HAUTLENCE – Concepts d'exception HL2.2 VORTEX Limited Edition NEW
A STEP BEYOND THE FUTURE: HAUTLENCE UNVEILS
ITS NEW CONCEPT D’EXCEPTION, VORTEX
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The Neuchâtel-based contemporary watchmaker HAUTLENCE unveils its second and highly awaited Concept d’Exception, VORTEX. First launched in 2010, HAUTLENCE’s Concept d’Exception timepieces are extremely sought-after thanks to their extraordinary displays of time powered by incredible mechanical solutions that push the boundaries of traditional watchmaking.
Avant-garde and daring, VORTEX is a true showcase of HAUTLENCE’s boundless creativity and audacious approach to watchmaking, reinterpreting all the design codes that are dear to the brand, such as a multi-level reading of time, materials that play on transparency and the use of nonconformist shapes.
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VORTEX is much more than simply a wristwatch; it is truly an exceptional timepiece featuring three patents in a mind-blowing three-dimensional case that offers a glimpse of its impressive movement from all sides. Inspired by contemporary architecture, this unique case flaunts a new look every hour as the cage of the regulating organ rotates 60 degrees every 60 minutes, thus turning VORTEX into a mesmerising mechanical piece of art.
“Pushing the boundaries whilst respecting tradition,” explains Founder and CEO of HAUTLENCE Guillaume Tetu while summing up the launch of VORTEX. “The idea behind the watch was to reveal our creative approach to watchmaking in a new Concept d’Exception. Ergonomic, contemporary and truly avant-garde, VORTEX remains true to HAUTLENCE’s design codes with its multi-level display of time, play on transparency, nonconformist geometry and link between mechanics and aesthetics. By combining all of these elements, we have created a watch that is powerful and majestic.”
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Limited to 88 pieces, VORTEX displays half-trailing hours, retrograde minutes and a power-reserve indicator. Its futuristic and lively design changes every hour, as the entire regulating organ rotates 60 degrees every 60 minutes. Powering this new timepiece is a redesigned and reinterpreted version of the innovative in-house automatic calibre HR2.0 presented in the first Concept d’Exception. Named HLR2.0, this impressive new calibre is angled at 90 degrees, resulting in a remarkably ergonomic and modern timepiece.
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HAUTLENCE collaborated with the prominent Parisian design studio BBDC, Berra Blanquer Design Consultants, to create VORTEX’s eye-catching and state-of-the-art design inspired by contemporary architecture. BBDC is active in many industries and is renowned for having brought to life several bestselling watch designs ever since its foundation in 1996.
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“Developing VORTEX was much more than simply a mission; it was, above all, an enriching experience that we shared with Guillaume Tetu and his team,” comments Ludovic Blanquer, designer at BBDC. “We pushed boundaries together, did not make any concessions and studied each and every idea, even the most eccentric ones. Besides giving a designer the feeling of freedom, it is a real proof of trust that helps push the boundaries further while opening up a wide field of creativity. Working on the creation of VORTEX gave us the chance to experiment with technical and stylistic concepts involving every element of a watch, including its movement. We are extremely proud to have had the opportunity to participate in this adventure and to have brought to life, all together, HAUTLENCE’s second Concept d’Exception, VORTEX.”
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A CLOSE LOOK AT HAUTLENCE’S SECOND CONCEPT D’EXCEPTION: VORTEX
The case is inspired by post-modern architecture and deconstructivism while remaining true to the DNA of the brand. The innovative case features dynamic lines, facetted structures and radical and disruptive shapes. Crafted out of robust titanium grade 5, the case showcases six three-dimensional sapphire crystals that highlight the complexity of the movement’s kinetic construction from all sides. The sapphire crystals offer a glimpse of the mobile bridge-type calibre and the transparent and protective cage of its regulating organ. Rotating 60 degrees every 60 minutes, the cage of the regulating organ is a reinterpreted version of the one presented in the first Concept d’Exception, the HL2.0, redesigned to increase the visibility of the movement.
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The dial provides a two-level reading of time thanks to the semi-transparency of the translucent metallic sapphire dial, portraying the intricacy of the movement’s superior bridges without compromising the readability of the watch’s functions. The dial displays the half-trailing hours, retrograde minutes and a power reserve indicator in a grey colour scheme, reinforcing the architecturally-inspired roots of the timepiece and evoking a metallic and mineral universe. The only dash of colour is seen on the power reserve indicator, displayed in red. The indication of the hours and minutes and the brand logo appear to be engraved directly into the metal.
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The bridges of the rotating cage of the calibre were redesigned to feature a futuristic look that stands out from traditional watchmaking. The tense lines and angular shapes of the cage contrast beautifully with the roundness and refinement of the mechanical elements of the regulating organ. The inclined ring is embedded in the bridges of the cage so as to offer a clear view of the regulating organ as it rotates.
