Three years ago, HYT introduced innovative hydromechanical watches that were prized by collectors and disrupted the industry. Then a $23 million investment came flooding in
Water is a watch’s mortal enemy, but five years ago, Swiss entrepreneur Patrick Berdoz saw an astonishing concept he thought was visionary: Using liquid to indicate time. There have, of course, been water clocks for thousands of years, but no one had figured out how to create one that was wrist-size. So, along with three partners—including nuclear engineer Lucien Vouillamoz, who developed the innovative fluid system—Berdoz launched HYT, a watch brand whose raison d’être is producing hydromechanical timepieces.
The principle behind HYT’s groundbreaking watches is two immiscible liquids that flow from bellows, through a capillary powered by a mechanical movement to indicate the time on the watch dial. The complex, revolutionary system would not have been possible without the help of sister brand Preciflex, which makes liquid indication devices for the medical, design and automotive fields. Both companies were chaired by Berdoz—who has bought and sold a number of medical and real estate businesses—and HYT watches began production in 2012.
Starting with $30 million (including funds from Berdoz and private evergreen investor SVC, or Swiss Venture Club) to develop technology that did not exist in the industry before, Berdoz brought in watch veteran Vincent Perriard, who had successfully headed up TechnoMarine and Concord, to serve as CEO of HYT.
(This story appears in the 22 July, 2016 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)