Another horological “Memento Mori” from HYT
The Skull collection from HYT – evocative of the Latin term “memento mori”, a reminder that life is short and you must seize every moment – is enhanced with the addition of a new Skull in 48.8 mm
HYT’s Skull collection has a more compact model added to it, but its message still resonates now more than ever. The Skull, with its new 48.8 mm case, is available in two versions, the first made entirely from pink gold and the second from contrasting gold and black DLC titanium. Both have a patinated skull, underscoring the fact that life is precious.
The Skull has been an iconic HYT timepiece since 2015. Its boldness pushes the boundaries for a brand that stands out from the crowd, starting with its fluid time display. Every feature of the Skull is designed to act as a “memento mori”, a reminder that life is short and you must seize every moment. It is a symbol of life rather than of death. Just like the fluids which, driven by two flexible reservoirs, progress inside the capillary to mark the passage of time.
Without liquid, no life is possible. There would be no timekeeping either: this process began with the first water clocks (or “clepsydras”), over three thousand years ago. As a 21st-century clepsydra, the HYT is a philosophical instrument, even more so when it takes the form of a bold skull with hollow eyes.
A new model has now been added to the collection: The Skull 48.8. The case has been slimmed down from 51 mm to 48.8 mm, perfect for more slender wrists. The skull is patinated, a finish designed to enhance it as it ages. The patina grows with every passing second measured by the HYT device. More specifically, measured by the capillary, which hugs the outline of the skull – a feat of glass engineering.
A watch adorned with a skull. One might think this just another passing trend. But this would be to forget that the watchmakers who created the first portable timepieces, in the sixteenth century, at the height of the artistic genre of “memento mori”, immediately recognised the significance of the symbol. Make the most of your time, friends, for life is short.
The case for the first version of the Skull 48.8 is made from 5N pink gold. The hours are indicated on the outer bezel. The external dial boasts a magnificent grained effect thanks to its micro-blasted treatment. The strap is made from matte black alligator. The second version of the Skull 48.8, made from pink gold (5N) and black DLC titanium, features an external dial treated with an anthracite grey galvanised coating. The cognac-coloured patinated leather strap, with a rubber core, comes with a matching cuff. Both editions are limited to 50 timepieces each.
