It’s not often in the world of watchmaking that you can definitively state that something is definably different. Perhaps something from the likes of MB&F, Greubel Forsey, Armin Strom and Vianney Halter. But these watchmakers continue to follow the ingrained traditions of mechanical timepiece. HYT is a watchmaker that has not only steered completely off the beaten path of traditional and customary watchmaking, but they’ve in a way created their very own market space. Enter the newest marvel in this ever-expanding market niche from HYT: The H1.0.
Although not entirely new, the H1.0 is HYT’s most up-to-date piece of futuristic tech that you can strap to your wrist. Continuing on with HYT’s world-first initiative of using fluid technology in a mechanical wristwatch, the H1.0 has a unique method of portraying the time.
The glass capillary indicates the passing of the time with two immiscible liquids within it. The mechanical movement powers the two bellows that pumps the fluid through the capillary which acts as the substitute to what would be the hour hands. Then you have the standard sub-dials depicting the passing minutes, seconds and 65-hour power reserve.
This is all encased in a rather large package. At 48.80mm in diameter and a whopping 20.08mm in depth, the H1.0 is anything but low-key. This will stand out in just about any environment, so if you’re rocking this bad-boy expect some eyes. The stainless-steel case features satin finishing and comes either in anthracite or a black DLA coating. The box-domed sapphire crystal is pretty cool and has an anti-reflective coating, meaning you can stare at all the dial-side goodies as long as you want.
Ok, now this is always my favourite part when analyzing anything from the HYT manufacture, the movement! First, we have the exclusive and patented micro-fluidic module, featuring a boroscilicate glass capillary tube whose interior has been nano-coated. There are multi-layer bellows, a thermal compensator with dedicated bellow and specific liquid, and high-tech ceramic fluidic restrictors. Yeah, I’m not even close to talking about the movement yet.
There’s also a transmission between the movement and the fluidic module known as the interface, which converts the rotation into a linear movement using a cam-follower system. And to top it all off, there’s an isostatic connection of the fluidic system guaranteed by a trident. Oh, and it’s all manually wound complete with beveling and Côtes de Genève on the bridges. Aptly named the HYT calibre 101 and developed with Chronode, this is one of the world’s most theatrical mechanisms.
Sounding less like a mechanical watch and more like the engine-bay belonging to a Koenigsegg Jesko or something, you’d be forgiven in thinking that the H1.0 is disgustingly expensive. Now I wouldn’t go as far to say that its price-tag is going to make you dry-heave, but at 49,000CHF this is not the most accessible watch for the average Joe out theret. But, in a weird way, I find that the overall package justifies the five-figure price, especially considering its rarity, what it offers both mechanically and aesthetically, and if anything for its sheer presence.