CONICAL TOURBILLON INFINITY SAPPHIRES

Presented in a limited series of only 8 pieces, the HYT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Sapphires watch features HYT’s signature mechanical retrograde fluidic display together with an incredible conical tourbillon created by watchmaking Master Eric Coudray. Enlivening the spectacle, and adding further to the uniqueness of its arrangement, the tourbillon is enlivened with 9 coloured sapphires, paired with 3 micro-painted brass counterweights. The watch carries a 48mm casing of 18ct gold and black coated titanium, which displays a sculpted profile, hollowed lugs and a perforated mesh around its middle.

The timepiece is a collaboration between HYT and Prix Gaïa winner and Tourbillon Maestro Eric Coudray, who took inspiration from German watchmaker Walter Prendel’s oblique tourbillon of 1928, which featured a spring-balance inclined at 30° to horizontal, in order to improve timekeeping stability and regularity. Revised and reinterpreted by Eric Coudray, the invention has been brought up to date for the modern age, and is showcased on the dial of HYT’s latest unveiling.

Located at the centre of the dial, the conical tourbillon completes one revolution clockwise every 30 seconds. Here there are three faceted sapphires, each of which rotates at different speeds, with the unconnected rapid rotations of the trio purposefully demonstrating the stability of the rate of the conical tourbillon. Notably each sphere, in fuchsia, blue-grey and yellow colour tones, measures only 2.5mm in diameter, with hand-painted counterweights for each one, while six additional sapphires of only 1.5mm diameter are set within the brackets of the tourbillon, creating a spectacular effect.

A high domed crystal over the casing is required to accommodate the dial of the HYT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Sapphires which features highly technical grid texturing. Luminous coating on the appliqués and numerals enable instant readability, and the animation of the central tourbillon elements together with the movement of the black retrograde liquid time display within its elevated capillary glass tube ensure that this is an endlessly fascinating dial.

On the underside, a sapphire caseback reveals the proprietary manual wound Calibre 701-TC movement where one can see the workings of the bellows which enable the immiscible liquids to be pushed through the fine glass capillary tube on the dial side. An outstanding example of Haute Horlogerie today, the movement displays fine sandblasted and satin finishes and a contemporary character. Complex in the extreme, it comprises of 533 components, and fully wound it has a power reserve of 32 hours.

Manufactured in a limited edition of only 8 pieces, the HYT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Sapphires is presented on a strap of black rubber, with brown leather embossing, and secures to the wrist with a black coated titanium pin buckle.