Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Steel Editions of the Haute-Rive Honoris, the Strato Verde & Strato Blu
A 1,000-hour watch, now in steel, looking more contemporary and emanating plenty of coolness.
Haute-Rive is a young, independent watchmaking brand rooted in a long family tradition. Founded by Stéphane von Gunten, an engineer and watchmaker with experience at Patek Philippe and Ulysse Nardin, the brand takes its name from the historic workshop of his ancestor Irénée Aubry, established in 1888 on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. Aubry was known for long-power-reserve pocket watches, including pieces capable of running for weeks, and this exceptional autonomy is the foundation of Haute-Rive’s Honoris series, which premiered in 2023.
The Honoris is a wristwatch capable of delivering a 1,000-hour (41-day) power reserve from a single barrel, with a partially open dial and a flying tourbillon regulator. The latest Honoris Strato Verde and Strato Blu introduce a new material, steel, for the first time in the collection, which was previously only available in gold. The aesthetic now shifts towards a more contemporary look, perhaps even toned down a bit, arguably more wearable, but without compromising the mechanics.
The Honoris Strato retains the case measurements of the collection, with a 42.5mm diameter and a height of only 11.95mm (all the more impressive knowing the power the movement can deliver). The evolution lies in the use of high-grade stainless steel, selected for its purity, corrosion resistance and long-term stability. What’s important is that this is not a simplification. The steel case is finished to the same standards as previous gold editions, with polished and brushed surfaces. Polished areas reflect light sharply, while brushed sections provide contrast. A glassbox sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating tops the case. The rotating bezel used to wind the barrel is now slightly redesigned, with fewer serrations; the function selector at 2 o’clock and the small crown are retained. Water resistance is 30m.
The Honoris series treats the dial as a stage for the mechanics, particularly with the Honoris Meccanica line. With the Strato Verde and Strato Blu, this tradition continues. The Strato Verde features a dark green dial with a grained texture, inspired by the “shifting tones of Lake Neuchâtel under stormy skies.” The Strato Blu gets a rich blue dial with a brushed finish, evoking reflections of light on water.
The dial design remains inviting. At 12 o’clock, the signature “wheel of time” dominates the display. This large transmission wheel transfers energy from the barrel to the gear train. The central gear train is partially exposed (held in place by a four-pillar bridge that looks more angular than on earlier versions), a visual link between the energy source and the regulator, the flying tourbillon positioned at 6 o’clock. Next to the selector-pusher, the column wheel that allows switching functions is exposed, with a tiny opening for the function indicator. Also, the crown stem and its sliding pinion are visible, sitting within the openworked “channel”. Not a fully revealed movement; the dial opens to reveal what matters, keeping the overall appearance captivating yet not too complex.
The hour and minutes hands, another signature element, feature two distinct surfaces, one polished and one satin-brushed. The Haut-Rive name balances the stem channel, stretching from the 9 o’clock mark.
The heart (and soul, and the engine) of the Honoris Strato is the in-house calibre HR01, a manually wound movement designed around a single barrel containing a mainspring over three metres in length, offering a power reserve of approximately 1,000 hours, or 41 days, placing it among a very limited group of ultra-long autonomy mechanical watches, like the A. Lange & Söhne 31 and its 31 days of power reserve, the Hublot MP-05 and its 50 days of autonomy on 11 series-coupled barrels.
Unlike long-running movements that rely on multiple barrels, Haute-Rive focuses on optimising torque delivery from a single source. The barrel is integrated into the mainplate for compactness and stability. The system is designed to maintain a relatively consistent amplitude for a large portion of its runtime. Winding is via the rotating bezel, a smart solution given the energy required to tension such a long mainspring: a traditional crown would not suffice. Time-setting requires pressing the pusher at 2 o’clock, which engages a column-wheel-based function selector; there’s no need to pull the crown. The flying tourbillon operates at 18,000 vibrations/hour. The escapement features an angled lever paired with a variable-inertia balance. On the reverse, a power-reserve indicator provides important information on remaining autonomy, which is highly relevant for a watch capable of running for over a month.
The Strato Verde is worn on a deep green calf leather strap, while the Strato Blu is worn on a blue fabric strap, adding a slightly more contemporary texture and a different interaction with light. Both are closed with a stainless steel pin buckle.
Production is limited, with approximately 10 watches per year across the entire Honoris collection. Each watch is made to order; the Honoris Strato Verde and Strato Blu are priced at CHF 128,000 (excl. taxes). The introduction of steel is not about affordability; the new versions expand the series visual and material spectrum. For more information, please visit haute-rive-watches.ch.
