HYT Conical Tourbillon Titanium Blue

A decade after its inception, Swiss watchmaking brand HYT has reached a new milestone with its Conical Tourbillon Titanium Blue, seamlessly combining fluid mechanics and traditional horology. Crafted by master watchmaker Eric Coudray, the timepiece revisits the groundbreaking inclined balance tourbillon developed by Walter Prendel in 1928. This revolutionary model exemplifies HYT’s relentless pursuit of watchmaking innovation.

Eric Coudray, a Prix Gaïa laureate, drew his inspiration from Walter Prendel, a German watchmaker who made significant strides in the stability and regularity of oblique tourbillon movements. Prendel’s work, heavily influenced by master watchmaker Alfred Helwig, aimed at creating a tourbillon with a spring-balance inclined at 30 degrees to the horizontal plane. Coudray has not only continued but also advanced this groundbreaking work, integrating it seamlessly into HYT’s signature style.

What sets the HYT Conical Tourbillon Titanium Blue apart is its dual nature: it is both mechanical and fluidic. At its core lies the 701 TC caliber, a hand-wound mechanical movement operating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz). This sophisticated mechanism is further enriched by the placement of the conical tourbillon, tilted at multiple angles—30 degrees for the spring-balance, 15 for the escape wheel, and 23 for the pallet.

HYT broke new ground when it introduced the concept of fluid timekeeping in mechanical watches. Staying true to its innovative roots, the Conical Tourbillon features a striking dial where three spheres filled with blue liquid rotate at varying speeds. Each sphere completes a different number of turns per minute, making it a visually enthralling experience for the viewer. This fluidic design intricately merges with the mechanical precision of the tourbillon, resulting in a harmonious blend of past craftsmanship and modern technology.

Conical Tourbillon Titanium Blue’s dynamic movements offer a theatrical performance, adding a sensual layer to the concept of timekeeping. The timepiece lives and breathes through its central mechanism, which undergoes a full rotation every 30 seconds, capturing the viewer’s attention and providing a fresh take on the age-old question of how we perceive time.