The Milus TriRetrograde watch and movement is really the novelty that put the watch maker back on the map a few years ago. Their latest creation using the unique triple retrograde seconds counters is this lady's Merea TriRetrograpde Seconds Skeleton Joaillerie timepiece. This watch does not frame the TriRetrograde complication as much as past Milus watches have, though the fun-to-watch novelty that counts each minute in three retrograde counters of 20 seconds each is still there. The dial is partially skeletonized with decorated rose gold bridges and perlage polished steel below. The case in rose gold makes interesting use of diamond and ruby jewel decoration that has the look of the dial extend on to the bezel. Inside the watch is the automatic movement unique to Milus, and attached to the timepiece is a red stingray leather strap. I do enjoy the "barbell" style lugs. Definitely a standout watch that is hard to miss. Not for everyone's tastes but enough people will be smitten.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Today will see the sale of an unusual artifact, a 150-million-year-old complete skeleton of a dinosaur. The I.M. Chait Gallery in Manhattan is auctioning off a nine-foot-long dryosaurus being sold by Utah-based Western Paleontological Laboratories as part of a natural history auction that includes other skeletons, fossils and minerals. The skeleton is one of only two of its kind in the world. Most skeletons like this end up in museums but some are bought by private individuals. The skeleton could bring up to $500,000.

UPDATE: Luxist tipster Nick led me to a CNN report that the skeleton did not sell but that two museums are said to be looking into buying it.

Armin Strom will present this Skeleton Square Man watch in addition to the Elements watch line at Basel later this month. Skeletonization has certainly been on the radar of many this season, and the trend continues to evolve. This watch is pleasant looking take on open faces and skeletonization. The Skeleton Square takes a fashionably designed 18k white gold rectangular case with engraved sides, and very unique proportions as a frame for the decorated movement.

Inside is a hand-wound Armin Strom ASM09 calibre that is lovingly decorated in a very traditional manner. As there is so much detail to appreciate on the watch face, Armin Strom chose to add an AR coating to the sapphire crystal, making it easier to view. The point of this watch is to combine a modern looking architecturally-themed case with a classically decorated movement - it makes its point well. You do get the impression that a watch like this is made for an appreciative audience, rather than for just any watch lover though. This is ok, because taking the time to study the finer points of this watch allows you to respect the various talents used to create it. Insofar that the Skeleton Square Man watch is a showpiece of fine watch making, I respect its placement in the horological community. The watch is attached to a black alligator strap with a matching white gold buckle. Look for it soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

At SIHH 2009 this year, Vacheron Constantin really showed the watch world what it does best. The presentation featured several wonderful classic looking watches that stressed the company's heritage and skill set (nothing like the confusing departure to "modern" watches that we've seen in the past).

My choice for Vacheron Constantin's star of the show would be this Skeleton Patrimony Traditionelle watch (the 38mm wide 18k white gold version). It starts with a vintage 1967 Automatic 1120 SQ movement. The movement is remarkably thin at 2.45mm, even though it is an automatic. Everything unnecessary has been stripped from the movement, and the rest has been beautifully decorated and skeletonized as you can see. Even the mainspring barrel has been cut with the hallmark cross of Geneva. There is also a smaller 30mm wide version available that uses a tiny 1.64mm thick manually wound 1003 SQ movement from 1955.

The Skeleton Patrimony Traditionnelle features a diamond bezel (82 diamonds on the 38mm size) set version as well as a plain white gold bezel version. Despite the aesthetic focus on the watch, I like how Vacheron Constantin has not neglected function. The dauphine hands follow a full number index ring around the face with diamond hour markers, that makes telling the time comfortable. This is easily the most function focused high-decoration watch that I've seen from Vacheron Constantin or anyone else.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Skeleton watches are very popular simply because it's fun to watch those tiny pieces in action safe behind a sapphire crystal. Gresso has created the Gresso Avantgarde Skeleton to give a similar experience to the cell phone. The limited edition phone is made of titanium alloy with a scratch-proof high-tech ceramic coverage. The 23 function keys and the triangle on the front panel are executed of aircraft steel. The sapphire glass on the back panel is decorated with the Gresso logo covered with 10 micron gold. The phone features Windows Mobile 6 Standard, 2 Gb memory, SMS/MMS/e-mail, Internet explorer, Outlook, WAP 2.0, GPRS, Bluetooth, USB-port, mini-USB, PC Synchronization, voice recorder, MP3-player, 2 MP camera.

Why do you need a skeleton window on a cell phone? That's the big mystery. I'm pretty sure there's not too much to see back there unless Gresso has developed some type of motorized circuitry. It sells for $5,000.

[via Crunch Gear]

We've all got things in our garage we need to get rid of but California resident Nancy Fiddler really needed the room, she has an entire mastodon skeleton in there. Fiddler and her family put the skeleton on eBay looking for a minimum bid of $115,000. The family, which discovered the skeleton in 1997 on their ranch in northeastern California, needed the money and wanted their space back. The story was covered by Retuers and other places. After all, it's not often you get an ancient elephant-like creature up for sale even if there were no tusks with this one. The skeleton had been displayed at the Oakland Museum of Natural History and later at a wine bar.

It turns out there is a bit of a fossil glut on eBay and while an entire mastodon skeleton is a rarity, so was the six-figure price and it did not sell. The Fiddlers said before the auction ended that if it did not sell they would hold on to it a while longer.

On April 20th, Bloomsbury Auctions will auction off a 35-million year old sabre-tooth cat skull. The skull, which is intact and in outstanding condition, was discovered in South Dakota is expected to go for at least $8,000-12,000. Also at the auction, there will be several other fossilized items. A 200-million year old, 2-meter long aquatic lizard known as an ichthyosaurus is expected to fetch $35,000-50,000 dollars. Other lots include 120-million year old fossilized Hadrosaur eggs from China and 160-million year old sauropod excrement valued at approximately $1,000.