Kross Studio Game of Thrones House of the Dragon: history, models and owner reviews

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones – House of the Dragon, launched in 2023, is a collection of unique pieces created with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products around the dragons of Game of Thrones and its prequel series House of the Dragon. Each Collector Set combines a central floating tourbillon watch with a functional sculpture representing a specific dragon egg. The watch measures 45 mm in diameter, mainly uses a sculpted Grade 5 titanium case and is powered by the hand-wound KS 7'005 calibre developed, manufactured and assembled by Kross Studio. This movement suspends a central tourbillon beneath a prominent sapphire dome while hours and minutes travel around it through a planetary gearing system. Power reserve reaches five days. The different Collector Sets are not merely colour variations: each is a unique piece dedicated to a specific dragon, with its own engraving, treatments, colours, materials and coordinated sculpture.

Design & legibility: translating the dragon into watch architecture

The aesthetic principle of the collection is not simply to print a dragon image onto an existing dial. Kross Studio instead adapts the construction of the watch itself to the Targaryen universe. The case receives three-dimensional engraving representing scales, while the caseback carries the House Targaryen emblem and the name of the dragon to which the piece is dedicated. Each watch therefore attempts to translate the identity of a dragon through material, colour and finishing rather than through literal illustration. This approach preserves genuine haute-horlogerie architecture while making the narrative dimension of each Collector Set immediately perceptible.

The centre of the dial is dominated by the floating tourbillon. Unlike a peripheral tourbillon or one conventionally integrated at movement level, it appears suspended immediately beneath the domed sapphire and visually detached from the rest of the calibre. Its fixed seconds wheel and rotating cage therefore occupy the position normally reserved for central hands. The tourbillon becomes both the regulating organ and the principal visual element of the watch. This arrangement creates considerable depth and allows the mechanism to be observed from many angles, particularly because of the substantial height of the sapphire dome.

Hours and minutes naturally cannot use conventional hands crossing through the centre. Kross Studio moves them to the perimeter through a planetary gear system that carries the indications around the tourbillon. A twelve-to-one gearing relationship controls hour progression, while the complete display is supported on two large high-precision ball bearings. The peripheral display completely frees the centre while retaining a traditional way of reading hours and minutes. The owner therefore does not need to learn a radically new concept of time display; only the mechanical position of the hands differs from that of a conventional watch.

The openworked dial incorporates a Damasteel component attached to the hour wheel. Its layered and flowing metallic pattern is selected to evoke the Valyrian steel of the Game of Thrones universe. Kross Studio worked with the same foundry that supplied the metal used for swords created for the television production, strengthening the material connection with the fictional world. Damasteel creates an especially interesting connection between cinematic prop making and a functional component of the watch. Its naturally irregular structure also means that every surface pattern differs slightly, which is particularly appropriate for a collection made entirely of unique pieces.

Legibility depends strongly on the individual configuration. Each dragon receives specific colours applied to the flange, hour markers, hands and sometimes the case treatment itself. Certain models create strong contrast with bright Super-LumiNova, while darker pieces such as Balerion use a much more theatrical tone-on-tone approach. The highest-contrast versions are noticeably easier to read than monochromatic executions designed primarily for visual impact. This distinction matters because the spectacular central architecture already attracts the eye towards the tourbillon rather than the exact indication of time.

Case, controls and sculpture: a Collector Set conceived as one complete object

The standard case measures 45 mm in diameter. Total thickness reaches approximately 20 mm when the large domed sapphire crystal is included, whereas the metal case itself measures around 12.5 mm without the crystal. This distinction explains why the watch appears significantly larger in profile than the case architecture alone might suggest. The sapphire dome accounts for a substantial proportion of overall height and directly serves the presentation of the floating tourbillon. The watch therefore remains imposing even though titanium significantly limits mass on most versions.

