Watchmaking is an industry deeply rooted in tradition, with centuries-old roots that have kept the mechanical movement virtually unchanged over time, adapting it only to the size of modern cases. Even the representation of the passage of time has remained the same, relying on hands and indicators, with the exception of digital watches. What if there was a completely new way of measuring time?

This is the question that HYT, a young Swiss maison that has revolutionized the very concept of telling time, wanted to give a concrete answer to. HYT has challenged the conventions of traditional watchmaking by eliminating the classic hands that have dominated the industry for centuries. In their place, the Swiss brand introduced an innovative system based on a liquid flowing inside a cylindrical capillary, showing the passage of time in a unique and futuristic way.

The intuition behind HYT was to represent time as a continuous flow, visible through the movement of liquid. This choice redefined the watch face, transforming it into a synthesis of high technology and avant-garde design. Let us now go together to discover this unique and innovative maison, together with some of its most important watches.

The founding of HYT

As I mentioned, HYT is a very recent brand, born in 2012 from an innovative and ambitious idea: to combine traditional watchmaking with fluid dynamics technology. Founded by a group of visionaries led by Lucien Vouillamoz and Vincent Perriard, the maison immediately attracted attention for its unique approach to measuring time, breaking with the conventions that have always characterized the world of hands.

HYT’s inspiration is rooted in an ancient concept, time as a continuous flow, similar to the movement of water, studied even by the Egyptians. This thinking led to the development of a system that integrates liquids within a clock mechanism, an idea that took years of research and collaboration with experts in microfluids and precision engineering.

HYT’s debut marked a turning point in contemporary watchmaking, combining tradition and technology to create something completely new. The brand’s pioneering approach was immediately recognized by enthusiasts and collectors, positioning it as a symbol of avant-garde and innovation.

Despite its initial success, HYT faced financial challenges that led to a temporary halt in operations over the years. However, the brand has shown resilience, returning in 2021 with renewed enthusiasm and the support of new investors. This rebirth confirmed its ability to evolve and maintain a unique vision in the watchmaking landscape.

The operation of the mechanism of HYT

What makes HYT unique in the watch industry is the innovative way of displaying the time: a colored fluid flows inside a cylindrical capillary, while the minutes and power reserve are indicated by traditional hands. This system is based on principles of fluid dynamics, which allow the filling and emptying of the capillary with extraordinary precision.

Inside the capillary flow two immiscible fluids, one colored and one transparent, connected to two tiny reservoirs located at 6 o’clock behind the dial. When the piston of the left reservoir compresses, the colored fluid is pushed into the capillary, thus marking the time. At the same time, the clear liquid retracts into the second reservoir. This process alternates cyclically: when 6 o’clock is reached, the colored fluid withdraws completely to begin the cycle again, due to the compression and release of the pistons. The meniscus, or the point of separation between the two fluids, indicates the time very clearly.

This innovative system, which allows the colored fluid to complete a cycle every 12 hours, took as much as 15 years of research and development. The idea was so futuristic that, at the time of its conception, there were no suppliers capable of making a capillary with a thickness of only 0.8 mm. HYT therefore invested in creating its own tools to produce this cutting-edge technology.

Each HYT watch is meticulously assembled by hand, requiring an absolute level of precision-even the slightest mistake could compromise the delicate glass tube that is at the heart of this revolutionary complication.

HYT’s most significant models

Let us now look at the most significant models made by the fashion house from its founding to the present.

HYT H1 Titanium Black DLC

The first watch presented by HYT in 2012 was an icon of innovation and bold design. Made of titanium and featuring an imposing 48.8 mm diameter, this timepiece redefined contemporary watchmaking.

In addition to the time-only function, the model integrates a power reserve display. Dominating the dial, we find the two reservoirs positioned at 6 o’clock, containing the immiscible fluids that make the time display unique. This first model marked the beginning of a new era for HYT, establishing the foundation for an aesthetic and technical language that would continue to challenge the conventions of traditional watchmaking.

HYT H2 Titanium Black DLC

In 2013, HYT introduced the H2 model, a significant evolution from the brand’s first watch. The new design introduces a skeletonized dial, which enhances the technical and futuristic look of the watch, showcasing the details of the movement and the intricacies of its engineering.

A major new feature of the H2 is the repositioning of the minute hand from 12 o’clock to the center of the dial, improving both aesthetics and legibility. In addition, the movement has been further refined to ensure a smoother and more constant flow of liquid within the capillary, optimizing the innovative time display system.

HYT H2.0

In 2018, theH2.0 is introduced, a model that takes the brand’s innovation to the next level. One of the distinguishing features of this timepiece is the ability to read the time not only from the front, but also from the side, thanks to a massive domed glass that wraps around the entire dial. This unique design amplifies the three-dimensional perception of the watch, offering an unprecedented visual experience.

The H2.0 also retains the skeletonized dial, revealing the sophisticated internal mechanics that characterize the HYT models. The minute hand is positioned in the center of the dial, continuing the tradition of clarity and readability already introduced in previous models.

HYT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Sapphires

The real breakthrough for HYT comes in 2023 with the introduction of its first tourbillon, an innovation that represents a milestone after 10 years of research and development. Housed in a rose gold and titanium case, this watch marks a milestone in the brand’s evolution, combining for the first time the tourbillon complication with the fluid mechanics system that is at the heart of HYT’s identity.

The tourbillon, positioned in the center of the dial, is a masterpiece of engineering and design. It makes one complete revolution every 30 seconds, offering a unique visual spectacle thanks to three colored sapphires rotating at different speeds, creating a fascinating dynamism.

HYT T1 series

Finally in 2024, HYT presented the T1 collection, a line that represents the perfect balance between technical innovation and aesthetic refinement. The models, made in rose gold and titanium, were among the stars of Milan Watch Week, attracting attention for their sophisticated design and distinctive color choices. The dial, available in purple, green or chocolate shades, features a vertical-grained satin finish that adds a touch of elegance and visual depth to the timepiece.

Under the dial beats the hand-wound 501-CM caliber, a high-precision movement consisting of no fewer than 352 components.

Conclusions

The concept behind the representation of time with two fluids is at the heart of HYT, an idea that makes each watch not just a timepiece, but a reflection on the nature of time itself. The progressively advancing colored fluid symbolizes the rapidly consuming present and the past we leave behind, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life and the speed with which time flows.

On the other side, the transparent fluid represents the future, the unexplored space waiting to be experienced. Between these two elements lies the meniscus, a thin dividing line that marks the boundary between what has been and what will be. It is a visual and conceptual representation of our condition: we are constantly suspended between the past and the future, living in the ephemeral dimension of the present.

With this unique design, HYT not only creates innovative watches, but also invites us to reflect on the inexorable flow of an immutable variable: time. What about you, do you like this new way of displaying time?

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