HF.10 in Hong Kong
Time is of the essence, especially at Horology Forum in Hong Kong. Register now to stay in the loop as we unveil thrilling information about the 10th edition: 22-24 October, 2024.
Opt in for HF 2024 Opt in for HF 2024The first thing that strikes you about the Haute-Rive Honoris I is its lengthy 1,000-hour power reserve, which might be reminiscent of an earlier period in modern watchmaking when brands competed fiercely for the longest power reserve.
Le Temps Long.
However, that is the least of what makes the watch unusual. At a quick glance, the Honoris I looks highly traditional, featuring a fluted bezel and a grand feu enamel dial with a classical linear dial layout that ends with the flying tourbillon positioned at six o'clock — only that turning the bezel winds the mainspring, and the wheel at 12 o'clock is not the mainspring barrel but the great wheel, positioned just above a planetary differential. The presence of this differential is necessary because, like the famed Ulysse Nardin Freak, the mainspring barrel in the Honoris I occupies the entire caseback and requires power to be transmitted to the gear train while enabling the mainspring to be wound via the bezel. The genius behind this watch is Stéphane von Gunten.
Stéphane von Gunten was last known as the director of Research and Innovation at Ulysse Nardin, leaving behind a legacy defined by some 30 patents.
Gallery
The design of his inaugural timepiece begins with the form and aspect of a polished gold case, a bezel with its fluting of 60 concave facets. It houses exceptional attributes, a flying tourbillon, a 1000-hour power reserve, a function selector, and a disc at the back to indicate the power reserve.