier,” or “True happiness is having one’s passion for a profession.” Well said…