Grade 5 titanium is the dominant material across the collection. It can remain natural or receive black DLC and various PVD treatments according to the dragon. Certain pieces, including Vermax, instead use an 18-carat rose-gold case and radically alter the wrist sensation. Exterior surfaces are hand-sculpted to resemble scales, producing a texture completely different from a simply brushed or polished case. The case engraving is one of the few elements that directly connects the identity of the dragons with the physical watch construction. It turns a technical enclosure into a narrative component without adding unnecessary decorative parts.

The watch has no conventional crown projecting from the case. Winding is performed through a folding D-shaped crown integrated into the back and stored flat when not in use. Time setting is controlled by a pusher at 3 o’clock. This keeps the case perfectly symmetrical and prevents a large lateral crown from disrupting the sculptural design. The D-ring crown also provides increased leverage and makes winding the five-day movement substantially easier. The ergonomics are unusual but become straightforward once winding and time setting are understood as two clearly separate operations.

Water resistance is limited to 30 metres. This provides protection against accidental splashes but does not make the watch suitable for swimming. Depending on the model, straps combine leather and rubber and connect to a titanium folding clasp, sometimes complemented by gold on precious-metal executions. The 30-metre rating confirms that the priority is the collectible object rather than sporting versatility. Engraved surfaces, decorative treatments and the large sapphire dome further reinforce the logic of careful wear despite the inherent robustness of titanium.

Each watch is accompanied by a functional dragon egg developed with the French workshop Leblon Delienne. Its exterior shape comes from a three-dimensional scan of props used for the television production. The resin sculpture is then airbrushed and hand-finished in colours associated with the individual dragon. The egg is not simply a presentation box because it opens into a genuine watch stand. Two towers inspired by the architecture of Dragonstone Castle support the cushion, while the base refers to the kingdoms of Westeros.

The sculpture measures approximately 231.5 mm high with its base, 168 mm in diameter and weighs around 2.2 kg. It can hold the watch from the Collector Set or another timepiece. The watch, sculpture, two straps, dedicated booklet and handling accessories therefore form one coherent package. The Collector Set should be understood as a two-part artwork rather than as a watch supplied with an unusually elaborate box. This distinction becomes especially important on the secondary market because the absence of the dragon egg removes a significant part of the original concept and collectible interest.

KS 7'005 calibre: a genuinely floating central tourbillon

The KS 7'005 is a hand-wound mechanical calibre designed, manufactured and assembled by Kross Studio. It measures 33 mm in diameter and 15.28 mm high in this configuration, contains 27 jewels and operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, or 3 Hz. Power reserve reaches five days, or approximately 120 hours. The defining characteristic of the KS 7'005 is the positioning of the tourbillon above the movement rather than on the same plane as the gear train. This arrangement opens the view across the entire construction and creates the genuine impression that the cage is floating beneath the crystal.

A central tourbillon creates a specific engineering challenge because it occupies precisely the area normally crossed by the axes carrying hour and minute hands. Kross Studio solves the problem by moving the display to the perimeter. The planetary mechanism travels around the regulating organ instead of passing through it. The movement architecture and display architecture are therefore inseparable. The tourbillon is not a complication added to a conventional calibre after development; its location determines the organisation of the gear train, dial and time display.

The 3 Hz frequency is relatively traditional for a contemporary tourbillon and helps balance energy consumption with stable operation. A five-day reserve is especially valuable on a manually wound watch because it reduces the frequency of interaction despite the complexity of the mechanism. The owner can leave the watch for several days without it stopping. The 120-hour autonomy significantly improves the practical usability of a complication that could otherwise demand daily winding. The broad rear crown also makes the operation faster than it would be with a small conventional lateral crown.

The tourbillon rotates beneath the dome while the display elements travel around it on large precision ball bearings. This combination demands tight control of vertical alignment and mechanical play. Excessive friction in the peripheral display would increase energy consumption and could affect smooth operation. Ball-bearing support reduces friction in an indication system much wider than a conventional stack of hands. It also contributes to the visual fluidity of the components travelling around the tourbillon.

