n full-moon nights, as the silver disk rises majestically into the dark sky, they’re easy to spot with the naked eye: the lunar seas. That is what early astronomers imagined them to be and the name caught on for these vast liquid expanses covering almost a third of the Moon’s visible surface. Science may have revealed them to be rocky plains of basalt, but our imagination knows better.
13 of them can be observed from the Earth’s surface, the most famous being the Sea of Tranquility, where the first astronauts landed in July 1969. Less well known is the fact that this figure also includes one ocean: lying at the western edge of the near side of the Moon, the Ocean of Storms owes its name to the superstition that the last quarter of the Moon is associated with rough weather. It is also by far the largest “sea” on Earth’s satellite.
Today, Neuchâtel-based HYT proudly unveils a singular take on the lunar seas with two new models, evocatively named “Ghost” and “Desert”.
Nestled at the heart of a carbon fiber and titanium case for the former, or in one made from black DLC-treated titanium for the latter, the moon phase appears under a new guise in the Moon Runner collection. The approach is singular: HYT revisits the classic complication through a contemporary lens, catapulting it through time with its tech aesthetic and capturing the orb’s poetry in miniature hand-painting. Note how the delicate little crater on the surface catches the eye and arouses curiosity.
Around the Moon Runner’s moon, two titanium indicator discs for the days and months, respectively. The minute hand is subtly integrated beneath these two discs, so that only the triangular tip is visible. It glows in white Super-LumiNova®, making the watch eminently legible. Both the month and day indicator discs are engraved and enhanced with Super-LumiNova® as well. The retrograde hours, rendered with HYT’s hallmark meca-fluidic mechanism, pass under a domed crystal glass with an anti-reflective coating.
To create the delicate miniature painting, HYT calls on a master craftsman from MD’Art, an expert in the field. The idea is to give free rein to the artist’s hand, inspiration and talent. In a process that will require a day’s work, he will paint a half-sphere measuring 11.90 mm in diameter, in the dark, with the piece lit from every angle by UV lamps. This way, every detail, once night has fallen, will faithfully represent what the human eye would observe during a solar eclipse or in twilight. These two moon facets, in fact, reveal two different patinas.
To ensure these two lunar faces have the necessary luminescence, each crater has a base of white paint which is then coated with Super-LumiNova®. Then, for Moon Runner Desert, the artist, still working in the dark under UV light, will apply beige pigments to achieve the granular structure of a sandblasted effect hinting at the myriad details of the lunar seas – a step requiring painstaking patience, dexterity and precision. On Moon Runner Ghost, the aesthetic is sleeker, more minimalist, reflecting a different face and perspective in the twilight.
The striking contrasts revealed by each of the two special editions also come through in the bi-material strap: rubber and black Alcantara for the “Ghost” version; on the Desert version, sandblasted beige details accentuate the watch’s minimalist vibe.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
HYT Moon Runner Grey Ghost
REFERENCE: H02981-A
LIMITED EDITION OF: 15 PIECES
SUGGESTED PRICE: CHF 125,000 (excl. tax)
BACK ENGRAVES: HS 19
CASE
Titanium & Carbon
Crown in coated black & silver titanium
Domed sapphire crystal (box) with anti-reflective coating
Silver side grids with black background
FUNCTIONS
Fluidic retrograde hours
Central minutes hand
3D moon phase
Day of the month
Month
STRAP
Black rubber strap
Black microfibre embossed decoration
White stitching
CLASP
Pin buckle
Ttitanium
Polished & sand-blasted finishies
MOVEMENT
Ref. : 601-MO (516 pcs)
Type : Mechanical
Frequency : 28,800 vib/h (4 Hz)
Jewels : 42
Winding : Manual
Power reserve : 72 h
Finishing : Finely sand-blasted and satin-finished
Coating : Black coating
HANDS
Silver minutes hand, white SLN block
Silver satin day of month disk, black SLN
Silver satin month disk, black SLN
Silver Moon white SLN & Micropainting
All SLN in Super-Luminova®
DIMENSIONS
Width: 48,00 mm
Length: 52,30 mm
Thickness: 17,20 mm
HYT Moon Runner Desert
REFERENCE: H02984-A
LIMITED EDITION OF: 15 PIECES
SUGGESTED PRICE: CHF 125,000 (excl. tax)
BACK ENGRAVES: HS 12
CASE
Black coated sand-blasted finished titanium & carbon
Crown in titanium black DLC
Domed sapphire crystal (box) with anti-reflective coating
Black side grids with beige/sand background
FUNCTIONS
Fluidic retrograde hours
Central minutes hand
Day of the mopn
3D moon phase
Month
STRAP
Black rubber strap
Beige/sand microfibre embossed decoration
Beige/sand stitching
DIAL
Black coated brass (58 pcs)
3D black-coated appliques beige/sand luminescent numerals and
beige/sand luminous logo (SLN blocks
Black grille with black background
Black liquid inside borosilicate capillary tube
Waterproof to 30 m
MOVEMENT
Ref. : 601-MO (516 pcs)
Type : Mechanical
Frequency : 28,800 vib/h (4 Hz)
Jewels : 42
Winding : Manual
Power reserve : 72 h
Finishing : Finely sand-blasted and satin-finished
Coating : Black coating
HANDS
Mat black minutes hand, white SLN block
Mat black day of month disk, beige/sand SLN
Mat black month disk, beige/sand SLN
Black Moon white SLN & Micropainting
All SLN in Super-Luminova®
DIMENSIONS
Width: 48,00 mm
Length: 52,30 mm
Thickness: 17,20 mm