#baselworld 2019

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An Overview of New Rolex Watches from Baselworld 2019 Part II -

An Overview of New Rolex Watches from Baselworld 2019 Part II - BeckerTime is one of the Internet's largest distributors of pre-owned Rolex watches online.

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MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT, le premier modèle dédiée aux femmes !

Voici la MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT la première pièce MB&F dédiée aux femmes après 14 ans de créations masculines. J’en avais brièvement parlé à sa sortie (article ici) et j’attendais de l’avoir en main pour en parler plus en détail. Fidèle à l’image de la marque elle embarque un tourbillon volant 60 secondes et un cadran des heures et des minutes placé à 7 heures. Initialement présentée au SIHH, j’ai pu la prendre en main lors de Baselworld 2019.

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La MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT en vidéo

Le boîtier et le cadran de la FlyingT

Cette montre appartient à la famille Legacy Machine et on retrouve un boîtier rond, un verre bombé et un compteur des heures et des minutes avec chiffres romains et aiguilles bleuies (on ne le vois pas bien sur mes photos 😢). Il y a quand même quelques petits détails montrant qu’il s’agit d’une montre pour femme : les aiguilles serpentine une lunette à forte cambrure, de fines cornes allongées et un boîtier de 38,5mm.

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Dans une courte vidéo accompagnant la sortie de la Legacy Machine FlyingT, Maximilian Büsser explique :

«Il était temps de sortir de ma zone de confort, explique Büsser, et de créer quelque chose pour une femme. Et j’ai réalisé que je ne savais pas ce qu’une femme voulait. » Lien vers la vidéo

Et afin de crée cette pièce, il s’inspire des femmes de sa vie, sa femme et sa fille, et en résume « l’énergie et l’élégance » qu’il leur associe au travers de la forme et l’esthétisme se concentrant de développer la montre exclusivement pour les femmes. Cela dit, beaucoup d’hommes ne sont pas contre la porter non plus… Comme vous pouvez le voir ici sur l’instagram de Watch-it…

Il en ressort une montre au boîtier en or blanc 18 carats entièrement serti de diamants taille brillant surplombé d’un dôme en verre saphir extrêmement bombé élevé loin au-dessus de la lunette et abritant un tourbillon volant 60 secondes serti d’un diamant à son extrémité, donnant le nom à la pièce. -NDLR: Flying Tourbillon en anglais => Flying T-

Placé à 7 heures on retrouve un sous-cadran laqué blanc ou noir incliné à 50° affichant les heures et les minutes via d’élégantes aiguilles serpentine bleuie de telle manière que la propriétaire soit la seule à pouvoir lire l’heure.

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Le cadran de la Legacy Machine FlyingT se décline en trois versions

EDITION LAQUE NOIRE : boîtier serti de diamants taille brillant avec cadran laqué noir, 168 pierres (120 sur le boîtier, 21 sur la boucle, 1 sur le tourbillon et 26 sur les couronnes). Environ 1.7 carats;

EDITION PAVÉE DIAMANTS : boîtier et cadran entièrement sertis de diamants taille brillant, 558 pierres (390 sur le cadran, 120 sur le boîtier, 21 sur la boucle, 1 sur le tourbillon et 26 sur les couronnes). Environ 3,5 carats;

EDITION PAVÉE BAGUETTES : boîtier et cadran entièrement sertis de diamants taille baguette, 294 diamants-baguette et 3 pierres (134 diamants-baguette sur le cadran, 124 diamants-baguette sur le boîtier, 12 diamants-baguette sur la boucle, 24 diamants-baguette et 2 pierres sur les couronnes, 1 pierre sur le tourbillon). Environ 8,2 carats.

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Le moteur de la LM FlyingT

En plein milieu du cadran se trouve un tourbillon volant battant à la fréquence de 2,5 Hz (18’000 A/h) en forme de colonne dynamique dépasse de beaucoup le reste du moteur et s’arrête juste avant le sommet du dôme en verre saphir. Le diamant fixé à l’extrémité supérieure de la cage, tourne en même temps que le tourbillon volant.

