Introducing the HYT H4 Gotham – Specs and Price

This year, the ultra-modern and innovative watch brand HYT has expanded the collection with the H3 (recently launched during Baselworld 2015), and now HYT come a with a fourth line, which starts with the HYT H4 Gotham. HYT’s new timepiece is a perfect blend of ingredients that were already available and are now merged into this black and red futuristic timepiece. Let’s have a closer look at the sporty H4 Gotham.

HYT’s first was introduced only 3 years ago, in 2012, and was called the H1. It was the first timepiece ever (!!) to use fluids for indicating the hours, while the minutes are indicated by a classical minute hand on an off-center dial. The tube that contains the hour-indicating fluids surrounds the off-center minute dial and the main mechanics responsible for the movement of the fluids. These ingredients, the essentials of the brand, are of course also present in the new H4. And there are more design cues that we’ve seen before, however now they come together in a novel way.

As said, there are several design cues and elements that HYT has shown us in earlier models. First there’s the tube with red fluids, which was first introduced in the HYT H1 Red2 that we reviewed for you here. In this review we also explained everything about the inner workings of the H1 ‘engine’ that drives the fluids in a steady pace through the tube, to indicate the hours. If you like good photos of beautiful watches (like the H1 Red2), there’s another perfectly good reason to check out that review.

Secondly, the combination of red fluid and a black DLC coated case, was first introduced with the H1 Dracula DLC Edition. The matte black and red tube make a strong impact and only the bellows that hold (and pump) the fluid, are rhodium-plated. On the HYT H4 Gotham the main plate and other visible movement parts are not black coated, but these are finished in a sandblasted finish.

Thirdly, and this is probably the biggest change compared to the H1 Dracula DLC Edition, the H4 shape is the same as the case of the HYT Skull! This case is slightly bigger and measures 51 mm in diameter instead of 48.8 mm. Not a big difference, although it does break the 50 mm boundary, which certainly ‘sounds’ very big. On the wrist however it’s quite OK. Yes, for sure, it is a big watch, however it wears pretty much similar to a 47 mm Panerai, and in my experience actually feels more comfortable. The case has the exact same thickness as the H1 and H2, which is 17.9 mm.

We could even say, this is a HYT Skull with a normal round tube for the fluid, and the H1 ‘engine’. 

So far for the familiar ingredients. There are also three new features! What is new, is the case material. The H4 Gotham the first piece by HYT to have a case made entirely from super-rigid 3DTPTM carbon. This material is used in aeronautics, sailing, and motoring industries because of the superb rigidity-to-mass ratio. It comprises carbon threads which are woven to a maximum diameter of 7 microns and with a thickness layer of 0.15 mm.

Another novel feature for HYT is that the time is displayed on the bezel, rather than on the flange. And thirdly, this is the first time that HYT has equipped its creation with an all-new technical strap, combining rubber and NomexTM technical fibre, a high-performance synthetic fibre that is used for racing drivers’ suits and helmets (among others.)

The new HYT H4 Gotham looks sporty and even more technical that most of its siblings. Even more of its technicalities are visible, which came as a direct request from retailers and collectors. Most components on the upper part are open-worked, and a sapphire disk has the indices for the minute sub dial, the power reserve indicator and the running seconds ‘turbine’. Because of these aesthetic changes H4’s face looks more open, more technical and sportier. The new NYT H4 Gotham comes at a price of CHF 77.000 Swiss Francs / € 77.000 Euro / $ 79.000 USD and is a limited edition of 50 pieces.

Specifications HYT H4 Gotham

• Case: 3DTPTM carbon, 51 mm in diameter, 17.9 mm thick, rubber sheathed screw-down DLC titanium crown, convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside, screw-down sapphire case-back, water resistant to 50 metres.
• Movement: skeleton mechanical hand-wound movement, HYT exclusive calibre, 28,800 vph, 4 Hz, 35 jewels, bridges are hand-bevelled and adorned with Côtes de Genève, rhodium-plated bellows, 65-hour power reserve
• Strap: black rubber base with integrated NomexTM fabric centre, and black DLC titanium folding buckle

More info at www.hytwatches.com