Insider: HYT H1 Full Gold. Hands-on with a Massive Watch That's Not As Heavy as We Thought.
The new HYT H1 Full Gold is all that HYT was missing so far. The new HYT H1 Full Gold is fitted with an 18K rose gold case measuring 48.8 mm in diameter and a thickness of 17.9 mm just like all other H1 pieces. Fitted with a gold dial with black fluid, this HYT is very reminiscent of a close relative, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26470OR we featured here. The new HYT H1 Full Gold has been designed around a new black fluid that does not emit or reflect any light. However, the H1 Full Gold ref. H1-FG-404842 just like the new H1 Ghost, can be read in the dark; HYT developed a unique use of superluminova to illuminate the capillary from underneath along its entire translucent stretch, beyond the black fluid. This new black fluid is produced in-house by Preciflex —HYT’s sister company which is responsible for developing their fluids.
The dial just like on the previous iterations of HYT H1s, features running seconds indicator at 9 and a 65-hour power reserve indicator between 2 and 3 o'clock. The dial is definitely very nicely finished and the black and white accents make the whole watch pop very nicely.
The case on the HYT H1 Full Gold is massive but not as heavy as we thought. Weighing almost 20 grams less than our Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubber Clad also in 18K rose gold, we were surprised by the weight difference considering the massive size of the HYT H1.
The case on the HYT H1 Full Gold is mainly satin brushed finished with just a few highly polished areas here and there. The HYT H1 Full Gold features a black screw-down rubber clad crown and a solid gold rider at 6 o'clock.
The beating heart powering the new HYT H1 Full Gold is the exclusive manual wound HYT calibre 101 with 35 jewels that provides a power reserve of 65 hours when fully wound and which is fully visible via the display case back. The bridges on the movement are hand-bevelled and adorned with 'Côtes de Genève', the bellows are rhodium-plated and the bridges and main plates are treated with anthracite grey NAC. The sapphire crystal on the case back is slightly smoked and the watch is water resistant to a 100 meters.
On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size and with striking wrist presence due to its 18K full gold case. Opposed to what many would think based on its size, this is a watch that looks quite sexy on a lady's wrist. The watch is fitted with a black alligator strap with titanium deployant buckle —quite odd that HYT wouldn't choose an 18K rose gold buckle matching the case.
The HYT H1 Full Gold is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces.
Sticker Price CHF79,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $82,000 USD. For more info on HYT click here.