HYT H2 Titanium Black DLC
In 2012, H1 debuted for the first time and launched the Hydro-Mechanical watch. This young and crazy brand HYT caused chaos in the watchmaking world. Those guys thought of a strange idea, the worst enemy of equipping their works with watches: liquids. We tested this watch and we fell in love with it due to the rationality and seriousness of its concept. As early as 2013, just a year after their first attempt, HYT brought a more exciting successor in the name of HYT H2 Titanium Black DLC, and we have tested it again.
We dealt with HYT H1 Red2 for several weeks and gave us some clues about how serious this concept is. When this watch came out, we were first excited, but also a little skeptical. How does the newly registered brand realize this complicated idea. Of course, the HYT team consists of watchmakers and talented engineers (and its sister company Preciflex). But even…
But they did it-and they did it well! The project has been clearly realized. We are very surprised to see that such an idea can be realized in such a short time and on such a serious level. It may be that toys or watches are locked in a safe. Not at all! It can even be seen as a sturdy sports watch that can be used as a daily beater. Of course, development is not easy, and HYT must face several resolved industrialization and reliability issues. What’s more surprising is that the brand launched its second watch so quickly, using the same fluid indication concept, but the movement and display are more complicated. That was in 2013 (only one year after H1), and this is the watch we are reviewing today.
HYT H2 brings back the main interest of HYT H1 (the brand’s first watch): the streamlined indication of time. Although most watches display the time on the time when the hands rotate along the central axis-or at least display it with disks or satellites-it is still a mechanical module driven by gears, wheels and levers. These displays can be very complex-please take a look at our other displays’ section-and still a mechanical game. Whether we are talking about H1 or H2, HYT provides watchmakers with something completely meaningless and even dangerous for watches: liquids. In a circular tube located around the dial, liquid flows to indicate the hours. HYT H2 has already appeared in the context of HYT H1, but the cooperation with the famous APRP manufacturer Audemars-Piguet Renaud & Papi makes this concept more complicated.
HYT H2 displays more features, better integration into the current fluid module directly into the movement, longer power reserve and an amazing level of detail. The first H1 is used to create a hum. H2 was established to establish brand reputation and to prove the importance of this concept to others in the industry.
Like HYT H1, the main feature of HYT H2 is its capillary filled with two kinds of liquid regulator type display: fluorescent liquid and translucent liquid. The time indicator is divided into two parts: the hour is displayed as a liquid, and the minute is displayed with a central hand – compared to the HYT H1, this is a novelty because the minutes are not displayed on the classic 12-minute dial. The minute hand is now larger and located in the center of the watch. It must be read on the sapphire track inside the green tube. However, it is no longer a classic. Between 5:30 and 6:30, it will jump slightly and continue its journey around the dial.
How does fluid technology work?
This is part of our HYT H1 Red2 review.
The hour display relies on 3 separate elements: a glass tube, 2 liquids and 2 pistons/reservoirs. The idea that led to H1/H2 included two flexible reservoirs fixed at both ends of the capillary. One is an aqueous liquid filled with fluorescein (red here), and the other is a transparent viscous liquid. To separate them: the repulsive force of the molecules in each liquid, with a meniscus to mark the boundary between the two. As time goes by, the fluorescent liquid continues to develop. The half-moon-shaped half-moon-shaped elbow marks the breaking point along with the other fluid in the test tube and indicates the time. At 18:00, the fluorescent liquid returns to its original position and moves backward.
The two bellows create pressure or depression to move the liquid. Over time, the left piston pushes the fluorescent green liquid into the glass tube, while the right piston expands. Once arrived at 18:00, the process will proceed in reverse, with the right piston compressing to send the green liquid backwards to its original location/reservoir.reviews aaa quality watches
The main limitation is to create two liquids that cannot mix with each other even under high or low temperature or various pressure conditions, or when the watch is subjected to shocks.
APRP’s participation is easy to spot. The movement is fully opened, showing incredible depth. All technical elements (gear train, escapement module and piston) are completely exposed. We also found that the typical APRP top indicator is located at 3 locations, and there is one new feature: the temperature indicator at 9:30. Compared with HYT H1, the final improvement is to expand the power reserve. The APRP team is known for its strong mastery of energy and electricity, and HYT H2 demonstrates an 8-day power reserve.
