The Most Outrageous Watches I've Ever Seen & I Still Can't Tell What Time It Is.

HD3 Complications, Icelink, and Hautlence are three companies that make very high-end complicated timepieces that, although very pricey and admirably designed, are super difficult to tell what time it is. If you can get past that simple fact (lol) , take a look at the design, the workmanship, technology and plain audaciousness of these horological masterpieces.

Although all the companies offer various models, I'm blown away by the HD3's Idalgo XTII and the Biaxial, Icelink's 6Timezone Snow watches and Hautlence's models in particular. Frankly, I find it almost impossible to tell what time it is on any of these watches, but that doesn't stop me from staring at their faces.



HD3 complications is a company comprised of three different designers; artists Jorg Hysek, Valérie Ursenbacher and Fabrice Gonet working together to create luxury horological art. The Idalgo XTII and the Biaxial are two of their six lines of watches. The Idalgo XTII has side by side faces available in various 18k gold or titanium bezels and colored accents and can be purchased with or without diamonds on the bezel.

The HD3 Idalgo XTII:






Like I said, HD3 makes other models as well, here's their Biaxial Watch, another one from which I cannot deduce what time it is:

The HD3 Biaxial Watch:




HD3 COMPLICATION
Domaine Ganymède
Case postale 95
1184 Luins, Switzerland
T: +41 (0)21 642 03 03
F: +41 (0)21 642 03 04
E: sales@hd3complication.com
URL: www.hd3complication.com




Icelink's new "snow" collection is new to their line. Slightly different from their 6Timezone model, the Snow version has one of the six faces filled with little loose diamonds. The model is available as a small case or a large case style. Available in white, rose or yellow gold with white, black or white mother-of pearl faces, the watches are hard to ignore. See for yourself.

The 6Timezone Snow Collection:






They also come without diamonds on the bezel as well (you know, if you want to be a little subtle):






About Icelink:
In 2007 Switzerland's watchmakers welcomed into their ranks a new brand inspired by its founder Andy Sogoyan, a mover-and-shaker without complex and veritable icon of Los Angeles craziness. He is the incarnation of the era of no complex, undeniably the inventor of the gemwatch. IceLink continues to overturn conventional watchmaking.

From its Geneva headquarters, the Icelink gemwatch brand is poised to conquer new markets in Asia and the Far East due to the original design and ingenious concept of the new 6Timezone Snow collection. Thanks to its flagship 6Timezone collection, the brand already occupies key territory such as Europe, Russia, the Middle East and the United States.

Icelink
610 S. Broadway, 10th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014, USA
T: +1 213 622 7707
F: +1 213 622 2624
E: info@icelinkwatch.com
URL: www.icelinktv.com




Hautlence gets its name from an anagram for Neuchatel, the city in Switzerland. Launched in 2004 by Renaud de Retz, Guillaume Tatu, Jean Plazenet, Jean Christophe Chopin and Alain de Forges , they have three collections, the HL, the HLS and most recently having added the HLQ series in 2008. All three models are made with various high quality metals like 18k yellow, white or rose gold or titanium and, unlike the other two companies are not available with diamonds.

Once again, these models have amazing design and movement. All are limited to production of only 88. Each have hand wound mechanical movement and feature exposed elements. Easy to read? No way. But then again, that's why they are included in this post. And a special thanks to Scott Rench for introducing me to Hautlence.

Their first model, The HL, which comes in 8 combinations of colors and materials:










the HL S was introduced in 2006 (available in 9 variations):





The HL Q (available in 5 variations) was introduced in 2008:







Hautlence S.A.
6 places des Halles
2000 Neuchatel Switzerland
tel +41 32 722 65 50
fax +41 32 722 65 59
info@hautlence.com

Prices? if you have to ask, you can't afford them. None of these are available on the internet for obvious reasons. To inquire about availability or prices, please contact the manufacturers.

And would someone please tell me what time it is?

