H1 Air collection: an airborne H1 family takes flight
H1 Air collection: an airborne H1 family takes flight
The 3 H1 Air pieces can hardly keep their feet on the ground! To begin with, they arrive together as non-identical triplets – the first time HYT unveils a complete collection of limited pieces in one shot.
Secondly, the pieces explore unchartered territory such as the maritime world or camouflage.
But the third and most surprising aspect to the air collection is that HYT presents its first classical piece! Are the enfants terribles of Hydro-Mechanics growing up?
OPEN WATERS AND BLUE SKIES BECKON
The H1 Air RC44 stands out from the collections like no other as it is the first piece HYT ever creates as part of a partnership. More than ever 'fluids are in our DNA' says HYT CEO Vincent Perriard.
In saying this Perriard makes reference to the fact that since February 2015, HYT is the official timekeeper for the RC44 regatta created by Russell Coutts, 5 times winner of the America's Cup, one of the most difficult circuits in the world. He adds, 'for this occasion, we needed a piece that of course leveraged on our fluid technology but also ensured the performance and the lightness of a monocoque'.
The H1 Air RC44 fulfils this lofty challenge. Its movement is covered by a sapphire dial, another first for HYT. The part of the dial covering the bellows remains translucid to allow an unobstructed view of the heart of the watch.
Two other un-tinted and open areas have been integrated for the same reasons of visibility: to the left of the dial to display the seconds and to the right to show the power reserve.
'This play on light and shadows is the common denominator in all three Air pieces' explains Vincent Perriard. These new H1s are designed in stratum, firstly with the movement, then the sapphire dial and then finally the applied chapter. Playing with these different levels allowed us to integrate new depths and a different volume and richness to the pieces'.
On the RC44 the sapphire dial is adorned with a applied chapter made of a single piece of carbon, evoking the ultra perfectionist structures of racing monocoques.