“Simply taking an existing movement, giving it a vague skull shape and presenting it as an entirely new piece is not really our style.” Vincent Perriard, HYT CEO
HYT was the first brand to introduce a watch that used fluids to indicate the time. Their newest creation brings the wow factor again with a brand new piece that will definitely be a conversation starter!
On first viewing of the press pictures, we thought it looked like one of the glowing skulls from the movie: The Phantom. The watch oozes a cool factor and something about it makes you want to stare at it further as you are lured by its “eyes”.
The Skull, HYT’s new extraordinary and unprecedented creation, breaks all the rules. You don’t need to be an expert to appreciate the power of its design. Even at first glance the Skull makes a striking impression, simply because it epitomises and at the same time breaks away from everything that HYT represents. It is provocative, unique and has a bold design supported by the fluid mechanics that have become the brand’s signature style. The Skull speaks for itself. Its development, however, was anything but obvious.
The HYT Skull: Green Eye
To breathe life into the skull, HYT instead introduced a number of new developments. Firstly, the two vertical bellows function continuously – it is their subtle expansion and contraction which causes the fluid to move.
In addition, the eyes of the Skull have a life of their own. The right eye indicates the power reserve of the watch. 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.
The HYT Skull: Red Eye
You only have to look the Skull in the eyes to observe its spirit and the life, in the most literal sense, flowing at its heart. In both cases, a subtle honeycomb pattern provides the background and adds depth to the eyes. The skull itself is not inert – its movement operates constantly. It is alive, in the truest sense of the word: it has a soul. This is the first watch creation in which, instead of observing the time, time watches you.
The changes don’t stop at the movement, however. A new 51 mm case has been specially created for the Skull, with the addition of new, crisp angled lugs. The single assembly push-button of the crown, which adjusts the time, is located between 2 o’clock and 3 o’clock. The crown protector has been removed. Lateral inserts have also been added to the case, allowing multiple future combinations.
The manual winding movement of the HYT Skull
The Skull is offered in two, very limited versions. One of fifty pieces, produced in DLC titanium with green fluid, and another of twenty-five pieces in 5N rose gold and black DLC titanium, featuring red fluid. Price on Request. The first pieces will be available from May 2015.
For your viewing pleasure here is the HYT Skull in action:
Specifications from Press Release
Green Eye Ref. : 151-TD-41-GF-AB, Limited edition of 50 pieces – Price on Request
Case
- black DLC titanium with brushed, micro-blasted and polished finishes
- diameter: 51 mm
- height: 17.9 mm
- rubber coated screw-down crown
- black titanium dome at 6 o’clock
- cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the dial side
- screwed sapphire back
- water resistant to 50 metres
Functions
- retrograde green fluid hours; seconds
Movement
- Mechanical with manual winding, exclusive HYT calibre
- 28,800 vib/h, 4 Hz, 35 jewels
- bridges hand-chamfered and adorned with Côtes de Genève, rhodium plated bellows
- 65-hour power reserve
Dial
- unstructured, fluid hours
- black hour dial, grey anthracite indices and grey numerals
- -seconds dial (left eye)
- power reserve indicator (right eye)
Strap
- black leather alligator, black DLC titanium pin buckle
Red Eye – Ref. : 151-DG-42-RF-AB, Limited edition of 25 pieces – Price on Request
Case
- black DLC titanium and 5N gold with brushed, micro-blasted and satin finishes
- Diameter: 51 mm
- Height: 17.9 mm
- rubber coated screw-down crown
- black DLC titanium dome at 6 o’clock
- cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the dial side
- Screwed sapphire back
- water resistant to 50 metres
Functions
- retrograde red fluid hours; seconds
Movement
- Mechanical with manual winding, exclusive HYT calibre
- 28,800 vib/h, 4 Hz, 35 jewels
- bridges hand-chamfered and adorned with Côtes de Genève, rhodium plated bellows
- 65-hour power reserve
Dial
- unstructured, fluid hours
- 5N hour dial, grey anthracite indices and grey 5N numerals
- seconds dial (left eye)
- -power reserve indicator (right eye)
Strap
- black leather alligator, black DLC titanium pin buckle
