Hautlence, well known for it’s TV shaped HL models, with ‘jumping hour/retro hand’ time reading, announced and presented at Basel World a new and much more affordable timepiece with analogue reading and….dual time zone.

While the entire collection of Hautlence, used to start at a serious price level, the new Destination model, as they’re called, start from 20.000.- Swiss Franc, for the Destination 02 with opaline silver-toned dial, intermediate sapphire dial, grade 5 titanium case, to 30.000.- Swiss Franc for the Destination 01 with opaline black dial with “Clous de Paris”, hobnail motif, sapphire intermediate dial, steel case with black DLC coating and 18-carat 5N red gold plating.

Now you may wonder how this high end brand could produce a timepiece, that’s much more affordable and what the effect was to the overal looks and finish of the watch.

Hautlance always used InHouse calibers for all their models actually, but the brand now decided, to equippe their new Destination line, with a modificated automatic Soprod caliber A10, to come to a lower price level. The A10 offers hours and minutes, 12-hour dragging dual time-zone display and a 24-hour day/night indicator, so an interesting caliber to modify.
Soprod is a well known brand and this automatic caliber is used by many watch companies.

All three models have a case, that resembles the case of the original HL series, pictured underneath as the last picture. The dimensions are identical, but due to the automatic movement, the case of the Destination, is slightly higher than the original HL series, but it’s about the same style and more important, the same excellent finish, as the HL series.
The Destination cases are made out of titanium, measuring 43.5 mm wide X 37 mm and 13 mm in height.
Different and very nicely done is the back of the case, since it’s closed and really cool looking with the engravings and a small round window to view the balance wheel.

The new Hautlence Destination is also dual time watch, with a very clear and prominent second time zone display at six o’clock. The Day and Night indicator is just above and indicates in colour, while the Grande date can’t be missed at 12 o’clock.

– Closed back of the Destination –

Specifications Destination 01, 02 and 03:

Caliber Soprod 9351/A10-2 / Automatic / Power reserve: 42 hours;
Regulation organ: 28,800 vibrations/hour
Number of jewels: 25;
Finishing: circular Côtes de Genève
Case: titanium 37 x 43.5 x 13 mm.
Glass: sapphire crystal, multi-layer anti-reflective treatment;
Back: fine-brushed grade 5 titanium. 6 screws, engraved with the inscriptions
Sapphire intermediate dial with applied hours, indexes and logo,
Flanges, bridges, hour numerals, indexes, logo and screws;
Minute and hour hands: white SuperLumiNova;
Dual-time indication: transferred sapphire disc;
Day/night indicator: white and black SuperLumiNova

– HL series –

I find and am sure that the Destination is a very wearable watch for many, due to it’s very light and comfortable titanium case and it’s analogue reading, that will appear to a larger public. Titanium is a material that I personally like very much for watch cases, especially when the model is a bit larger and I hope that Hautlence, one day, will also offer also a brushed finished titanium case, next to their highly polished titanium cases.

All three Destination models will be available from the end of September.
Well done Hautlence!