WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH＆BASEL
March 30, 2015
hD3 NEXTGEN | Not a Smartphone, but a 'Smartwatch'?! A Charismatic Designer's Virtual 'Complicated Watch'
hD3 NEXTGEN | The "Smartwatch" Instead of a Smartphone?
A "Smartwatch" Instead of a Smartphone!?
A Virtual "Complicated Watch" Created by a Charismatic Designer
Should it be called a wristwatch, or a type of wrist computer? This year at Baselworld, "SLYDE," created by Jörg Hysek, one of the charismatic figures in watch design, secretly became a topic of conversation and garnered attention among journalists. What do you think it is?
Reporting and Writing by Yasuhito Shibuya
A Leap from Mechanical to Digital!
If you saw the brand name hD3 (H-D-3) and thought, "Huh? Is something wrong? Is it a mistake?" you must be quite a watch aficionado. That's right, hD3, or rather "HD3," which specializes in models with original mechanical complications, is a watch brand founded in 2004 by three designers, including the master Jörg Hysek. In fact, this model is a groundbreaking digital complication wristwatch that has emerged this year from the new brand "hD3 NEXGEN (H-D-3 Nextgen)" which inherits the brand's legacy.
At first glance, the watch functions and related display screens might seem to be composed of mechanical parts like gears, cams, and cylinders within the case, as in traditional watches. However, these gears and cams are all virtual. They are merely electronic images displayed on an LCD screen. The full-surface LCD display, which appears like a crystal, has a display resolution comparable to an iPhone 4 despite its small screen size, making the display exceptionally beautiful and giving this impression.
Functionality and Design Beyond the Concept of Digital Watches
The built-in watch functions include watch display,Chronographmoon phase, and countdown timer, totaling six types. When worn on the wrist, the LCD display is in sleep mode, so nothing appears on the screen. However, if you touch the center of the crystal (which is actually the LCD display) with your finger, the display awakens, and the time is shown. To switch between watch functions, simply place your fingertip in the center of the display and slide (flick) it up or down.
However, the further appeal and value of this sliding function are not limited to these six watch functions. By flicking your finger left or right instead of up or down, you can switch to displaying images transferred from a computer or new applications. Like the latest mobile phones, you can enjoy adding images and software. This smartness is revolutionary. Furthermore, the ergonomic and smooth form, consistent throughout the case, display, and strap, is also superb. It should perhaps be called a new digital gadget worn on the wrist, rather than a wristwatch.
We highly recommend that watch enthusiasts, as well as those who love digital gadgets, experience this timepiece firsthand at some point.
SLYDE
A New Era of Smart Digital Complication Watch
This is a groundbreaking digital complication watch developed by Jörg Hysek, one of the leading watch designers of our time, also known for his product designs for TAG Heuer and Seiko. By connecting to a computer via a dedicated cradle, it can be charged and data such as images and software can be transferred. While it currently has six watch functions, it is possible to add new watch functions through downloadable software and to incorporate functions other than timekeeping. Furthermore, in addition to the titanium material shown in the photo, there are also gold models in the lineup, making it unique in challenging the notion that "digital watches = low price."
Quartz movement, titanium case measuring 57.4 x 47.71mm, rubber strap, 3 ATM water resistance, with an LED battery indicator on the case side. Estimated price: 735,000 yen. Scheduled release: September.
Noble Styling
Tel. 03-5775-1866
http://www.hd3complication.com/en/#home (English)