Mechanical watches have long been associated with traditional dials, restrained colors, and familiar movement layouts. But modern watch design is taking a more expressive approach, combining mechanical craftsmanship with distinctive visual details.
The Bund – Sky Dome from Shanghai Watch is one example. Its central balance wheel, colorful dial options, and contemporary case give a familiar type of mechanical watch a distinctly different character.
Mechanical Watches Don't Have to Look Conventional
A mechanical watch does not have to look traditional to retain the appeal of mechanical watchmaking.
Some watches focus on classic proportions and understated dials. Others make the movement itself part of the visual experience. Central balance wheel watches take this approach by placing the balance wheel prominently at the center, allowing an important part of the mechanical movement to become visible from the dial.
The Sky Dome follows this idea, using its central balance wheel as one of the defining elements of the dial rather than keeping the mechanics completely out of sight. 
Shanghai Watch Central Balance Wheel Blue Automatic Watch
What Makes a Central Balance Wheel Different?
The balance wheel is a key component of a mechanical watch. Working with the escapement, it oscillates at a consistent rate to regulate the movement and keep time.
In most mechanical watches, the balance wheel is positioned within the movement and is not prominently visible from the front. A central arrangement changes that experience, turning a functional component into part of the watch's design.
On the Sky Dome, the central balance wheel creates a focal point on the dial while giving the wearer a more direct view of the mechanical action. It is a relatively unconventional approach that can make an automatic watch more engaging to look at.
Central Balance Wheel Macro Shot on Automatic Watch Movement
How Color Changes the Character of a Mechanical Watch
The Sky Dome takes this distinctive mechanical layout a step further with three dial colors: blue, orange, and green.
Color can significantly change the personality of a watch. Blue can feel versatile and refined, green offers a more distinctive presence, while orange creates a stronger visual statement.
Rather than treating color as an isolated decorative feature, the Sky Dome combines it with the central balance wheel and overall case design. This gives the same mechanical concept a different visual character depending on the dial.
Shanghai Watch Green Edition Automatic Watch
More Than the Dial: Details That Shape the Watch
The Sky Dome's design is also defined by the details surrounding its dial.
Its 43mm black-coated stainless steel case gives it a contemporary presence, while the sapphire crystal provides everyday scratch resistance. The exhibition case back offers another view of the mechanical movement, complementing the balance wheel visible from the front.
Inside, the Shanghai F28 automatic mechanical movement provides a 45-hour power reserve and operates at 21,600 vph. A textile strap completes the more contemporary feel of the watch.
Exhibition Case Back of Shanghai Central Balance Wheel Watch
A Different Take on the Modern Mechanical Watch
What makes the Sky Dome interesting is not any single specification, but how these elements work together.
The central balance wheel brings the mechanics into view. The blue, orange, and green dials give the design more personality, while the black-coated case, sapphire crystal, and exhibition case back add a modern finish.
It is a mechanical watch that stays focused on hours, minutes, and seconds while giving traditional watchmaking a more expressive visual language.
Exposed Center Wheel Orange Automatic Watch
Conclusion: Mechanical Watchmaking With More Personality
A mechanical watch does not need multiple complications or elaborate decoration to stand out.
For those who appreciate mechanical craftsmanship but want something less conventional, The Bund – Sky Dome offers a distinctive combination of visible mechanics, expressive color, and contemporary design.
Contact us today to explore more about The Bund – Sky Dome and find the dial color that suits your style.