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Au verso, le rotor de remontage automatique en or rose, qui procure à la LM FlyingT quatre jours de réserve de marche, prend la forme d’un soleil tridimensionnel à rayons sculptés.

Prix :

Boîtier serti de diamants avec cadran en laque noire : CHF 108,000 / EUR 100,000 + TVA

Boîtier et cadran entièrement sertis de diamants : CHF 135,000 / EUR 125,000 + TVA

Boîtier et cadran entièrement sertis de diamants-baguette : CHF 298,000 / EUR 278,000+ TVA

www.MB&F.com

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Caractéristiques techniques MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT

MOTEUR Mouvement à architecture verticale tridimensionnelle, à remontage automatique, conçu et développé à l’interne par MB&F. Tourbillon volant central 60 secondes Réserve de marche: 100 heures Fréquence du balancier : 2.5 Hz / 18,000 bph Rotor tridimensionnel en forme de soleil en or rose 18 carats 5N+, titane et platine. Nombre de composants: 280 Nombre de rubis: 30

FONCTIONS / INDICATIONS Heures et minutes affichées sur un sous-cadran incliné verticalement à 50° avec deux aiguilles serpentine. Deux couronnes: remontage du mouvement à gauche, mise à l’heure à droite.

BOÎTIER Matériaux: éditions de lancement en or blanc 18 carats et diamants. Dôme supérieur en verre saphir traité avec un revêtement antireflets sur les deux faces, verre saphir au dos. Dimensions: 38.5mm × 20mm Nombre de composants: 17 Etanchéité: 30 m / 90’ / 3 atm

EDITION LAQUE NOIRE: 168 pierres (120 sur le boîtier, 21 sur la boucle, 1 sur le tourbillon et 26 sur les couronnes). Environ 1.7 carats.

EDITION PAVÉE DIAMANTS: 558 pierres (390 sur le cadran, 120 sur le boîtier, 21 sur la boucle, 1 sur le tourbillon et 26 sur les couronnes). Environ 3,5 carats.

EDITION PAVÉE BAGUETTES: 294 diamants-baguette et 3 pierres (134 diamants-baguette sur le cadran, 124 diamants-baguette sur le boîtier, 12 diamants- baguette sur la boucle, 24 diamants-baguette et 2 pierres sur les couronnes, 1 pierre sur le tourbillon). Environ 8,2 carats.

BOUCLE ET BRACELET Bracelets veau ou alligator avec boucle ardillon en or blanc 18 carats, sertie de diamants.

MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT – Baselworld 2019 MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT, le premier modèle dédiée aux femmes ! Voici la MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT…

[celinesimon]

The Hottest New Men’s Watch Releases From Baselworld 2019

Baselworld, the watch industry's biggest fair, is in full swing in Switzerland. Although it's no secret that the fair is hanging on for dear life--especially with the recent exodus of 18 Swatch Group brands--this edition of

[celinesimon]

For five days in March, the Messeplatz exhibition space in Basel, Switzerland hosted Baselworld, the watch industry’s biggest annual fair. While there was plenty of trepidation leading up to this year’s edition following Swatch Group’s surprising announcement that it would be pulling its dozen or so famous watch brands from the show, the fair’s management kept calm and carried on—albeit on a much smaller scale.

[celinesimon]

An Overview of New Rolex Watches from Baselworld 2019 Part I -

An Overview of New Rolex Watches from Baselworld 2019 Part I - BeckerTime is one of the Internet's largest distributors of pre-owned Rolex watches online.

[watchilove]

A while back, the independent rebel child of Haute Horlogerie, H. Moser & Cie,  took the watch world (and not only) by storm releasing the first watch featuring a Vantablack dial. The vertically aligned nanotube arrays absorb 99.9% of light creating the blackest black possible. The Vantablack® tech is expensive and hard to use due to its complicated growing process and fragility. But these kind of details are not a problem for one of the most interesting independents watchmakers. We have a short look today at the H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Vantablack, as a reminder that Vantablack exists, and at Moser, it is a watch.

