Hautlence Sphere Series 3

Since its founding in 2004, Hautlence has consistently carved its own path in the landscape of independent watchmaking, approaching the display of time not as a static measurement but as a dynamic performance. The brand’s name, an anagram of Neuchâtel, serves as a permanent tribute to the Swiss cradle of horology, yet its creations are anything but traditional. With the introduction of the Sphere Series 3, Hautlence once again challenges convention, presenting a timepiece where mechanics are elevated into a captivating form of kinetic art, a mechanical sculpture for the wrist that redefines the very act of reading the hour.

The brand's journey has been one of praised disruption, earning accolades from collectors who appreciate its fresh dynamism. A new chapter began in 2022, steering the company toward a more contemporary and athletic aesthetic while retaining the core DNA that made it unique. With the strategic support of MELB Holding, an independent family watchmaking group, Hautlence has fortified its position, refining its exclusive distribution and aligning its identity to better communicate its forward-thinking vision. This evolution provides the resources to build upon its legacy as a leading independent voice in haute horlogerie.



At the heart of Hautlence’s philosophy is a desire to push beyond the established codes of watchmaking. It draws inspiration from diverse fields like design, architecture, and movement, seeking to create entirely new perspectives on the dimensions of space and time. This is not innovation for its own sake, but a thoughtful exploration of how mechanical solutions can produce a functional and beautiful object. The result is a portfolio of timepieces with unique contours and depths, including ten in-house calibres developed within its workshops, a testament to its creative and technical prowess.

The Sphere Series 3 is a powerful expression of this ethos, representing a significant reimagining of one of the brand's most hypnotic creations. It retains the magical complication of its predecessor but houses it within a completely new silhouette that is more compact, assertive, and arguably more intimate. The rectangular case has been refined with reduced proportions, necessitating a full rework of the movement to fit the smaller format without sacrificing any of its mechanical drama. It is a piece that balances architectural rigor with a profound sense of artistic freedom.

Central to this new interpretation is the Grade 5 titanium case, which now measures a more contained 37.0 mm by 45.0 mm. Its lines are clean and decisive, appearing as if carved from a single block of raw material. The surfaces feature a sophisticated interplay of satin finishes and finely polished angles, creating a visual texture that highlights its complex geometry. The watch projects an undeniable futuristic presence, yet its reduced footprint lends it a contemporary wearability that makes a strong statement without overwhelming the wrist.

Despite its complex shape and intricate mechanics, the case is engineered for remarkable comfort. The design cleverly integrates the strap directly into the case structure, eliminating traditional lugs. This allows the watch to sit flush and appear smaller than its dimensions might suggest, conforming naturally to the curve of the wrist. The total thickness is 17.4 mm including the crystal, but the main case body measures a slimmer 11.5 mm, further enhancing its ergonomic profile for daily wear.



A notable technical achievement for the Sphere Series 3 is its water resistance of 10 ATM, equivalent to 100 meters. Sealing a rectangular case effectively against water ingress is significantly more challenging than sealing a round one due to the uneven pressure distribution on the gaskets. Achieving this level of water resistance in a watch with such a complex, open-worked structure and a prominent sapphire crystal is a testament to the brand's commitment to robust engineering and pragmatic innovation.

The dial is where the true performance unfolds. It is a completely skeletonized stage, stripping away all non-essential material to reveal the intricate gearing and mechanisms that bring the watch to life. The base is a rhodium-plated brass plate with a frosted finishing, providing a subtle, non-reflective background that allows the key components to stand out. An intermediate sapphire dial is suspended above it, holding the minute numerals and creating a stunning sense of depth and transparency.

Dominating the left side of this mechanical theatre is the eponymous sphere. This polished Grade 5 titanium orb, coated in a striking violet hue, is responsible for displaying the jumping hours. The hour numerals are engraved and filled with white Super-LumiNova, ensuring legibility in all conditions. Every sixty minutes, this sphere executes a mesmerizing ballet, rotating on three separate axes to reveal the next hour. The movement is not a simple turn but a complex, gyroscopic dance that appears almost random in its motion.

The secret to this captivating display is a differential mechanism composed of four conical gears arranged on two crossed spindles, each inclined at a 21-degree angle. This intricate system orchestrates the sphere’s jump, causing it to spin, twist, and change direction multiple times over a choreographed path of approximately 450 degrees before it locks precisely into place. The fully skeletonized dial enhances this spectacle, creating the illusion that the vibrant violet sphere is floating weightlessly within the case.



