Alongside the Skull Axl Rose and Skull Pocket, the biggest draws of HYT’s booth at the SIHH, there were also a couple of unique pieces that caused something of a stir. While the Iceberg version of the H3 looks relatively familiar, HYT’s H4 Dragon ventures further off-script.
H3 Iceberg
Almost two years after the H3 Titanium and Platinum was launched at Baselworld 2015 in a limited edition of 25, the H3 collection welcomes a second new creation, even more exclusive this time, as it is one of a kind. The rectangular case of this sculptural 62 x 41 mm watch is made of anthracite PVD titanium, with satin-polished white ceramic pieces at 3 and 9 o’clock. White is the dominant colour of the H3 Iceberg – the rotating four-sided prism that displays the hours is made of immaculate snowy ceramic, and the white alligator strap completes the look – where the original 2015 model played with the darker elements of a new fluid-mechanical technique that broke with HYT’s first two collections.
But this one-off piece is also an Iceberg and, like the H1 and H2 models bearing the same name, it is illuminated with a blue fluid. The fluid crosses the upper part of this futuristic watch in a horizontal glass tube less than one millimetre in diameter, between two miniature bellows which act together to move the fluid, and the rotating prism that displays the H3’s trademark linear hours. Minutes are also read off in linear fashion by a red articulated pointer, without the aid of hands, from a section marked with white figures from 00 to 60. The exclusive HYT movement from the H3 collection, which offers a generous power reserve of 170 hours, did not have to be redesigned to fit in with the “Iceberg” aesthetic of this one-off piece; the bridges are made of titanium with an anthracite PVD microblasted finish, titanium-coloured satin-brushed accents and rhodium-plated bellows.
H4 Dragon
Last year HYT inaugurated the HYT Bespoke department, dedicated to creating made-to-measure custom pieces. It should therefore come as no surprise to learn that the H4 Dragon was created by HYT at a client’s request. This is the first time that HYT has included a decorative motif on the dial (with the possible exception of the Skull models). Another new feature is the central dial in stunning midnight blue aventurine, which conceals the usually visible skeletonised H4 movement. Precious stones also make their debut. Finally, this exclusive H4 dispenses completely with minutes, displaying just the hours, using a dark blue liquid, and seconds.
The two subdials typical of the collection, one on the left for the seconds and one on the right for the power reserve, glow intensely with the lustre of 16 baguette-cut gems, 8 sapphires and 8 emeralds weighing a total of 0.27 and 0.22 carats respectively. The jewelled discs are clutched in the claws of an imposingly futuristic dragon, hand-carved from white gold. Its body, which looks like it is riveted together out of articulated metal plates, writhes around the two bellows that govern the fluid display – the only visible elements of the mechanism – which indicates the hour via the distinctive Roman numerals around the black dial.
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