Today, we are bringing you our hands-on review of the new HYT Skull Bad Boy presented at Baselworld 2016. The first iteration of the HYT Skull was released in January 2015 in two model variations —Green Eye and Red Eye— and we brought you our hands-on review here. Then last year, the Skull Maori was presented and we reviewed it here. Well, if you thought that the HYT Skull Green Eye, Red Eye or the Maori were impressive enough, the new HYT Skull Bad Boy is by far our favorite Skull model from this manufacture thanks to its Damascus steel skull and the black fluid marking the hours.
The Dial
The new HYT Skull Bad Boy is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces featuring a rare Damascus steel skull on the center of its dial. Fitted with the traditional HYT unstructured dial with the traditional fluid hour display, the black hour dial features Arabic numerals in a serif font, quite different to that used on the Skull Green Eye or Skull Red Eye. In addition, the eyes of the Skull have a life of their own. The right eye indicates the power reserve of the watch, while the left eye is a running seconds indicator. Using a series of subtly different translucent colored inserts, the eye gradually darkens as the piece nears the end of its 65 hours of power reserve. However, what stands out the most is the use of a new color in the fluid marking the hours, this time, HYT has decided to go with a glossy black fluid inside the skull shaped capillary.
The Case, Rider & Crown
The HYT Skull Bad Boy —like its predecessors— is fitted with a black DLC titanium microblasted finished case measuring 51 mm in diameter and 17.9 mm in thickness. The watch is equipped with a convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the dial side and screw-down sapphire case back. Water resistant to 50 meters, the rider at 6 o'clock is also made of black DLC titanium. To complete the sporty look of the watch, the screw-down crown is rubber coated.
The Strap
The strap on the new HYT Skull Bad Boy is also very unique. Made of buffed slate grey alligator, the strap features a velcro clasp with keeper. The strap is very comfortable thanks to its black rubber lining and gives the watch a very unique look, unlike any other HYT watch we've reviewed.
The Movement
The beating heart inside the HYT Skull Maori is the skeletonized manual wound movement HYT calibre 101, exclusively developed by APRP —Audemars Piguet Renaud et Papi— for HYT with 35 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 65 hours when fully wound while beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph. The calibre is fully visible via the display case back fitted with a smoked sapphire crystal.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size and quite large. Anyone with a wrist smaller than 7.25" in circumference, should probably avoid wearing this watch, in order to not look like you're too small for the watch. Regardless, this is the type of watch that comes with unparalleled wrist presence. As if wearing an HYT wasn't already very unique and exclusive, wearing the new HYT Skull Bad Boy is even more special as its black and grey color scheme makes it a perfect watch for those crazy party nights.
Sticker Price CHF 90,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $99,000 USD. For more info on HYT watches click here.
