Hautlence makes very cool, but rather insanely priced watches. The type of watch you see on the wrists of millionaires and billionaires. It’s previously put out wristwear like the Labyrinth, which costs US$12,600 (and doesn’t even tell the time), and the Vortex Primary, which tells time through a maze of stained glass precious sapphire and ruby windows. In short; it makes big, beautiful watches and sells them at a hefty price.
Hautlence has now unveiled the Vortex Gamma, its most colourful model yet. Designed for true customisation, the Vortex Gamma is crafted out of six three-dimensional sapphire crystals and a new space-aged alloy that can take on any shade or colour. The unique metal – which is four times lighter than titanium – is first charged with ceramic nanotube particles, with allows it to take on different hues. It allows Hautlence to make each case bespoke to its owner.
The design was inspired by sci-fi flicks like Tron; it’s a mixture of luminescent shapes and integrated circuits – along with colour along the architectural lines of the Vortex case. That same colour also makes an appearance on the Vortex Gamma’s dial, as well as the 12 links of the half-trailing hour chain, an essential part of the watch’s movement.
Speaking of movements, Hautlence has stuck its in-house HL2.0 movement inside the Vortex Gamma’s technicolour shell. Protected by two patents, you can see the inner workings of the calibre – the moving chain links that power the minute and hour hands – through the sapphire glass panels.
It’s just been announced, so expect it to hit boutique shelves (in this case, the Seddiqi & Sons high-end store in Dubai Mall, or the Al Sayegh Jewellery in Abu Dhabi) in October.