The Venturer Concept Vantablack

When it comes to breaking the rules of traditionalism and conservatism, H. Moser & Cie is a strong player. I mean, there are brands using high-tech materials, exceptional concepts and so on, but I think the Schaffhausen brand is the only one doing all that and still have its pieces considered classic, traditional etc (Moser style, but still). A good example is today’s presented piece: you have one of the craziest technology, the Vantablack, used as a dial treatment on a classic looking dress watch. Venturer is the elegant line of Moser, a classic watch, almost invisible for a HH profane.

Because its particularity, the watch is hard to photograph, especially for such a novice as myself. The Vantablack is so crazy that completely scrambled the white balance of my camera.  So enjoy the pictures only as an impulse to visit a Retailer or the Moser Shop (the white gold version is available) and to see the wonder with your own eyes.

The Venturer case

The Venturer case is a delicate and full of details elegant dress piece. While the size could be a topic for discussion for a WIS (Watch Idiot Savant), in these modern times, the 39mm red gold case is on the small side.

The case features suave curves with a combination of brushed and mirror-polished surfaces. The dramatically inward bent lugs with rounded edges remind me of Zagato lines. Yes, that Italian coachbuilder specialist that created such beautiful lines in the modern automotive industry.

The large rounded bezel holds a domed crystal. Due to dial properties, the crystal tends to behave as a mirror for the surroundings.

The case is accompanied by a Moser crown with an exceptional grip. The crown is nicely proportioned to the case and it is a beauty herself. The handling is proverbial.

The Venturer Concept Vantablack is fitted with a black alligator leather strap and a “simple” pin buckle. Don’t be fooled: brushing, polished beveling and the engraved gorgeous Moser logo makes from the buckle a withness of the brand’s HH capabilities.

Black as black as the black can be black

And I still feel there are not enough blacks in the heading to express the darkness of the H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Vantablack dial. Simply explained: you take a piece of metal and you grow carbon nanotubes on. And you get the Vantablack… But life is not that easy and the technology is expensive and complicated. Even the idea itself to use it for a dial is crazy.

To that, Moser added its specific leaf hands, in gold. The result is a gorgeous black gold contrast. The legibility?!? You see the hands… and the reflections of the surrounding environment on the crystal. Simple, beautiful, Moser… In low light is quite spectacular, since you don’t have any dial reflections and the hands can catch any glimpse of light.

Sweet Mother of Houte Horlogerie

The Venturer Concept Vantablack is powered by the HMC 327 Manufacture calibre. This hand-wound movement is Moser magnificent. Voluptuous details and depths, a power reserve indication, Moser stripes, a large balance wheel oscillating at the slow 2.5 Hz but offering 3 days of power reserve.

For those familiar with the brand, will know that Moser not only hand-finishes and decorate their components and movements, they also use proprietary balance-spring with Original Straumann Hairspring®. So besides the beauty, the Venturer has the brains (in the form of accuracy and stability).

Final words

I have seen and molested the H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Vantablack at Baselworld 2019 but only a small discussion with a friend about the strict combination black and gold watches reminded me about this timepiece. I find the combination, especially in this watch ravishing.

Meanwhile, the H. Moser & Cie released other captivating versions in white gold and even with blackened leaf-shaped hands. I consider these watches to be for a discerned gentleman, for someone that understands horology almost as a religion. Because you need to know more than just the name of the brand to rightly perceive the value.

H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Vantablack Technical Specifications

Reference 2327-0410, 5N red gold model, Vantablack® dial, black alligator leather strap

Case 18-carat 5N red gold Diameter: 39.0 mm, Height: 11.9 mm Curved sapphire crystal See-through sapphire crystal case back Crown adorned with an “M”

Dial Vantablack® Leaf-shaped hands

Movement Hand-wound HMC 327 Manufacture calibre Diameter: 32.0 mm or 14 ¼ lignes/height: 4.5 mm Frequency: 18,000 Vib/h 29 jewels Power reserve: minimum of 3 days Hacking seconds Moser teeth for all wheels and pinions Movement and components hand-finished and decorated Moser balance-spring and Original Straumann Hairspring®

Functions Hours and minutes Power reserve indicator on the movement side

Strap Hand-stitched black alligator leather 18-carat 5N red gold pin buckle engraved with the Moser logo

H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Vantablack Gallery

  A short hands-on of the H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Vantablack A while back, the independent rebel child of Haute Horlogerie, H. Moser & Cie,  took the watch world (and not only) by storm releasing the first watch featuring a Vantablack dial.