HYT H2-Titanium Black DLC version-obviously a large watch. Its case is made of lightweight, strong titanium and painted black with diamond-like carbon fiber technology. The size is impressive at 48.8mm x 17.9mm. Of course, this may be imposed on paper, but given its size, the watch is still easy to tie. The case brings back the same DNA as HYT H1, but it feels a bit clean. It can make you pay more attention to the dial and instructions. The H1’s ground bezel was completely removed and replaced by highly curved sapphire crystals all over the dial. The strap and lugs have been completely brushed-hope to have some polished edges to enhance the design. The crown is still in position 3 and is protected by a large and hollow strap on the side of the case.
Like its predecessor, HYT H2 may be a concept watch and technical demonstration, but it is also a sports watch. HYT H2 comes with a case with screws and a crown that is screwed down to make the watch waterproof up to 50 meters. Of course, it will not replace your Tudor Pelagos or Omega Seamaster, and we suspect that the owner of HYT H2 will use it as an appropriate tool list. However, the watch feels strong and strong. It can be used and abused (a bit). The HYT H2 has a black rubber strap with an unfolding buckle, which confirms the practicality of this extreme timepiece.
It is also available in multiple versions: black DLC and pink gold with green liquid, platinum with golden liquid, platinum and titanium with red liquid, titanium with gun metal PVD treatment and blue liquid.
For once, we will not make a separate part for the dial and hands, because both are fully integrated in the movement. The HYT H1 is more classic in method. The movement co-created with Chronode consists of two modules (a classic clock module and a fluid module, as well as bellows and hoses) linked to a cam mechanism.
In the context of HYT H2, these two modules are now fully integrated in one movement. Compared to the first manufacturing of HYT, the first change is the position of the pistons/bellows. They are now in the V-shape, which reminds us of the Harley Davidson engine. The positioning of the V-shaped bellows optimizes the integration of the interface, which connects the clock mechanism with the fluid system. The system can be seen at 9 on the dial. It consists of a snail wheel with a gradually increasing diameter that generates pressure on the arm, compressing the left bellows, and pushing liquid into the capillary tube. Compared with H1, this structure leaves more space, so the minute hand can be placed in the center, while the balance spring is located on the black bridge in the upper half of the dial.
The escapement module is not the only exposed mechanical part, because the gear set and multiple wheels driving the big minute hands are also fully visible on the front. The dial shows extraordinary depth, giving the HYT H2 a very futuristic, industrial and mechanical sense. The all-black finish of the parts is inspired by classic haute watch finishes: the polished bevels and straight lines on the steel parts and wheels. Many small bridges are made of titanium, skeletonized, black DLC coating, and the surface is micro-sprayed.
The movement also adds two other complications. The first is the crown position indicator with 3 positions (helps to discover APRP cooperation): N stands for neutral – H stands for set time – R stands for winding. The second complication is the temperature indicator. When the watch is filled with liquid, high temperature or low temperature will affect the viscosity, which in turn affects the displacement of the liquid.
Compared with the front, the back of the movement looks simpler. It mainly shows two huge barrels, which provide 8 days (192 hours) of energy for HYT H2. Considering that the barrel must continuously activate 2 bellows and one liquid, this result is very impressive. The remaining power can be read by the indicator located directly on the left lens barrel. The tighter the main spring (closer to the center), the more force you have left. Simple but not very precise.
When you are faced with such a complex and unusual project, how do you look at this kind of watch and how to minimize the required objectivity? It’s like being a car journalist in front of the latest Lamborghini or Pagani. Such a sports car or concept watch is the object of dreams, without reason and reason. First, the price categorizes it to a level that is unattainable for 99.99% of us-therefore, it becomes the object of our desire and hides his shortcomings simply because it makes our dreams come true.
If objectivity must be added to the equation, we must admit that HYT H2 wholesale watches replica is an excellent project, with superb modern watch design, extreme and distinctive appearance, very interesting technical content, and nonetheless, these elements It is fully realized, and it is durable in almost any situation. However, it has the flaws of most concept watches, which means that the legibility is not as good as classic watches (because the location is unnatural, so you must read the minutes carefully on the track), and it lacks a bit of elegance – not seen on the HYT H2 Platinum Edition s things. However, competing with the ultra-thin JLC is not HYT’s goal-the brand will not end soon, as the brand recently revealed another crazier watch, HYT H3.