In a carefully balanced composition, the right side of the dial is dedicated to the retrograde minutes. A satin-finished titanium hand, treated with a purple PVD coating to match the sphere, traces a 180-degree arc across the suspended sapphire minute track. The minute numerals are applied using 3D Globolight, a ceramic-based luminous material that appears bright white in daylight and glows with an electric blue hue in the dark.

The retrograde mechanism itself is left exposed, allowing the owner to observe the gears, freewheel, and snail cam that control the minute hand’s journey. For fifty-nine minutes, the hand glides smoothly along its path, but as the hour changes, it performs a swift and precise snap-back to the zero position. This instantaneous return is perfectly synchronized with the jump of the hour sphere, creating a moment of unified mechanical drama that elegantly punctuates the passage of each hour.

Underpinning this entire performance is the hand-wound Calibre A82, a movement designed and assembled in the brand’s workshops. It has been specially adapted to fit within the more compact dimensions of the Sphere Series 3, a feat of micro-engineering that preserves all the ingenuity and magic of the original concept. The movement operates at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) and provides a generous power reserve of at least 72 hours.

A key component showcasing Hautlence's technical independence is its hairspring, which is produced by its sister company, Precision Engineering AG. The ability to craft this critical component in-house is a capability shared by only a handful of watchmakers worldwide and speaks volumes about the group's horological mastery. Further ensuring the highest quality, the assembly of the Calibre A82 is entrusted to the skilled hands of watchmakers at H. Moser & Cie., another highly respected brand within the same family holding.



The movement’s architecture is as thoughtful as its time-telling complications. The barrel and ratchet are fully skeletonized, revealing the tension of the mainspring and offering an intuitive way to gauge the remaining 72-hour power reserve. Hautlence has also incorporated a built-in security mechanism that protects the intricate retrograde and jumping hour systems from accidental damage if the time is set backward, a pragmatic feature that reflects the brand’s commitment to creating watches that are as robust as they are revolutionary.

The watch is secured to the wrist by an integrated violet suede leather strap that perfectly complements the color of the hour sphere. This strap continues the architectural lines of the case, creating a seamless transition from metal to leather that enhances both comfort and visual cohesion. A color-matched violet ring on the crown provides another subtle but deliberate design element that ties the entire piece together. The strap is fitted with a Grade 5 titanium folding clasp, ensuring security and ease of use.

The front of the watch is protected by an extra-hard, single-piece sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective treatment and beveled edges that play with the light. This crystal provides a clear, unobstructed view of the mechanical depths within. The caseback is also fitted with a sapphire crystal, engraved with "HAUTLENCE," "10 ATM," and "Suisse," allowing for admiration of the A82 movement's finishing from another angle.

The innovation demonstrated in this timepiece has not gone unnoticed by the wider watch industry. The underlying mechanical principle was recognized with the prestigious Innovation Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2023, an award that serves as an official endorsement of the watch's groundbreaking design and technical execution. It validates Hautlence’s position at the forefront of avant-garde watchmaking.



The Hautlence Sphere Series 3 is a testament to a vision where time is not merely displayed, but experienced through a captivating interaction of art and engineering. Each component, from the gyroscopic hour sphere to the snapping retrograde minute hand, performs its role in a carefully orchestrated mechanical play. It is a timepiece that feels alive, where every detail vibrates between structured precision and creative expression.

With its reference number DA82-TI00, the Sphere Series 3 is offered at a sale price of CHF 69,000. True to the brand’s focus on exclusivity and masterful craftsmanship, its availability is extremely limited. Only 28 pieces will be produced for collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, ensuring that each owner possesses a rare and remarkable example of modern, independent horology that truly forges its own path.

Case: Grade 5 titanium with satin-finished surfaces and polished angles. Dimensions are 37.0 × 45.0 × 17.4 mm. Water resistance is 10 ATM (100m). Features an extra-hard sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment and a sapphire caseback.

Movement: In-House hand-wound Calibre A82. Features 160 components, 31 jewels, a 72-hour power reserve, and a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vph). Complications include spherical jumping hours and retrograde minutes.

Dial: Skeletonized rhodium-plated brass base with a frosted finishing. A polished Grade 5 titanium sphere with a violet coating displays the hours with white Super-LumiNova numerals. Retrograde minutes are displayed on a sapphire track with 3D Globolight indexes.

Strap: Integrated violet suede leather strap with a Grade 5 titanium folding clasp.

Price: CHF 69,000.00

Reference Number: DA82-TI00

Notes: Limited to 28 pieces worldwide. The watch features a spherical jumping hour mechanism that rotates on three axes via a conical-gear differential. The underlying complication won the GPHG 2023 Innovation Prize.