In its first year of participation, the Bienne-based brand HYT wins the vote from the international jury at the 2012 GPHG with the H1 Titanium Black DLC in the Watch Innovation Prize category.

HYT’s “Hydro Mechanical Horologists” had the edge on the stunning preselected watches competing in the same category as its H1 fluidic hour concept.

“It is a huge surprise and honour, we are humbled by the choice of the jury and dedicate this prize to all our partners, watchmakers, engineers and commercial partners who made this incredible challenge possible” said Vincent Perriard, CEO of HYT.

"We are very proud of our technology as we have turned utopia into reality – by mixing mechanics and liquid within a wristwatch, we have in fact united two worlds that are supposedly diametrically opposed, and the door is open to many new developments".

The idea that led to the H1 was simple and consisted of two flexible reservoirs fixed to each end of a capillary. In one was an aqueous liquid filled with fluorescein, and in the other, a transparent viscous liquid. They are kept apart by the repulsive force of the molecules in each liquid, with a meniscus marking the boundary between the two and indicating the time.

While the mechanical movement drives the first flexible reservoir via a piston and compresses it, the second expands, and vice versa, resulting in the movement of the liquid in the capillary. As the hours go by, the fluorescent liquid advances. After a 12 hour cycle, the fluorescent liquid comes back to its original position, going backwards.

The challenge nevertheless could only be met by combining know-how and research from areas as diverse as the aerospace, technical-medical and watch industries.

The 12^th Edition of the GPHG was held in the Grand Theatre de Genève on Thursday November 15^th 2012, and celebrated watchmaking as the 12^th Art.

Created in 2001 and overseen since 2011 by a Foundation, the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix contributes to the international renown and influence of the watch industry and of its values: innovation, perpetuating expertise across generations and a constant quest for excellence.