[watchilove]

The Swiss/Danish independent brand launched during Baselworld 2019 their first luxury sports watch – the Urban Jürgensen One. For some a departure from the brand language, for others an expected move, the One is a modern interpretation of what Urban Jürgensen stands for – exceptional timepieces with no shortcuts.

Hands-on Urban Jürgensen One

I am a big fan of the brand. I have to sadly admit that I have not thought about it for too long time. What draws me, from the very beginning to it, is the traditional and clean look. But knowing that behind this simple look hides an impressive amount of work from highly skilled and dedicated people. I knew that my good opinion was well-founded when master Kari Voutilainen told me that Urban Jürgensen is one of his favourite brands.

Urban Jürgensen One is the first sports watch of the brand. The three-hands watch was launched with three dial colour variations: Soft White, Charcoal Grey and Urban Blue. There is available a GMT model but only in Urban Blue scheme. A first impression can be made viewing the wrist-roll video below with the blue GMT and the three-hands white dial.

Note: some of the pictures present a yellowish spot. I didn't notice during the session that the Baselworld booth's light spots were affecting the pictures. Please make abstraction of it.

Steel case, integrated bracelet.

Urban Jürgensen timepieces stand out and One makes no exception. Manufactured from medical grade 1.4441 steel, the One’s case has a lower level of nickel content – so better for your skin. At the same time, the metal presents increased resistance to corrosion and other chemical factors. That means a good looking piece for generations to wear.

The case comes with a predominant brushed finish. As one might expect from the independent brand, the lugs are soldered. A technique very well mastered by the Urban Jürgensen people. The top is covered by a generously sized bezel. The polished piece hosts a slightly raised domed sapphire crystal.

The interhorn space accommodates the integrated bracelet. Made from the same medical alloy, the bracelet’s brushed links and oval polished elements are intertwined nicely. The bracelet is very good looking. It comes with a butterfly safety folding clasp.

The case fits an elegant crown. This is decorated with the Urban Jürgensen logo. The watch is easy to set and wind. A very pleasant experience.

The blue GMT version of Urban Jürgensen One presents, on the left side of the case, the pushers for the GMT function. The rounded pushers have the body brushed and the face highly polished. Nice integration of the overall design.

The classic three hands pieces are predominated by the brushed finish.

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Three colours, two dials

As mentioned earlier, the One comes with three dial colours: Soft White, Charcoal Grey and Urban Blue with the GMT exclusively in blue. The dials are manufactured with the brand’s exceptional quality and attention to detail. As expected, the brand’s specific grenage is not missing. The technique is used on the outer register of the dial, where the facetted baton-style hour markers are hand applied.

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The dial is decorated in the centre with a slightly recessed guilloché pattern in grain d’orge style. The Urban Jürgensen One GMT version presents at 6 o’clock a sub-dial with the 24 hours home time indication. All timepieces present proudly the name of the brand at the top of the dial.

The dials are exceptionally executed. Besides the beautiful decoration, the dials are adorned with multi-facetted baton hours indexes with luminescent Super-LumiNova insert.

But if there is something that shines (pun intended) on the dials of the Urban Jürgensen One Collection, those are the hands. Urban Jürgensen has some of the most remarkable and beautiful hands in the industry.

The meticulous hand made hands are a fine addition to this gorgeous dial. The hour and minute hands has been adorned with Super-LumiNova for a complete sporty look and, of course, for greater legibility. The hands are polished or thermally blued, to fit the colours schematic perfectly.