The in-house mechanical automatic movement, calibre HLR2.0, is protected by three HAUTLENCE patents, just like the first Concept d’Exception, the HL2.0. The first patent pertains to the 12-link chain of the half-trailing hours, which smoothly turns in 3 to 4 seconds every 60 minutes to display the hour. Such a system differs from an instant system that switches the hours too fast for one to truly appreciate and from a dragging system whereby time cannot be easily read between the hours. The half-trailing hours system rotates effortlessly without losing energy and offers the possibility to admire the beauty of the movement and its mechanisms in action.
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The second patent relates to the regulating organ integrated into the mobile bridge-type movement. Its constantly changing position, driven by the display, compensates statistically for the effects of gravity, thus enhancing its precision. The third patent concerns the operation of the movement’s two barrels. The main barrel is wound by the automatic-winding system of the movement and transfers the necessary energy to wind a second barrel that is dedicated exclusively to driving the complication. The main barrel continuously winds the second barrel so as to ensure that energy remains at an optimal level to change each hour. This ensures that complex systems remain powered independently without impacting the precision of the watch.
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VORTEX is available with three elegant straps that can be easily interchanged with a screwdriver that is included in the box. VORTEX comes with a black Louisiana alligator leather strap with large square scales, a black hornback crocodile leather strap with red topstitching or a black rubber strap, each equipped with a folding clasp in grade 2 titanium with a palladium plate. VORTEX will be available starting this September.
Demonstrating HAUTLENCE’s endless imagination and daring vision, this second Concept d’Exception is limited to 88 numbered pieces.
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Technical Specifications
Collection: Concepts d'exception
Model: HL2.2 VORTEX Limited Edition of 88 Pieces
HAUTLENCE HL2.0 in-house calibre including gear train and automatic winding system.Half-trailing hours displayed by a chain, retrograde minutes, mobile bridge-type calibre.
CALIBRE
Calibre description :
2 barrels: one finishing barrel (power reserve for the entire watch calibre including power for the second barrel) and a complication barrel.
Hours displayed by a 12-link chain hinged on a pallet system. The speed regulator ensures that the hours display changes in a controlled and jerk-free manner in 3-4 seconds instead of instantly. It completes 48 revolutions at each hour change. Hours system activated by a one-revolution mechanism mainly composed of a connecting rod and a rack.
Mobile bridge-type calibre comprising the regulating organ and rotating through 60° at each change of hour.
Movement kinematics featuring 90° changes of direction by means of special bevelled gears.
Automatic calibre with oscillating weight in 18-carat white gold.
This innovative calibre is protected by 3 HAUTLENCE patents.
Dimensions : 37.8 x 33.2 x 12.35 mm
Manufacturing technology : multi-axis micro-machining, wire EDM. LIGA photolithography
Number of components : 552
Power reserve : 45 hours
Regulating organ : 18,000 vibrations/hour
Number of jewels : 92
Finishing: fine-watchmaking type (satin-brushed, hand-drawn, hand-bevelled, ruthenium-anthracite coating and mirror-polished steel elements)
Identification and numbering plate: HL2.2 X/88.
CASE
Case : grade 5 titanium
Horns : grade 5 titanium, screw-in
Crown : polished grade 5 titanium with micro-machined HAUTLENCE logo
Glass : 6 three-dimensional sapphire crystals, scratch-resistant, produced by multi-axis grinding
Alternating finishes : sand-blasting, satin-brushing and polishing
Horn and case-back screws : grade 5 titanium
Dimensions : 52 x 50 x 17.8 mm
Weight of the timepiece: 120 grams
DISPLAY
Hours, retrograde minutes and power-reserve indicator.
DIAL
Upper sapphire dial face: minutes in white Super-LumiNova®;
Applied plates for the hours and minutes zones; openings onto the hours and the power reserve;
Lower sapphire dial face: semi-opaque metallization;
Hour-markers: metal plate with black rhodium-plated galvanic coating and hour numerals in white Super-Lumi-Nova®
Minutes hand: rhodium-plated galvanic coating with white Super-LumiNova® tip;
Power-reserve hand: steel with red-varnished indicator
WATER RESISTANCE
3 ATM
STRAP
Black hand-sewn rolled-edge, rubberised padded Louisiana alligator leather, large square scales;
Black hand-sewn hornback crocodile leather, red topstitching; Black rubber;
Interchangeability spring bar and screwdriver;
Folding clasp: grade 2 titanium with palladium plate
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Press Release
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Contact us for any further information:
Guillaume Tetu, CEO and Co-founder - g.tetu@hautlence.com
Caroline Büchler, Marketing & Communication Manager - c.buechler@hautlence.com
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