Servicing should be entrusted to Kross Studio or a facility competent with this architecture. The KS 7'005 is not a standard movement that any workshop can dismantle and regulate with universally available parts. Sculpted cases and individual surface treatments further increase the importance of correct intervention. Access to specialised service is therefore an integral part of owning a Game of Thrones Central Floating Tourbillon. On the secondary market, service history, condition of the rear controls and integrity of the peripheral display deserve as much attention as external cosmetic condition.

Chronological milestones and main models (2023–2026)

(2023) Kross Studio Game of Thrones Drogon First Wave of Collector Sets:

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones Drogon GTDGT-DRO23 belongs to the first group of unique pieces revealed in 2023 and immediately establishes the principle of the collection. Each dragon receives its own central floating tourbillon watch together with a matching functional egg. Drogon is a particularly logical starting point because it is among the most recognisable dragons in Game of Thrones. Its 45 mm case follows the scale-engraving concept and Targaryen caseback, while KS 7'005 brings five days of reserve and peripheral time display. This first wave also includes Rhaegal, Viserion, an Ice Dragon interpretation and Balerion. It transforms the Collector Set idea already used by Kross Studio into an entire series of unique pieces connected by one common mechanical architecture.

(2023) Kross Studio Game of Thrones Balerion Dark Interpretation:

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones Balerion GTDGT-BAL23 takes the first generation in a much darker direction. Its 45 mm Grade 5 titanium case receives black DLC, while flange, hour markers and hands also use an extensively monochromatic palette. The openworked dial retains its Damasteel component recalling Valyrian steel, and the KS 7'005 remains visible beneath the dramatic sapphire dome. Balerion quickly demonstrates that individual Collector Sets can possess extremely different personalities without changing their fundamental construction. The purpose is therefore not to introduce a new complication for every dragon but to adapt engraving, colour, surface treatment, strap and sculpture while maintaining a coherent horological platform.

(2024) Kross Studio House of the Dragon Meleys Expansion into the Prequel:

Presented within the new wave announced in early 2024, the Kross Studio Game of Thrones Meleys GTDGT-MLY23 significantly expands the project towards the dragons of House of the Dragon. Its 45 mm Grade 5 titanium case is combined with red accents and rose-gold-toned details reflecting the identity of Meleys. The dial still incorporates Damasteel and the central KS 7'005 tourbillon, while the individually finished egg follows the dragon’s colour palette. This phase also brings Syrax, Caraxes, Vhagar and Vermax into the project. The collection is therefore no longer simply a tribute to dragons seen in the original Game of Thrones series; it becomes a broader project spanning different generations of Targaryen history.

(2024) Kross Studio House of the Dragon Vermax Rose-Gold Case:

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones Vermax GTDGT-VMX23 differs significantly through its 45 mm 18-carat rose-gold case, whereas most Collector Sets use titanium. The caseback and selected clasp elements also use the precious metal, while the dial combines a green flange with rose-gold-toned components. KS 7'005 retains 27 jewels, a 3 Hz frequency and its five-day power reserve. This configuration dramatically alters wrist sensation through increased mass and gives the engraved scale pattern a more precious character. Vermax demonstrates that the platform can accommodate substantially different materials without losing the identity of the floating tourbillon or the peripheral display architecture.

(2024) Kross Studio House of the Dragon Sunfyre New Dragon Wave:

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones Sunfyre GTDGT-SFY24 belongs to the expansion presented around the second season of House of the Dragon. Its Grade 5 titanium case receives black DLC, while flange, hour markers and hands use a highly visible orange tone. The watch remains a unique piece accompanied by its dragon egg created according to the same process of scanning television props and manually finishing the sculpture. This new wave also includes Arrax, Silverwing, Moondancer, Seasmoke and Vermithor, with Meraxes subsequently documented as part of the collection. The project therefore reaches a much broader scale while retaining its core principle: one example for each dragon and a visual configuration individually developed around that creature.