The minutes’ hand and the seconds’ were bent at the end. Exceptional attention to detail was given to the hands’ central canons. A hand polishing can be observed on the sinks of the central second and 24h indication hands.

All variants present a date window at 3 o’clock. The date disk is white with black printed numerals. The colours scheme choice always creates debates and it is a matter of personal taste. I would still prefer a colour scheme according to the dial’s colour theme.

Urban Jürgensen P5 movement

For its first sports watch, the brand uses the P5 calibre. The movement is the self-winding version of the in-house P4 calibre. The P5 calibre has an interesting architecture doubled by exceptional finishes. The movements is realised together with Chronode.

The P5’s 72 hours of power reserve is achieved using a twin-barrel design and a relatively low 3Hz Swiss lever escapement.

The main visible decoration is the sun-rayed Geneva waves centred on the balance wheel. The balance wheel is fixed using a traversing bridge secured by double screws.

The self-winding is assured by a skeletonised rotor weight fixed with ball bearing.  The rotor was decorated with gold inlaid Urban Jürgensen logo shield and an extra 22 ct. solid gold weight.

Some added elements serve as decoration and information: engraved and lacquered text, metal plate with the piece’s number, blued screws, bevelled and polished bridge edges, polished sinks and so on. The screw-fixed case-back bears the 120m water resistance engraving.

A gentleman’s sports watch

Urban Jürgensen One is a very interesting and attractive addition to the brand’s offering. The watches bear the usual marks of the brand’s attention to details. Excellent executed finishes, lovely details, a modern feel with a touch of traditionalism. When the One was launched at Baselworld 2019, the world was just beginning the experiment the new wave of integrated bracelet designs.

More than a year later, Urban Jürgensen One remains as one of the most attractive full steel pieces. While many of the new watches with integrated bracelets are an interesting and lovely interpretation of their brand’s view, the One Collection is one of the very few that transpire the traditionalism in watchmaking.

Urban Jürgensen One is a niche companion for discerned gentlemen. The One is dedicated to the connoisseurs with an understanding of traditional watchmaking, to the collectors that know to appreciate something like the welded lugs and the exceptional manufacturing process of the dial and hands.

On a simple view of things, the Urban Jürgensen One is a comfortable companion. The attractive dial will give a certain inner pleasure with any time read. The GMT version is my favourite. Maybe that explains the increased number of pictures in detriment of the three hands models.

Urban Jürgensen One Specifications and Price

Movement

Urban Jürgensen Automatic P5 movement

GMT, 4 hands with sweep seconds, date window at 3 and 24 hours Home Time subdial at 6. Adjustable by +/- pushers at 10 and 8 for the central hour hand, including date change.

Swiss Lever Escapement

Adjusted to temperature, isochronism in five positions

Stop-seconds

Open worked rotor with gold inlayed UJ Shield and 22 ct. solid gold oscillating weight.

Traversing Balance Bridge secured by double screws

Twin barrels

Autonomy 72 hours

Frequency 21.600 V/h – 3 Hz

Thirty-four (34) jewels

Diameter 32 mm

Thickness 6,1 mm for 3-hands, and 6,6 mm for the GMT

Dial

Urban Blue

Grenage textured chapter ring

Facetted mirror-polished hour markers inlaid with

Super-LumiNova in blue/green

Maritime wave style grains d´orge guilloche centre

Dials executed as one-piece solid dials

Hands

Open worked and hand finished in mirror-polished steel

Diamond polished eye on the hour hand

Hand riveted centre canons in diamond polished steel

Inlaid with Super-LumiNova in blue/green

Case

Medical Grade 1.4441 steel, 7 piece case with satin-brushed and mirror-polished surfaces.

Individually soldered lugs

Screw down crown with embossed relief Urban Jürgensen logo

Domed front sapphire crystal in the mirror-polished bezel.

Open screwed on back with flat sapphire crystal

Case diameter 41 mm / height 12,1 mm at bezel / 13.8 mm at the center of the domed crystal.

Water-resistant to 120 meters

GMT model has two pushers at 10 / 8 for forward/backward adjustment of central hour hand local time.

