The realization of a crazy idea, a wearable miniature nuclear reactor or a chemical lab, real life applications of insane fluid mechanics formulas.. What the heck I am talking about..? HYT H2 Titanium Black DLC..!
The expression “ extra ordinary “ is a commonly used word within watch industry however, a very few of the time pieces really worth to be called extra ordinary. Brands continue to create different designs and features to surprise the watch enthusiasts. HYT entered this challenge from the top end forcing the limits of micro mechanics one more time.
HYT starts the business in 2012 with it’s H1 model. The new brands continues with H2 featuring refinements and upgrades. Considered to be a piece of art, the HYT H2 is created by the mastermind APRP (Audemars Piguet Renaud Papi).While the traditional watch making keeps going on it’s path, APRP Group goes on fascinating the watch aficionados with extra ordinary time pieces.
Before we have a close look at the H2’s most important feature – the movement, we thought it’d better to have a look at the stunning case first. Measuring at 48,8mm x 17,9mm, the wide case wears unexpectedly comfortable on the wrist mainly due to it’s lug design preventing the big size of the case to be an un-comfortable issue. Additionally, DLC coated titanium’s light weight helps the comfort remarkably.
The finishing quality of the case is very high. The combination of satin brushed and bead blasted surfaces wipes out the flatness of the black finish and supports the sporty character of the watch. The DLC coating helps the case to withstand the possible scratches due to normal wear. Unlike the other black materials such as ceramic, titanium is virtually un-breakable.
The screw down winding crown of the watch is designed dynamo-metric avoiding the damage risk caused by misuse. The rubber coating over the crown helps the grip nicely but it is also likely to wear away to an unpleasant condition. Thanks to the protection bumps around the rubber part, this wear away period is extended.
The watch sports double sapphire crystals on front and back featuring AR coating for front crystal. HYT H2 is rated WR50M.
The movement of the watch can easily be a subject of doctoral dissertation. Theoretically, the time is shown by a highly visible fluid which moves through a very thin pipe using the pressure difference. The pressure difference is created by a pair of pistons located at the bottom of the watch. Unlike the H1, H2 sports a “V” shaped piston lay out which looks like an engine block. While one of the pistons generates positive pressure, the other generates negative causing the liquid flow precisely in the thin pipe.
The minute is traditionally displayed by a minute hand. When it gets 12 o’clock, the pistons move back to their start point like the retrograde style displays causing the liquid to flow back to it’s chamber. This process is absolutely a visual feast. The dial lay out of H2 is different from the common designs. Due to the bottom side location of the piston and the liquid chamber, the minute hand passes the chamber when it get’s 6 o’clock making to read the watch a bit tricky at first.
The balance spring of the watch is exposed. In fact, it would be unfair for the user if the precisely manufactured movement and other parts were covered. Another interesting feature of the watch is the thermometer located in the dial. The liquids have different expansion factors under certain temperatures.
Though HYT engineers seem to over come this issue, some extreme condition may cause improper time display. Therefore, the temperature information for the movement is displayed on the dial.
H2 comes on a rubber strap with a DLC coated titanium folding clasp. Both parts got full points for quality and aesthetics.
Our greatest disappointments is caused by the liquid lacking the phosphorus for night time reading. HYT engineered informed that feature models will glow like a torch but it would be stunning to see this H2 glow in the dark. The three dimensional design of the dial makes you want to watch it for hours. Though the size of the watch seems on the negative side, the technology and visual appearance of the watch makes the size does NOT matter.
Practically, the watch has no rivals due to it’s technology but considering the other exotics brands MB & F, Urwerk, Richard Mille and Harry Winston are both appealing with their looks and price tags as well.
