HYT flushes away competition with coloured fluids
Keen experimenters, designers at HYT have broken the boundaries in Fine Watchmaking and turned dreams into reality by mixing mechanics with liquid substances to create unique wristwatches. Since the days of the pharaohs, where water clocks were a fixed entity, no brand has achieved the feat to enable water to tell the time – but HYT has done exactly that with a portable watch that is freedom on the go
Fluid mechanics are the ultimate in hybrid technology. Using Avantgarde watchmaking developments, engineering has been pushed to its limits where high tech materials merge to create a design that is worthy of awe. HYT entered the market in 2013 with the H1 timepiece that bore the brand’s DNA, winning three awards in the same year; Best Innovative Watch 2012 – Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève; Best concept watch of the year – SIAR in Mexico; and Best concept watch of the year – Watch World Award in India. In the brand’s short history, new additions to four collections are due to be released later this year; H1, H2, H3 and the Skull, all of which boast different coloured, non-miscible liquids.
H1
HYT has introduced two new models to the H1 family; the H1 Blue 2 and the H1 Cigar which now brings the total number of variations to 16. This collection marks the birth of the brand’s unique ability to mark time with fluids that course under the dial, powered by specifically designed hydraulic pistons. Some of the other models in this collection are the H1 Titanium, H1 Titanium in black DLC and H1 Red 2.
H2
In 2013, HYT launched its second collection engineered in partnership with Audemars Piguet Renaud Papi. This year two new editions have been added; the H2 Full Gun and the H2 Full Bronze that maintain the brand’s remarkable DNA combined with daring metallic shades. The extraordinary 8 day power reserve timepieces are coined with three functions: a thermal indicator at 9 o’clock, which indicates if the watch is in its optimal temperature segment, while opposite, is a crown position hand (H-N-R) that indicates if you are either setting the time (H), winding-up the power-reserve (R), or if it’s in neutral (N) and finally at 6 o’clock is a jumping minute hand. The H2 collection features six variations, some of them of which are; the H2 Titanium Black DLC, the H2 Black DLC & Pink Gold and the H2 Iceberg White Gold.
HYT sponsors the 2015 RC44 sailing Championship for its first partnership
Throughout its two year history, HYT has secured its place in the watchmaking history books as the first ingenious organisation to create a wristwatch that tells time using a fluid material. With this obvious association to the element of water, it was only a matter of time before evolution teamed the brand’s spirit with an entity that centres its business on the foundation of water. For HYT’s first partnership since its birth in 2013, the brand has chosen to become the Official Timekeeper of the 2015 RC44 Championship Tour.
The announcement was made in early February, 2015 where the CEO of HYT, Vincent Perriard, stated his intention for the brand to venture into the world of international Yacht Racing, “We felt the most natural way to further grow our brand would be through the full immersion of our 'fluid DNA' which is why we've joined with RC44 – a successful sailing championship and perfect partner for a niche brand like ours. We share the same passion for embracing fluids, cutting-edge technology and for challenging and breaking all limits!"
In celebration of the new venture, HYT launched a limited edition series of watches specifically designed for the RC44 Class Association. The unique watches are the pinnacle of innovative engineering, high-tech materials and beautiful designs that serve to welcome the ninth edition of the RC44 Championship Tour that made its debut in Malta's renowned capital Vallettabetween the 25th to the 29th of March, 2015. To finish off the season, the fleet will make their winter migration to Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, for the final event of the season in November, 2015.
H3
The H3 is a unique piece that pushes away from the standard H1 and H2 shape by illustrating alinear fluid revolution, instead of one that arcs. The sculptural timepiece is inspired by a fluid portrayal of time, a field which the young independent brand has not only conquered, but one which has been radically recreated since ancient times. In the aesthetic sense, there is no midday and there are no hands or satellite complication, nor any other system of time-reading ever invented before. Instead, HYT has created a rotating dial with 4 faces arranged along the time display tube. Each of these faces is graduated with 6 hours, thereby enabling the 24 hours of the day to be displayed. The H3 is reinventing the traditional wrist watch with an unusual case measuring 62 x 41mm, with a bespoke shaped movement that is a perfect fit for each contour.
Skull
The Skull is HYT’s new and extraordinary creation, which breaks all the rules. From the first glance, the timepiece makes a striking impression, with its big and bold eyes that house specific functions to the skull shaped tube that is filled with hour marking liquids. The tube measures less than one millimetre in diameter and was a significant challenge to engineer. The issue centred on the capillary’s four angles, two of which are almost 90° at the base. These curves meant that bending the glass was a particularly delicate task that required skill and patience to ensure the liquid moved at the right speed and with perfect regularity over twelve hours. The limited edition timepieces are available in a choice of red or green eyes with a simple polished skull, or a diamond set version complete with red eyes. The eyes of the Skull play a significant role as the right eye indicates the power reserve of the watch, whilst using a series of subtly different translucent coloured inserts, the eye gradually darkens as the piece nears the end of its 65 hours of power. The left eye hides a barely visible seconds dial which rotates continuously adding a touch of complex characteristics to the HYT Skull.
