The latest addition to the HYT’s Skull line is the model named Skull Maori, a sensational hydro mechanical watch designed by HYT Art Director Xavier Casals. He incorporated the captivating Maori tribal tattoo which is often associated with a skull and further emphasized the skull shape by using the traditional hand engraving.
The fluid-filled hour capillary which acts as the hour marker is a concept that has already been mastered by HYT and its partners. It’s been a quite technical achievement to master the expansion and contraction of the “bellows” at the 6 o’clock position to ensure a smooth transit of the fluid around the sharp edges and curves of the skull shape. The issue centered around the capillary’s four angles, and two of them are near 90° at the base. These curves meant that bending the glass was a particularly delicate chore.
HYT Skull Maori Watch – Detail
HYT also chose to do away with the minutes thus making two significant changes. Firstly, the main focus is shifted to the capillary which is the only sensory indicator of time as it passes. Secondly, it centres all the attention on the architectural design of the watch, with its assertive, confident skull, which takes almost the complete dial surface. Also, HYT chose to almost entirely hide the movement on the dial side.
Furthermore, the eyes of the Maori Skull have a life of their own. The right eye shows the power reserve. The eye gradually darkens as the piece nears the end of its 65 hours of power reserve by using a series of delicately different translucent colored inserts.
HYT Skull Maori Watch – Power Reserve Indicator
The left eye hides a hardly visible seconds dial which rotates constantly. The future owner of the HYT Skull Maori Watch only has to look the Skull in the eyes to notice its spirit and the life.
In both cases, a subtle honeycomb pattern offers the background and adds depth to the Skull eyes. The skull itself is not inert because its movement operates constantly.
HYT Skull Maori Watch – Fluid Filled Hour Capillary
HYT Skull Maori Watch (ref. 513-CB-43-RF-MV) is equipped with the exclusive HYT caliber with manual winding featuring bridges hand-chamfered and adorned with Côtes de Genève, rhodium plated bellows and oscillating at the frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour (4 Hz).
The watch is housed in a specially designed case for the Skull which measures 51mm in diameter and 17.9mm in thickness. Black DLC titanium and 5N gold case with brushed, micro-blasted and satin finishes incorporates the single assembly push-button of the rubber coated crown which sets the time and it is situated between 2 and 3 o’clock positions. The crown protection has been removed, while lateral inserts have been added to the case, thus providing multiple future combinations.
The case is protected with cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the front side. The water resistance of the case is assured down to 50 meters (about 165 feet).
HYT Skull Maori Watch – Leather Strap
HYT Skull Maori comes with a brown leather strap with laser engraved black pattern, fitted with a black DLC titanium pin buckle. The watch is issued in the limited series of only 15 pieces.
