HYT H4 Gotham Limited Edition

HYT’s new creation, the H4 Gotham, explores a style unveiled by the H1 Dracula DLC and developed by the SKULL. The founding principle of this new house collection, the H4, follows the path forged by HYT since 2013: fluid mechanics, in the true sense of the word. With the new HYT exclusive calibre, the H4 Gotham represents the new generation of HYT skeleton watches.

This is also the first piece to have a case made entirely from diabolically rigid 3DTP™ carbon (3DTP™ carbon is a material used in aeronautic, sailing, and motoring industries because of its interesting resistance / mass ratio. It comprises carbon threads woven to a maximum diameter of 7 microns and with a thickness layer of 0.15 mm, which provides unprecedented rigidity). It is also the very first HYT to display the time off-centre on its bezel, rather than on the flange.

And finally, it is the first time that HYT has equipped its creation with an all-new technical strap, combining rubber and Nomex™ technical fibre (a high-performance synthetic fibre trademark. It is an aramid fiber that can be used under extreme conditions, e.g. racing drivers’ suits and helmets).

HYT worked on both segments of the calibre. In the upper part, where the movement prevails, most of the components have been open-worked, and the dial eliminated. The entire gear train is visible, as well as part of the barrel. And so that all the parts are directly visible, without adornments, there is a sapphire disc, secured by three anchor points in particular at 4 and 8 o’clock, housing the minute indicator and the power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock.

The lower part of the calibre meanwhile houses the now famed bellows, also known as pistons. Their general vertical architecture remains unchanged however, the cage housing them has been completely redesigned: now, the two barrels are almost entirely visible thanks to a new cut in the 4–8 o’clock segment.

HYT has for the first time engraved the time indexes on the bezel. This frees up a large area of the dial from the indexes, further opening up the whole face for an unobstructed view. The case size of the H4 has been increased to 51 mm to reinforce this feeling of space and maximum openness.

The H4 is a genuine skeleton piece, but its plays of light are more complex than they appear and the Gotham sees a continuous fight between the shadows and the light. HYT has ended up orchestrating a genuine composition of colour on a theme of contrast, dazzling, profiled and suited to the twists of the H4 Gotham components, to bring out the finest details.

For example, HYT has equipped its H4 with a new sapphire case-back. With a chromium plated metallised finish, this has a double role: in contact with the skin, the metallised finish reproduces a smoky glass effect. On the movement side, inside the case, the chromium plated finish gives the illusion of a mirror. So the H4 is adorned with a complex play of lights and mirrors, which provides, depending on the angle, a view of the light penetrating the movement.

On the time indicator side, red has been chosen to inhabit the capillary of the H4 Gotham. It marks the progress of the hours, with the retrograde display, signature of the brand. This ‘bloody’ tone is also adopted by the seconds wheel at 9 o’clock, as well as the power reserve at 3 o’clock and the strap’s top stitching.

On the materials side, HYT has adorned its carbon case with a rubber sheathed screw down DLC titanium crown. The HYT exclusive skeleton mechanical hand-wound movement has hand-bevelled bridges decorated with Côtes de Genève and provides a power reserve of 65 hours.

The H4 Gotham is a 50-piece limited edition.

Technical details

Model: HYT H4 GOTHAM
Ref: 151-CB-03-RF-RN; 50-piece limited edition

Case
3DTP™ carbon
Diameter: 51 mm
Height: 17.9 mm
Rubber sheathed screw-down DLC titanium crown
DLC titanium dome at 6 o’clock
Convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the dial side
Screw-down sapphire case-back
Water resistant to 50 metres

Functions
Retrograde fluidic hour, minute and seconds

Movement
Skeleton mechanical hand-wound movement, HYT exclusive calibre
28,800 vib/h, 4 Hz, 35 jewels
Bridges hand-bevelled and adorned with Côtes de Genève, rhodium-plated bellows
65-hour power reserve

Dial
Unstructured, fluid hour display
Minute & seconds dial, and sapphire power reserve
Black minute indexes and numerals
Black hour dial, with grey numerals
Luminescent black minute hand
Regulator at 12 o’clock
Small seconds wheel at 9.30
Power reserve indicator at 2.30

Strap
Black rubber base with integrated NOMEX™ fabric centre, and black DLC titanium folding buckle

Price
Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): CHF 77’000.- / EUR 77’000.- / USD 79’000.-