Jamie Weiss HYT is introducing seasonal editions of its new T1 series. The three new dial colors, green, purple and chocolate brown, evoke the transition from autumn to winter and winemaking. “Millesime” is a term taken from the world of winemaking to refer to a particularly outstanding vintage.
While Swiss wine isn’t as world-famous as Swiss watches, the country certainly produces some delicious wines. One of Switzerland’s most famous wine regions, Neuchâtel, is known for its 1,000-year-old grape vines that bask in the warm sunshine on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. The vineyards are the inspiration behind Neuchâtel-based watchmaker HYT’s latest creations: three autumn versions of its new T1 series, available for one season only.
These are called the T1 Millésime Editions. “Millesime” is a term taken from the world of winemaking, referring to the year a particular wine was produced, generally meaning a very good vintage. Of course, HYT is known for their “fluid timekeeping”, so playing with oenology terminology is quite appropriate. Can we call them the sommeliers of fine watchmaking?
The T1 Millésime Edition comes in three models: a green dial model and a purple dial model made from titanium, as well as a chocolate brown dial model with a 5N rose gold case and black-coated titanium elements. All three models come with two rubber straps: a color-matched strap and a black strap, both with titanium pin buckles. With a diameter of 45.3mm and a thickness of 17.2mm, these watches are by no means understated watches, but their muted tones and understated dials make them stand out as some of HYT’s most understated creations to date.
The T1 itself is HYT’s most affordable and conventionally legible watch, but it’s by no means a conventional one. For those unfamiliar with HYT’s fluid timekeeping technology, here’s how it works: Two contrasting colored liquids in thin borosilicate capillaries (like giant winemaker’s tasting tubes) flow around the perimeter of the watch’s face, forming a meniscus that can be used as an hour marker. These liquids push and pull around the dial to show the hours, reset at 6 o’clock, and the minutes with a large standalone hand. There’s no seconds hand, but the dial does have a power reserve indicator.
The T1 Millésime Edition is equipped with the HYT Caliber 501-CM, the brand’s smallest movement ever developed. It boasts a 72-hour manual winding power reserve, operates at 4Hz and features two large bellows that pump the fluid to the dial of the watch, further developing the metaphor of a winemaker pumping the grapes…
Price and availability for the HYT T1 Millésime Editions
The HYT T1 Millésime Edition will be available in limited quantities from autumn to mid-spring in Europe (i.e. from September 2024 to April 2025). Price: CHF 50,000 (titanium), CHF 66,000 (5N gold and titanium)
Brand HYT Model T1 Millésime Edition Reference H03343-A (Green)
H03344-A (purple)
H03345-A (Chocolate) Case Dimensions 45.3mm (D) x 17.2mm (T) x 46.3mm (LTL) Case Material Titanium (H03343-A, H03344-A)
Titanium and 5N rose gold (H03345-A) Water resistance 50 meters Crystal Sapphire front and back Dial Vertically brushed green/purple/chocolate brass, fluid in borosilicate capillaries Lug width Integrated Bracelet Interchangeable rubber strap, pin buckle to match the case Movement 501-CM, design by Eric Coudray, hand-wound Power reserve 72 hours Functions Fluid retrograde hours, minutes and power reserve Available now Price CHF 50,000 (H03343-A, H03344-A)
66,000 Swiss francs (H03345-A)