H2 Tradition

HYT casts a contemplative eye over three centuries of watchmaking and launches the H2 Tradition watch, combining classicism and futurism

The H2 Tradition is the first HYT watch with classic guilloché finishes, with delicate lacquered dials and blued hands. The traditional side of the watch is also expressed by the diamond guilloché main plate, the ogival shaped crown and the watch's sober aesthetic.
However, the H2 Tradition has both feet firmly in the 21st century. It retains its hydro-mechanical aesthetic, thanks to the capillary with the blue fluid moving forwards as the hours pass and driven by two bellows positioned either side of 6 o'clock.

"Fluid innovation is, and will remain, in our DNA", says Vincent Perriard, CEO of HYT, "but this doesn't prevent us from playing around with the codes of traditional watchmaking. Fun, experimentation, the joy of surprise: after all, that's what we do best!".

HYT H2 Tradition

"H2 Tradition: HYT's retro contemporary U-turn"

This balance between tradition and modernity is more complex than it seems. HYT had to modify the design of the H2's calibre to give it a more classic appearance, in line with the aesthetic canons of haute horlogerie. The balance, for example, has been recentred to provide room on the dial for the minutes. This simple shift meant a large part of the movement's design had to be overhauled, a feat once again achieved by HYT's long-standing partners, APRP. The with gold and titanium case - polished, microblasted and satin-finished - has also been redesigned, with the crown protector removed.

The finish of the H2 Tradition also required a number of adjustments. To allow for a diamond guilloché finish in rhodium-plated nickel silver on both sides, the main plate, for example, had to be made slightly thicker, which in turn meant new tolerances had to be calculated for the movement. All the bridges have been modified, reconstructed, polished, hand-bevelled.

HYT H2 Tradition

The H2 Tradition is fitted with a blue alligator strap, equipped with a titanium deployant buckle. The timepiece is a 50-piece limited edition.

"While the initial idea – to create a classic HYT – was simple enough, in practice, ways of preserving the identity of the piece, whilst imbuing it with codes which are not naturally its own, had to be constantly found. Its a fantastic challenge, suggested by our collector customers, and one that we have met with aplomb", concludes Vincent Perriard.

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