Bracelet

Tapered Integrated semi-flexible bracelet in Medical Grade 1.4441 steel

Satin brushed links with mirror polished pointed oval duo-shape interlinks

Fully customizable size ability with the option of fitted end links

Butterfly double synchro – secured folding clasp

Price

Reference 5541 GMT  – RRP CHF 33,500 + VAT

Reference 5241 – RRP CHF 24,500 + VA

Urban Jürgensen One Gallery

Review Urban Jürgensen One The Swiss/Danish independent brand launched during Baselworld 2019 their first luxury sports watch - the Urban Jürgensen One…

[watchilove]

One of the “Woah…!” (to read jaw-dropping) pieces of the Baselworld 2019 was the Hautlence HL Sphere. The brand not only released an exceptional watch but also its eighth manufacture calibre. The HL Sphere presents the brand’s signature style and originality and a new innovative time display. 

Review Hautlence HL Sphere

Let’s be honest,  in the horology world and not only, Hautlence is pure originality. Having a secure sit between H. Moser & Cie, MB&F, Urwerk, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and other horological deities, the brand ignores the traditional time display. With the Playground and the Labyrinth, the independent Hautlence ignored completely the idea of telling the time – where, just like Haldimann H9 – Reduction, the wrist companion is just for the sole purpose of enjoying the time, respectively the piece itself, without taking into account the actual passage of it (the time).

Signature television screen shape

HL Sphere comes in the Hautlence’s specific rectangular shape. The white gold case measures 39mm by 46mm with a thickness of 12mm. The crystal dome ads an extra 3.75 mm in height.

The case has a complex construct with special care for details. The brushed and polished finishes are fused in an elegant composition. The case body presents an overall satin brush. The edges are bevelled and polished to a mirror finish. The short lugs have the same pleasant combination of polished and brushed surfaces with the extra bevelling for the edges.

The crown is decorated with engraved Hautlence logo on a domed polished background. The lower position, closer to wrist does not intervene in the wear comfort. Due to its position, the crown offers a good grip for set and wind. The time setting process can be easily observed in the above video.

The HL Sphere is covered with a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment. The sapphire piece presents the bevelling noticed on previous pieces (like the HL Vagabonde Tourbillon) and a dome to accommodate the spherical hour display. This complex shape is not only hard to produce but implies also a significant increase in the cost.

On the back, the Hautlence HL Sphere is covered with a bevelled exhibition case back. The engraved case back bears several inscriptions and stamps. It is fixed with four, corner placed screws.

The blue Louisiana alligator strap ends with a folding clasp manufactured in grade 5 titanium. The clasp is decorated with a satin-finished steel plate bearing the Hautlence logo.

Hours in a spherical motion and retrograde minutes

The time display is unusual, at least. The hours are displayed with the help of a weird sphere. Manufactured in polished grade 5 titanium, the sphere received a blue PVD treatment. The hours are indicated with Arabic numerals that are laser engraved and filled white lacquer.

The blue sphere presents a cutout that shows the running trail of the hours. The construction actually uses two semi spherical parts. A slow motion of the hour change can be seen in the video at the beginning of the article. The mesmerising movement is the key attraction fo the Hautlence HL Sphere.

The minutes’ display uses a half-circle retrograde display. The function is accomplished by a satin-finished grade 5 titanium hand with blue PVD treatment and white lacquer filling. The minutes are indicated on an engraved register. For an ease in legibility, the HL Sphere was adorned with applied Arabic numeral indexes.

These volumetric elements present an extra curvature. The entire minutes’ indication is logical and beautiful implemented. Reading the exact minute needs an accommodation period. A mark for every 5 minutes will bring ease in time read (maybe an engraving of the 5th’s minutes with the same size lenght with the tenth’s).

The dial already reveals a considerable amount of elements reserved usually for the back. But the calibre HTL 501-1 is far from being the classical type. The Hautlence HL Sphere is an open vision that reveals every of its intimate details.

