The HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda is HYT’s exclusive high complication creation. It represents the pinnacle of HYT’s horological achievements and is a bold statement piece for any aficionado.
Press release with commentary in italics.
New: HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda
Limited to just eight pieces, the HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda is priced at CHF 355,000.
Commentary
The world of haute horlogerie is no stranger to the fusion of artistry and technical prowess, and the HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda stands as a testament to this tradition. This timepiece showcases HYT’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking by harmonizing avant-garde technology with modern design.
At the heart of the HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda is the brand’s signature fluidic time indication, a feature that has set HYT apart in the watchmaking industry. The watch displays time using a retrograde fluid system, where black and white liquids are propelled through a capillary to indicate the hour, while the minutes are marked by a hand on a separate dial. This innovative approach to htime-telling is not just a technical achievement but also a visual spectacle, offering a unique and mesmerizing experience to the wearer.
The watch’s design draws inspiration from the classic black-and-white colorway, often associated with the timeless elegance of a panda. The 48mm titanium case, coated with white ceramic, exudes a sleek and modern aesthetic, while the black DLC titanium insert on the crown adds a perfect contrast.
The conical tourbillon, developed by master watchmaker Eric Coudray, is a centerpiece that commands attention. It completes a full revolution every 30 seconds, with white agate spheres rotating at different speeds, creating a dynamic and captivating display. This complex mechanism is not just for show; it represents the stability and precision of the timepiece. The central tourbillon is housed in an ultra-domed sapphire crystal, enhancing the visibility of the intricate details within.
Limited to only eight pieces, the HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda is a rare and exclusive creation, reflecting the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and innovation. With a price tag of CHF 355,000, it is a luxury reserved for the most discerning collectors and enthusiasts of fine watchmaking.
Press Release
This new watch creation showcases an exceptional range of craftsmanship and expertise, masterfully merging the watchmaking artistry of HYT’s celebrated conical tourbillon with the scientific innovation of its fluidic module and the precious exclusiveness of natural white agate gemstone.
Like the Yin and the Yang, the contrast between white agate gemstones and deep black finishes, between mechanics and fluids, reveals an exceptionally strong character.
A limited edition of just 8 pieces
The new HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda epitomizes the seamless fusion of mechanical finesse with the refined charm of agate. This masterpiece draws its power from bold contrasts and distinctive character, marrying the intricate conical tourbillon with the elegant allure of white agate.
HYT, a pioneer in fluidic watchmaking mechanics, continues to redefine the standards of modern haute horlogerie with its unmistakable style. The new HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda timepiece represents the ultimate expression of this approach, standing out with a highly sophisticated mechanism and an exceptional aesthetics.
At the heart of the dial proper, the fluidic hour display and the conical tourbillon, adorned with three handcrafted spheres of natural white agate, come to life in a poetic ballet.
On the wrist, the HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda captivates with its character, while revealing the full horological expertise of HYT.
Every single detail, from the 701 TC caliber’s refined finishes to the white agate chapter ring, and continual interplay between black and white, bears witness to the craftsmanship excellence of the house. The conical tourbillon movement is elevated as it springs to life at the very core of the mechanics, with its balance wheel inclined at 30 degrees, its escapement wheel at 15 degrees, and the anchor at 23 degrees.
This achievement is rooted in the bold engineering directly inspired by the work of German watchmaker Walter Prendel, which centered on an inclined balance tourbillon that was initially positioned at 6 o’clock. In his workshops in Groitzsch, a small town in the region of Saxony, itself as renowned as Switzerland as a hotbed of high-end horology, Walter Prendel sought to demonstrate the relevance of his research: based on the theories of his mentor, master watchmaker Alfred Helwig, he succeeded in improving the stability and regularity of his inclined tourbillon, with the balance-spring assembly inclined at 30° to the horizontal.
As a brand that consistently maintains the momentum of its advances in contemporary haute horlogerie, it is only natural for HYT to incorporate such a tourbillon into its new watch. On the HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda, it completes a full clockwise revolution in 30 seconds. Its graceful movement, marked by spheres of different sizes, creates a mesmerizing spectacle. Each sphere, each incremental motion, celebrates balance and precision. The impeccable finishes, from chamfered bridges to polished screw heads, further underscore the sense of pursuit of perfection throughout the entire piece.
Nestled on the center’s periphery, three exceptional, spherical white agate gemstones, each measuring 2.5 mm in diameter, amplify the vibrant pulsations of this visual spectacle, and, concurrently, hint at the subtle rhythm of the tourbillon. The spheres rotate at harmonious yet differing speeds. The first completes 4 rotations per minute; the second moves at 5 turns per minute, and the last at 6 turns per minute. Each sphere is complemented by a finely finished counterweight in white.
The timepiece’s brilliance is underscored by the haute horlogerie tradition in its craftmanship, from the titanium tourbillon cage to the chamfered, drawn, polished, and satin-finished bridges, and the polished screw heads, along with six smaller spheres, each 1.5mm in diameter. The technical efficiency of HYT’s conical tourbillon thus enables the harmonious animation of the spheres’ independent rotations.
The watch assembly consists of 533 components, with the tourbillon cage alone comprising 159 components. Adding the dial’s 39 components and the 66 that make up the case, the entire HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda totals 750 components – all meticulously checked, assembled and rechecked by hand. HYT has designed a specific black fluidic module for this exceptional tourbillon movement; together they are housed in a 48mm titanium case coated in white ceramic and topped by a dome-shaped crystal with a multilayer anti-reflective treatment on both sides to enhance the visual allure of this ensemble.
The limited series of the HYT Conical Tourbillon Panda consists of 8 pieces.