(2024) Kross Studio House of the Dragon Silverwing Blue Treatment:

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones Silverwing GTDGT-SWG24 uses a 45 mm Grade 5 titanium case with sculpted surfaces and blue PVD treatment. The finish substantially alters the way the engraving reacts to light, with the scale texture shifting between dense blue and much brighter reflections depending on angle. Damasteel retains its central role around the display system and the floating tourbillon remains suspended beneath the sapphire crystal. Silverwing is especially representative of how Kross Studio uses surface treatment to individualise each dragon without adding unnecessary applied decoration. The coordinated functional sculpture extends the same chromatic language so that watch and egg appear as two parts of one composition rather than products developed separately.

(2024) Kross Studio House of the Dragon Meraxes GPHG Recognition:

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones Meraxes GTDGT-MXS24 is presented in 2024 as another unique piece within the collection and is entered at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Its technical specification confirms a 45 mm titanium case, 30-metre water resistance and the hand-wound KS 7'005 delivering 120 hours of reserve at 21,600 vibrations per hour. The appearance of Meraxes brings the documented collection to seventeen unique pieces at that stage. It also illustrates Kross Studio’s attempt to have the watches considered beyond their licensed entertainment theme: the narrative remains important, but the horological proposition also rests on the floating central tourbillon, in-house movement and unusual peripheral display engineering.

Choosing the right version: dragon, material, legibility and completeness

The first decision should concern the dragon rather than simply the colour of the watch. Because every Collector Set is unique, there are no multiple examples of the same configuration from which to select a preferred finish. The relationship with the represented dragon therefore forms an essential part of the purchasing logic. A collector attached to Game of Thrones may naturally prefer Drogon, Rhaegal or Viserion, whereas an enthusiast of House of the Dragon may find greater meaning in Syrax, Caraxes, Meleys, Vhagar, Sunfyre or another dragon from the prequel.

Material also deserves careful attention. Titanium keeps mass relatively manageable for a watch measuring 45 mm and approximately 20 mm in total height, whereas the rose gold used for Vermax creates a much denser experience. Titanium is the most comfortable solution for someone genuinely intending to wear the watch regularly. Precious metals provide additional presence and rarity but reinforce the character of the piece as a collectible object rather than a discreet daily watch.

Legibility varies considerably between configurations. Strongly contrasting hands and bright luminous components improve reading, whereas almost entirely black executions prioritise visual impact. Checking actual legibility under several lighting conditions is preferable to relying solely on official photography. The sapphire dome, Damasteel and moving tourbillon generate substantial reflections and visual activity that can change the appearance of the display dramatically.

The dimensions make a wrist trial advisable whenever possible. Forty-five millimetres tells only part of the story because approximately 20 mm of total height with the sapphire produces a highly dramatic presence. Titanium partly compensates through low weight. Comfort depends particularly on height, strap curvature and the stability of the watch on the wrist. Even someone comfortable with a 45 mm diameter can be surprised by the physical height of the dome.

Finally, completeness of the Collector Set is fundamental. The dragon egg, additional straps, booklet, handling accessories and documentation all form part of the concept and collectible value. A watch separated from its functional sculpture no longer represents the complete artwork imagined by Kross Studio. On the secondary market, provenance, correct engraved name, condition of the Damasteel, operation of the rear winding system and service history should all be checked together. Other customers’ opinions are essential.

Conclusion

The Kross Studio Game of Thrones – House of the Dragon collection successfully transforms a pop-culture licence into a genuine haute-horlogerie platform built around the floating central tourbillon. References to the dragons extend far beyond a few logos: sculpted cases, colour treatments, Damasteel evoking Valyrian steel, Targaryen casebacks and individual functional eggs make every unique piece distinct. The KS 7'005 simultaneously provides serious mechanical substance through its suspended tourbillon, planetary peripheral display, 3 Hz frequency and five-day power reserve. Very large dimensions, 30-metre water resistance and dependence on specialist servicing naturally limit versatility, but they remain consistent with an object intended as much for collecting and display as for regular wear.

To compare comfort, legibility, engraving quality, winding ergonomics and the real-world experience of a floating central tourbillon with extended ownership, Dialicious customer reviews provide a particularly useful complement.

(Updated October 2026)