You spin me right round, baby

Hautlence HL Sphere is powered by the fantastic HTL 501-1 calibre. The movement is entirely design and produced by the brand. The basis for this concept was presented earlier as a desk clock. I was familiar with the design from the SIHH 2019.

The HTL 501-1 hand-wound calibre has an interesting construction. The aired design revels almost all internal details. The bridges were open-worked, adding new surfaces to the list of decorated elements.

The balance bridge was also skeletonised and it allows the owner to better admire the oscillations. The proprietary balance spring is produced by Precision Engineering AG, one of the Hautlence’s sister companies.

The HTL 501-1 calibre is nicely decorated. A lovely combination of brushed and satin matt finishes is in contrast with the bevelled and polished edges. The skeletonised drum and ratchet reveal the barrel spring. The gimmick provides a simple yet ingenious visual indication of the power reserve.

The HTL 501-1 calibre is a relatively slow beater, for modern time. But the 3 Hz balance wheel depletes the barrel in a minimum of 3 days. Considering the power-hungry complications, it is an incredible achievement. For those fearing damaging the movement due to misuse, the calibre is fitted with a safety mechanism. This one prevents incorrect manipulation during reverse time setting.

A “revolution”

Hautlence HL Sphere is a “revolution”, regardless of which sense we take for the work. The watch’s original time display is not an attempt but a success in making each new hour important. As mentioned in the beginning, the brand stands between the deities that dare to approach the time telling differently.

In our daily lives, we tend to forget the importance of time passing. We tend to look at the watch, see the time but not to realise that yet another hour is gone. The HL Sphere makes this edge of time to jump (pun intended) and to draw our attention. Each change of the hour is done with a “bang”. With a complex yet mesmerising movement, the watch brings the importance of each hour passed back into focus.

Besides the technical innovation and importance, the Hautlence HL Sphere is a beautiful watch. It has a bold wrist presence and a dial that withdraws attention. The HL Sphere is exceptional executed. From the technical implementation to the finishes of each surface, the HL Sphere is a watch that can arrest your attention easily. And it deserves all the attention.

Hautlence HL Sphere Technical Specifications

Model details

Spherical hour and retrograde minute on a 180° sector HTL 501-1 hand-wound mechanical movement.

Display

Spherical hour

Retrograde minute on a 180° sector

Calibre

HTL 501-1

Power reserve: minimum of 3 days

Regulating organ: 21,600 vibrations/hour

Number of jewels: 38

Front face finish: sand-blasted, components decorated and finished by hand

Back face finish: sand-blasted, components decorated and finished by hand

Case

Case middle and horns: satin-finished and polished white gold;

Bezel: satin-finished and polished white gold

Screws: steel, with polished heads

Crown: polished white gold with engraved HAUTLENCE logo

Crystal (TOP): extra-hard sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, bevelling and dome;

Caseback: satin-finished and polished white gold, 4 screws, engraved “HAUTLENCE”, “3 ATM WATER RESISTANT”, “Horlogerie Suisse”;

Crystal (BOTTOM): extra-hard sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment;

Dimensions (excluding dome): 39 x 46 x 12 mm / 3.75 mm dome

Dial

Base dial: skeletonised and rhodium-plated with engraved minute track.

Intermediate dial: Smoked metallic sapphire crystal and curved, diamond-polished rhodium-plated appliques.

Hour sphere: Polished grade 5 titanium with blue PVD treatment, laser engraved numerals and white lacquer filling.

Minute hands: Satin-finished grade 5 titanium with blue PVD treatment and white lacquer filling.

Strap & Buckle

Blue Louisiana alligator; domed, rubber-lined, full square scales, rolled-edge; Interchangeability spring bars;

Folding clasp: grade 5 titanium with satin-finished steel plate.

Water resistance

3 ATM

Price

CHF 99,000, Limited edition of 28 pieces

Hautlence HL Sphere Gallery

Hands-on review Hautlence HL Sphere One of the "Woah...!" (to read jaw-dropping) pieces of the Baselworld 2019 was the Hautlence HL Sphere…