The Skull line, HYT’s extraordinary and unprecedented creation, now welcomes a new version, the Skull Maori, a sensational hydro mechanical timepiece designed by HYT Art Director Xavier Casals who further emphasised the skull shape by using a rare and traditional hand engraving. In this new Skull version, Casals incorporated the captivating Maori tribal tattoo, often associated with a skull.
The use of a capillary, which carries a fluid to act as the hour marker, is a concept that is already mastered by the Swiss watch brand. For the Skull, the skull shape of the tube, which measures less than one millimetre in diameter, was a significant challenge in itself. The issue centred on the capillary’s four angles, two of which are almost 90° at the base. These curves meant that bending the glass was a particularly delicate task.
In line with the raw, primitive imagery of the skull, HYT also decided to do away with the minutes. This bold choice has two consequences. Firstly, it shifts the main focus to the capillary, the only sensory indicator of time as it passes, and secondly it centres all the attention on the piece’s architectural design, with its assertive, confident skull, which occupies almost the entire surface of the dial. Similarly, in stark contrast to its other pieces, HYT chose to almost completely hide the movement on the dial side.
In this new version, HYT has introduced a number of new developments. Firstly, the two vertical bellows function continuously – it is their subtle expansion and contraction which causes the fluid to move. In addition, the eyes of the Skull have a life of their own. The right eye indicates the power reserve of the watch. Using a series of subtly different translucent coloured inserts, the eye gradually darkens as the piece nears the end of its 65 hours of power. The left eye hides a barely visible seconds dial which rotates continuously. You only have to look the Skull in the eyes to observe its spirit and the life, in the most literal sense, flowing at its heart. In both cases, a subtle honeycomb pattern provides the background and adds depth to the eyes. The skull itself is not inert – its movement operates constantly.
A new 51 mm case has been specially created for the Skull, with the addition of new, crisp angled lugs. The single assembly pushbutton of the crown, which adjusts the time, is located between 2 o’clock and 3 o’clock. The crown protector has been removed. Lateral inserts have also been added to the case, allowing multiple future combinations.
The Skull Maori is offered now in a very limited version, a fifteen-piece limited edition.
Technical details
Model: SKULL MAORI
Ref.: 513-CB-43-RF-MV, Limited edition of 15 pieces
Case
Black DLC titanium and 5N gold with brushed, micro-blasted and satin finishes
Diameter: 51 mm
Height: 17.9 mm
Rubber coated screw-down crown
Black DLC titanium dome at 6 o’clock
Cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the dial side
Screwed sapphire back
Water resistant to 50 metres
Functions
Retrograde red fluid hours; seconds
Movement
Mechanical with manual winding, exclusive HYT calibre
28,800 vib/h, 4 Hz, 35 jewels
Bridges hand-chamfered and adorned with Côtes de Genève, rhodium plated bellows
65-hour power reserve
Dial
Unstructured, fluid hours
Black hour dial, grey anthracite index and 5N numerals
Rare handmade engraved pink gold (5N) skull shape
Seconds dial (left eye)
Power reserve indicator (right eye)
Strap
Brown leather with laser engraved black pattern, black DLC titanium pin buckle
