The newly launched Vagabonde X Black Badger model marks the collaboration between HAUTLENCE and designer James Thompson a.k.a. Black Badger. This limited edition timepiece is an exceptional reinterpretation of HAUTLENCE VAGABONDE, the ground-breaking wandering hours model of the Swiss luxury watch brand.
Specialising in innovative materials which he uses in his own distinctive way, James Thompson makes use of Badgerite®, a 3D luminescent composite.
The Vagabonde X Black Badger watch focuses on the interplay of volumes and contrast, the tension between black and bright colours, and the interaction between the positive and negative space.
Drawing upon his expertise with luminescent material, James enriched the dial of the Vagabonde watch with 3D Badgerite® elements. This material – a Super LumiNova®-filled ceramic composite – was created in HAUTLENCE’s signature orange colour.
The Vagabonde X Black Badger watch is as beautiful to look at in the daytime as it was at night-time. Like an explosion of light in different spectra, the minute indices are also in Badgerite®, while the hour numerals are enhanced with Super-LumiNova®.
The base dial features a frosted finish. The intermediate dial in sapphire features minute markings: 00, 15, 30, 45 and 60. Inside a central disc, the hours rotate, turning on their own axis to mark the passing hours.
Driving the rotation of the hour discs, featuring a matt black finish, the B30 bidirectional self-winding movement guarantees a minimum power reserve of three days. This calibre is based on a manufacture movement designed in collaboration with H. Moser & Cie., which HAUTLENCE developed in a modular way to create this stunning piece.
In steel, the TV screen-shaped case of the Vagabonde X Black Badger model has been redesigned, offering water resistance to 10 ATM. Retaining its balanced proportions, it is equipped with a bevelled sapphire crystal and a fluted crown with a rubber ring in the same blue as the integrated rubber strap.
Technical details
Model: HAUTLENCE VAGABONDE X Black Badger, Reference AB30-ST01
Movement
Calibre B30 self-winding mechanical movement
Wandering hours and minutes
Power reserve: minimum of 72 hours
Regulating organ: 21,600 vibrations/hour
Number of components: 197
Number of jewels: 34
Case
Case middle and horns: satin-finished and polished steel;
Bezel: satin-finished and polished steel.
Crown: polished steel and blue rubber ring; engraved HAUTLENCE logo
Glass: extra-hard bevelled sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment;
Back: sapphire crystal engraved with “HAUTLENCE”, Black Badger logo, “10 ATM WATER RESISTANT”, “Horlogerie Suisse”;
Dimensions: 43.0 x 50.8 x 11.9 mm/10.9 mm excluding sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 10 ATM
Dial
Base dial: Frosted Blackor; Dial set with orange 3D Badgerite® elements; Super-LumiNova-filled hour numerals; matt black hour discs.
Intermediate dial: sapphire with white 3D Badgerite® minute numerals; Lumicast® rings.
Strap
Blue rubber
Folding clasp in steel
Edition
Limited edition of 28 pieces
About Black Badger
James Thompson is the designer behind Black Badger, a creative design agency that specializes in using advanced materials in new and exciting ways. He’s previously done special editions with other independent watch brands. Since 2020 James has been the co-owner of the Copenhagen-based watch brand Arcanaut. Born in Vancouver, Canada, James relocated to Gothenburg, Sweden in 2002.
