Supernova Blue Moon Runner: the new blue moon
2022 marks a new stage in the understanding of lunar cycles with the launch of an original new indicator: the HYT Moon Runner watch designed by Davide Cerrato, CEO and creative director of the independent contemporary watchmaking company.
A new pivotal part of the HYT range, the Moon Runner is the bearer of a philosophy that combines the ambition of scientific understanding, the perfect accuracy of the lunar phases, and the dream of a new understanding of how lunar cycles are perceived. The representation of the moon is completely unprecedented, not only in its form, with the presence of the large celestial body, but also due to its central position at the heart of the technical measurement system presented by the timepiece. Around it are two titanium indicator disks that show the days and months, in addition to accurate time settings with a hand running on a customised graduation with a 5-minute timer, and retrograde hours shown by the fluidic system.
Designed and produced by master Swiss watchmakers, this new iconic spacecraft from the HYT fleet joins the Hastroid. With its manual winding mechanical movement and cutting-edge equipment, it combines the classic sophistication of watchmaking knowledge and advances in science with its mecafluidic technique.
Blue is clearly not the most frequent colour in lunar observation. It is in fact the rarest colour. While "blue moons" certainly exist, astronomers use this term to refer to an "additional" full moon when this rare astronomical phenomenon occurs, giving 13 full moons in a year instead of 12.
Only 27 copies of the new HYT Moon Runner, with its unique and exclusive "Supernova Blue" colour, will be produced. A rare timepiece, intrinsically named for its uniqueness. At the heart of the 48 mm diameter casing, 52.3 mm in length and 13.3 mm thick, made from grey and blue titanium, topped with an anti-reflective coating sapphire crystal glass dome, the black brass dial is painted blue, with a 3D applied index and white luminescent numerals, clearly laying bare its intention and giving a large central place to the representation of the lunar body.
Contributing to the perfect legibility of this measurement instrument, the minute hand is covered with white Super-LumiNova®, as is the disk indicating the months and the disk indicating the days of the month, both with a mat black treatment and inscriptions enhanced with white Super-LumiNova®. The titanium winding crown continues the overall style code of the piece with a black design. Shades are also present in the bi-material strap, made of black rubber and alcantara blue, decorated with embossed and enhanced blue stitching and finished with a black titanium clasp with glossy and sandblasted finishing.
The multi-layer middle case presents subtle openwork, and the sandwiched construction method of the watch overall, waterproof up to 50 metres, with a central protective titanium case for movement, allows optimal handling of the missions assigned to this new spacecraft.
How does it work? Observing the watch dial offers some insight. Two flexible reservoirs (called "bellows") are attached to each end of a capillary. The thickness of the walls of this reservoir is of an extraordinary fineness of hardly a quarter of a human hair. The active, coloured fluid is in the first reservoir; the passive fluid is in the other reservoir. It is transparent.
Engineers have tamed the physical phenomenon based on the repulsive force of the molecules in each fluid and the capillary walls to keep the fluids separate, while controlling their progress through the bellows. The fluids are immiscible, meaning that they do not mix, and are in permanent interaction, at the heart of the watch.
To ensure the whole watch works with optimal reliability, the fluidic module must be perfectly airtight. In practice, its airtightness is 10,000 times greater than that of a diver's watch. This is also the reason why the fluidic modules are permanently sealed.
A question that definitely arises for hi-tech fans is how do you offset the fluid expansion due to variations in temperature?
This is an important question about a valuable item, such as a wristwatch is - which is thus subject to body temperature - and naturally exposed to the changes and uncertainties of everyday life, both indoors and out. The key component is the thermal compensator inside one of the two bellows. Additional proof that the knowledge of this outstanding technology, as well as the exceptional unique nature of the ultra-efficient contemporary materials used, are also elements that boost the captivating and sensual allure of these watches designed to stimulate the imagination and immerse you in a dream that takes you beyond the limits of the Earth. It is now time to reach for the moon.
