HYT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Diamonds

HYT recently unveiled a diamond-studded, exceptional creation—the spectacular ‘Conical Tourbillon Infinity Diamonds.’ This timepiece boasts 533 components and 575 diamonds, combining snow-set and traditional gem-setting techniques to create a visually stunning mechanical and aesthetic spectacle.

The watch is the result of an incredible collaborative effort by numerous experts with diverse skills, united to bring to life a unique and extraordinary interpretation of the renowned HYT central tourbillon. This timepiece combines a dazzling snow-set diamond pavé with the intricacy of a conical tourbillon powered by HYT’s exclusive hydro-mechanical technology, expressing the most precious and meticulous aspects of hydro-mechanical horology through a singular vision.

At the heart of its dial, the fluid hour display and romantic dance of the conical tourbillon come alive, adorned with three 64-facet round brilliant-cut diamonds. The dial gleams with 400 snow-set diamonds, while the upper case is adorned with an additional 175 snow-set diamonds. Over three months of meticulous handwork, employing traditional methods, were required to set the 575 diamonds in approximately ten different sizes.

On the wrist, the HYT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Diamonds showcases HYT’s complete watchmaking expertise. Every detail, from the refined finishings of the 701 TC caliber to the intricately set snow diamonds, makes this piece stunning and attests to the level of excellence in HYT’s creations. The conical tourbillon is elevated as it animates at the heart of the mechanics, with its spiral balance inclined at 30 degrees, escape wheel offset at 15 degrees, and anchor at 23 degrees.

This feat of engineering draws inspiration from the audacious technique pioneered by German watchmaker Walter Prendel, who developed the inclined balance wheel tourbillon initially positioned at 6 o’clock. Working in his workshops in Groitzsch, a small town in Saxony renowned, like Switzerland, for its high-end watchmaking, Prendel aimed to validate his research based on master watchmaker Alfred Helwig’s theories. Helwig’s work focused on improving the stability and regularity of the oblique tourbillon, with the balance-spring assembly inclined 30 degrees from the horizontal.

At the heart of this horological masterpiece, the tourbillon completes a full clockwise rotation every 30 seconds. Its graceful motion, marked by spheres of varying sizes, creates a breathtaking visual spectacle. Each diamond, each movement, embodies balance, elegance, and precision. The impeccable finish, from angled bridges to polished countersinks, underscores the degree of perfection achieved by the whole.

Set around the periphery of the tourbillon, three 64-facet diamonds measuring approximately 2.5mm each amplify the vibrant essence of this visual spectacle, accentuating the subtle airy sound hinted at by the tourbillon. These diamonds rotate harmoniously at different speeds – the first completing 4 rotations per minute, the second 5 rotations per minute, and the third 6 rotations per minute. Each unique diamond is paired with a 5N rose gold counterweight.

The brilliance of this timepiece is elevated by finishes in the purest Swiss haute horlogerie tradition—a titanium tourbillon cage adorned with angled, stretched, polished, and satin-brushed bridges, alongside polished countersinks and six spheres measuring 1.5mm in diameter (four in 5N rose gold and two in titanium). The technical efficiency of the conical tourbillon allows it to seamlessly animate the dissociated rotations of its spheres.

The assembly comprises 533 components, with the tourbillon cage alone consisting of 159 components. Including the 39 dial components and 66 case pieces, the HYT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Diamonds involves a total of 750 components, all assembled and verified individually by hand. This exceptional tourbillon movement integrates a custom-designed black fluid module by HYT, housed in a 48mm bicolour case in 5N gold and black DLC-coated titanium. It is topped by a domed, glare-proofed sapphire crystal treated with multiple layers of an anti-reflective coating on both sides, enhancing the beauty of the piece.