If watches are your weakness, be sure to check out the following posts:

•Cartier's 3D Santos Triple 100 and Le Cirque Animalia and More

•Kudoke: Luxury Skeletel Watches From Germany

•Marc Newsom's IKEPOD watches

•Watches Made From Actual Titanic Parts

•Watches Made With Real Moon Dust

•Some Wild Watches from Storm,London

•Watches Without Hands Or Numbers: Abacus

•SwissKubik's Hip Watchwinders

Look Ma... No Hands. Or Numbers.: The Abacus Watch Collection

You may have seen some of these watches on design sites, blogs or in designer watch stores, ever wonder how they work? I did. So, I did a little research and found more designs than I knew existed. Those available outside of the US seem to vary from those available here. For example, the Abacus 1 series on the Laco site has either the Abacus logo on the face or dashes or dots. Whereas the Abacus 1 series on the Questo site is far more minimal, and has little round divets or is completely plain.

Regardless of the style, all are available for purchase with prices ranging up to $245.00 USD.


Below is information garnered from the manufacturers site, the Erich Lacher Watch Company (you can read some history about them here) as well as from one of their biggest distributors, Questo Design.

The translation is clearly wonky, so forgive the random initial caps and screwed up prepositions.

The Designer:

Above: The designer Roy Schäfer developed the ABACUS.

The conscientious reduction of the object to its central meaning. His love to old chronometers created the desire of a new interpretation of time by means of a watch. The ABACUS watch was developed on the basis of this idea of the designer Roy Schäfer (born 1967). He strictly followed the design principle "Reduce to the max." His impulse: “This process of making thoughts turn to products, gives me much pleasure and is the motor of the development of new items.”


Above left :The ABACUS logo on the stainless steel back of the watch. Above right: Unmistakable characteristic of the ABACUS 1: The ball-shaped crown.


How Does It Work??
The time is indicated by a very small metal ball placed on the face of the watch, which moves freely, depending on the wearer's movements. Nevertheless, whenever the watch is kept in a horizontal position, the ball moves "by magic" to the position that indicates the exact hour.

This is possible due to the fact that the device incorporates a high-grade quartz movement system, which, with the help of some magnets, moves the ball across the face of the watch. The face is quite resistant, too, since it's manufactured either from mineral or sapphire glass. Moreover, the device sports a stainless steel case, a high-quality leather strap and is also water resistant to a depth of 30 meters.



The classic product: the ABACUS 1 for women and men.
Since this innovative watch appeared in the market in 1999, it can take pride in a permanently growing group of devotees. Meanwhile, there also is an ABACUS version for women, so that also women can enjoy the game of time. The ingenious packaging of the ABACUS enhances the individual character of this designer watch.

The ABACUS 1 impresses by its clear design in form and function. It has its own and special way of playing with the definition of time. With its high quality quartz movement and its typical optical features, it will become the distinctive companion on your time journey. Reliable, precise, and with an unmistakable individual standard.

The Abacus 1 Series as seen on the Laco site:





and the more minimal designs as seen on The Questo Design Site:



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABACUS 2. New design of the classical ABACUS idea.

A sophisticated design from dial to strap: The ABACUS 2 consequently continues what was begun in 1999 with the original ABACUS. A completely unique design for a watch which still is to find its match.

A Swiss quartz movement guarantees precision. The high-quality processing Made in Germany does not make any wish go unfulfilled in the game of time. The time dot is a symbol of the fixed status of the ball, whereas the free rolling of the ball on the dial describes the time space.

The Abacus 2 series :


The watch with the Abacus logo on the face is only available here.




Abacus 2, the details:

With this watch, nothing was left to chance: The ABACUS 2 convinces by its elaborate design. And, as another thing to be mentioned, by meticulous handicraft. The Swiss quality quartz movement and the ball on the dial are protected by a stainless steel case and a sapphire crystal. It is almost a matter of fact that the ABACUS is water resistant down to 20 meters.



•The strap buckle of the ABACUS 2 expresses the new ABACUS design. The belonging strap is made of soft, fine-grained calf leather

•The game with time: If the watch is held in horizontal position, a magnet makes the freely movable ball indicate the time.

•Form and quality also at the reverse side: The crown is countersunk and therefore invisible from above; the stainless steel back with the ABACUS logo is screwed on by hand.

•Elaborate even in the last corner: The ABACUS 2 is equipped with a patented strap fixation. The high-quality leather strap is fixed directly in the case.

And the Abacus TbtT series:



The TbtT Abacus series is made of stainless steel and comes with a silver, black or gold face.

The packaging below:


Where to buy?
Buy them here.
Or here.
Or the largest selection here.