HYT : Horological oxymoron

H2

Case : DLC-coated black titanium with polished, beadblasted and satin-brushed finishes, sapphire back, rubber-coated screw-locking dynamometric crown Diameter : 48mm Movement : mechanical hand-wound (exclusive HYT calibre, 192h power reserve), black PVD-coated beadblasted decorated titanium bridges with titanium-tone satin-brushed accents, rhodiumed bellows Functions : retrograde fluid hours, minutes with 30-minute jumping hand, crown-position indicator (H-N-R), temperature indicator Water resistance : 50 mStrap : rubber-clad anthracite leather with black DLC-coated pin buckle Limited edition : 50

In the wake of the success of the H1 trilogy, HYT launches its second mechanism with an unbelievable DNA : hydro-mechanical technology. By way of a reminder, the hours are indicated by a fluorescent aqueous liquid moving inside a flexible reservoir that it connected via a capillary to another reservoir housing a transparent viscous liquid. Their respective individual molecules guarantee sufficient repulsive force to ensure these liquids remain separate, while the piston-driven bellows at 6 o’clock made from an electro-deposited alloy cause the fluids to advance first in one direction and then the other (returning at 18 :00 to its original position in what is referred to as a retrograde manner). A double barrel visible on the back delivers an 8-day power reserve to this patented mechanism that is more clearly highlighted in this new configuration, such as with the balance-and-spring displayed at noon on its bridge. Another exclusive feature stemming from the nature of the H2 model is the 9 o’clock hand serving as a thermal indicator to determine the optimal temperature range when on the wrist. It appears opposite the crown-position hand (H-N-R), while the larger highly structured hand shows the minutes and jumps across the inner end of the bellows so as to represent readings of the inner bezel ring graduations. In this multidimensional and sensational architecture, the hybrid watch has definitely found its master.


Brice Lechevalier is editor-in-chief of GMT and Skippers, which he co-founded in 2000 and 2001 respectively. He has also been CEO of WorldTempus since it joined the GMT Publishing stable, of which he is director and joint shareholder. In 2012 he created the Geneva Watch Tour, and he has been an advisor to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève since 2011. Also closely involved in sailing, he has published the magazine of the Société Nautique de Genève since 2003, and was one of the founders of the SUI Sailing Awards in 2009 and the Concours d’Elégance for motor boats at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2015.

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