HYT SOONOW Instant Rainbow

The new HYT SOONOW Instant Rainbow exhibits a spectrum of audacious, kaleidoscopic colours, yet beyond its intense aesthetics the piece carries a poignant message for us all.

Despite its technical aspect, there is a poetic characteristic to HYT’s liquid time indication in which two immiscible liquids flow to represent the passage of time. The point where the two meet evokes the power of the “now”, yet there is also a visual representation of the moment soon to be and all its possibilities. By displaying time using this unique concept, the wearer is perhaps reminded of the importance of each and every fleeting moment – a philosophy which we all have held dear during the last few challenging months. So, in light of our recent troubled times, and the challenges yet to come, the new HYT SOONOW Instant Rainbow captures the colourful symbolism though which we have all expressed our gratitude for those in frontline care roles, and the hope that there are brighter days ahead.

The piece carries a dial which features highly contemporary Métiers d’Art craftsmanship and is dominated by a skull motif whose profile carries the tiny glass capillary tube through which the immiscible liquids flow.

Meticulous gemsetting, comprising of 668 multicoloured stones, provides a vivid and resplendent backdrop for the skull, whose blue-purple anodized titanium interior has been enhanced with 313 individually placed golden pins. While the stellar feature of the dial is arguably this painstaking handwork, the handcrafting process which was required to create the 10 angles which make up the profile of the skull was no less challenging to achieve. Adding a touch of animation to the façade, the left eye of the skull displays the seconds, while the right eye displays the power reserve, both in a mesmerising “HYTnotic” pattern. In a final flourish of drama, between the golden teeth of the skull, one can glimpse the bellows which enable the flow of the two liquids.

A 48.8mm DLC-coated stainless steel case houses the HYT proprietary base calibre made in association with movement power house, Chronode. When fully handwound, the movement delivers a power reserve of 65 hours and its unique architecture can be viewed through the sapphire caseback. While much has been written about how this Independent Watchmaking company managed to debut the introduction of liquids right into the heart of a mechanical calibre, they still remain respectful to the traditional standards of Haute Horlogerie. Thus, each of their strangely beautiful calibres have Côtes de Genève adornment and feature hand-bevelled bridges.

Soon or Now.… which moment is more important? Just a handful of owners will be able to ponder this conundrum while wearing this exclusive gemset edition, which will be limited to just 8 pieces worldwide.

The HYT SOONOW Instant Rainbow watch wears on a black rubber strap with a folding buckle.

Fact File HYT SOONOW Instant Rainbow

REFERENCE: H02513
MANUFACTURER: HYT
LIMITED EDITION: 8 pieces
CASE: DLC stainless Steel with satin finish, box-domed sapphire crystal, screwed caseback
SIZE: ø 48.8 mm
THICKNESS: 20.08 mm
DIAL: Inset with 668 stones; 4.73cts and 313 18ct yellow gold pins; left eye indicates seconds, right eye indicates power reserve; liquidic indication of the hours with glass capillary tube enabled via two bellows
MOVEMENT: HYT proprietary hand-wound movement produced with Chronode, 28,800 vph
FUNCTIONS: Fluidic hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve
POWER RESERVE: 65 hours
BRACELET/STRAP: Black rubber strap
BUCKLE: DLC steel Folding Buckle
WATERPROOF RATING: 50m
PRICE 105,000 CHF