After having worked for two big groups (the Swatch Group and MGI Luxury), and having earned my stripes at Audemars Piguet (over nearly five years), creating my own brand seemed like the obvious thing to do … but I wanted to place the bar very high – not just add a simple “other” watch to the market … I needed something wild.
Who did you get to help you?
Honestly, everything happened by chance … as it often does! It all began at a meeting with Lucien Vouillamoz, Patrick Berdoz and Emmanuel Savioz in October 2010. Lucien had invented a system that allowed microfluid to move at a particular speed, in a particular quantity. Patrick Berdoz, his old friend, had financed the launch of this research and and, as the first application for this technology, they wanted to create a timepiece and were looking for someone who could head up a watchmaking project. So I joined the adventure, accompanied by Bruno Moutarlier, who brought discipline, expertise and “product” knowledge to the project. His position as former industrial director of Audemars Piguet enabled HYT to pick the best players from our industry to create the H1, starting with our decision to work with Jean-François Mojon to develop our own mechanical movement. Sébastien Perret designed the H1, while all HYT’s artistic side is taken care of by my friend Xavier Casals, and Ion Schiau directs sales and marketing.
What are thedistinctive features of the HYT brand?
I had an old dream in mind, almost a fantasy – to create a mechanical watch incorporating a liquid. I had already got close to achieving this aim by creating the “Quantum Gravity” at Concord, which featured liquid in a Tourbillon watch. But we were still far from what we were going to be able to achieve with HYT. The brand vision is unique: to combine a liquid with a mechanical watch. It’s unique and powerful. There are no limits.
Can the concept be declined through several model generations?
Yes, absolutely. Once your vision is clear and unique, you can interpret the concept as much as you want. Several projects are already being studied. The H2 and the H3 are being developed even as we speak. Certain models stand out by their complexity and originality, while others reflect more classical, pure approach.
Which patents are you most proud of ?
We have registered six patents. The thing I am most proud of is to be surrounded by extremely high quality partners, all with a particular role and skill which enables us to create a unique and truly innovative project in the watchmaking industry. When we started working together, the primary excitement factor lay in the possibility of associating a liquid with a mechanical movement, which seemed impossible … at least, nobody had done it up to then.
Which clients are you targeting with your first product line?
Collectors, lovers of innovative, special, unique watches. Just imagine: who could fail to be captivated by a powerful, round watch with a sexy design, whose interior is ruled by a manufactured movement which works off two pistons (like a real machine) which move a liquid and display both the time and the passing of time…
Did the initial feedback from your retail partners lead you to change your approach?
We have completed our 2012 production schedule … we have been working on it for a year and given the technology, we have succeeded in bringing the best distribution network in our industry on board with us.
Will you have points of sale in Switzerland in 2012?
We will have at least one and maybe two.
When will you consider that it has been a success?
There are a number of stages … firstly, the launch and reaction of the Baselworld 2012 clientele, then the impact in the watchmaking world, not to mention the purely quantitative aspect and the brand performance. But above all, we are living it right now. We live every moment joyfully – the discovery of such an invention, the challenge of making it work, the pleasure of talking about it here and to all the journalists we will meet in the next few months.
Where do you see HYT in ten years’ time?
Flying high … but here, I am going to leave a bit of suspense, because we have many dreams and projects in our pockets …
