As Hautlence unveils its latest creations at Watches & Wonders, visitors to its booth at the world’s biggest watch show are in for a real surprise: the Hautlence Retrovision ‘47. In a major “what if?” moment for its 20th anniversary, Hautlence imagines what it would have created had the brand existed in the 1940s.
Since its foundation in 2004, Hautlence has always been inspired by the world around it, no matter how far away from the confines of traditional Swiss watchmaking. From landscapes and architecture to locomotives and contemporary art, Hautlence’s creativity is not bound by preconceived notions and rigid codes. One recurring theme that has become a defining feature of its creations is a rather ubiquitous object found in every household: the television.
The distinct rectangular Hautlence case with rounded edges is modeled after television sets of the past. As its content was always intended to be animated and intriguing, the television case is a perfect fit for the brand’s quirky, kinetic take on mechanical watchmaking. But what if Hautlence was established in the 1940s rather than 2004? How would it reinterpret otherwise mundane objects into singular time-telling machines? What kind of watches would it create from the inspiration surrounding it? These are the types of questions that Hautlence sought to answer in a thought-provoking exercise of creativity and independence, resulting in the Retrovision ‘47.
The historical object that ultimately served as the source of inspiration for this exceptional piece isn’t a television set at all, but it’s close enough. Made by the General Television & Radio Corp. Chicago in the 1940s, the “Model 5A5” is a radio broadcast receiver, but its design demonstrates how it set the template for the overall form of televisions of that era, with its segmenting of the screen and speaker as well as its dials and knobs. Easy enough to carry around the house but visually outstanding as a sort of sculptural piece, the General Television & Radio Corp. Chicago Model 5A5 represents the perfect harmony between form and function, with its own, distinct look.
Handcrafted in a hand-painted case with a cuboidal form featuring soft, rounded corners, the Hautlence Retrovision ‘47 mimics the look of the marbled green and white Bakelite of the historical broadcast receiver’s case. Almost a miniaturized version of the radio converted into a wristwatch, it features white attachments that serve as lugs in the form of carrying handles, with the crown at 6 o’clock to maintain the case’s symmetry. The red leather strap adds a vintage touch to this otherworldly creation that could’ve come from an alternate timeline in Hautlence’s history.
One could even say that the Retrovision ‘47 is the most traditional Hautlence ever made, as it features a proper hour and minute dial with central hands. On a small offset dial on the right side with a flat rectangular sapphire crystal, the red hands take on the three-dimensional form of the frequency selector dial, with the dial itself done in brass and 2N gold with an embossed pattern made of the Hautlence Möbius emblem. On the left side of the case is the “speaker” grill, under which the wearer can make out a 60-second flying tourbillon whirling away.
The case back is modeled after the back of the Model 5A5 radio receiver, with a specifically shaped plate engraved with the brand name and serial number. The round sapphire display back features some general information in the same vein as the radio and offers a view of the ED20-SP00 automatic caliber, which provides a power reserve of 72 hours.
Whimsical, evocative, and proudly unusual, the Retrovision ‘47 marks the 20th anniversary of Hautlence with a reimagining of what could have been and what could still be, with all the horological ingenuity that the brand stands for and its unique vision of kinetic, wearable art.
The Retrovision ‘47 has been specifically produced as part of a special installation in the Hautlence booth at Watches & Wonders 2024.
