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“A GOOD DESIGNER SHOULD ALWAYS BE AHEAD OF HIS TIME.” J. Hysek.

FROM A DREAM TO REALITY
In 2008, Jorg Hysek and Fabrice Gonet, founders of the HD3 Swiss watch brand, fantasized about creating a timepiece overturning all the rules of watchmaking. The watch had to be a fusion between the latest technologies and the arts of watchmaking to open a new creative dimension in horology – a challenge never before taken up in the luxury-watch industry.

The fusion of these two worlds enables the unlimited creation of virtual watch movements and opens hitherto unexplored development and functional possibilities.

The Slyde concept is a revolutionary watchmaking experiment combining a high-technology product and an internet platform enabling the watch to be personalized while offering the opportunity to download new virtual movements.

Slyde puts all the technological skills involved in its design at the service of universal time. There are no telephone applications, games or other accessories among the customized modules. All that counts it the appreciation of time, whether latent or real.

After three years of a unique technological challenge the Slyde concept came spectacularly to life.

Introduced at Basel in 2011 this concept fanned the interest and curiosity of the watchmaking world and the media. Within a year, the watch went viral and is now to be found in around 100 upscale stores. Some of the globe’s most sought-after shopping addresses have joined the adventure: the first Swiss watch with a virtual engine is available in New York’s Fifth Avenue as well as in Aspen, in Paris at the Colette Concept-store and also in Saint Martin, the Bahamas, Venice, Madrid, Lisbon, Moscow, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney and Mexico, to mention just a few of the outlets.

NOVEL, PATENTED CONCEPT
For the first time, a watch adopts the basic principles of intuitive technology and sublimates them into the 21st century world of high-end watchmaking. As a real technological feat, the Slyde features a touch screen, a cutting-edge graphic engine and a navigation system of unequalled simplicity and convenience.

The revolutionary display, equipped with a touch screen, enables the user to generate an infinite variety of timepieces on his wrist. This range of multiple watches in one has been made possible by creating top-quality virtual modules. Furthermore the three-dimensional animation of the movements is governed by a micro-controller that screens between 30 and 60 images a second for a stunningly realistic real-time display.

Slyde’s patented bi-axial navigation system shows every form of time:
On the vertical axis, present time offers a variety of watch interfaces for a customized indication of the current time. By tapping or sliding a finger on the screen the wearer selects a display from the range of modules, scrolling from an animated virtual mechanism in 3D to a digital movement that can be entirely configured to personal preferences. Each movement displays seven functions: the time, the date, timezones, a calendar, the moonphase, a chronograph and a countdown timer.

On the horizontal axis, past and future time can be fully personalized by activating the time elapsed since an occasion or the countdown of time remaining until an event, that can be illustrated by inserting photos or videos.

All the technologies applied in Slyde are protected by international patents.

A TOP-LINE SWISS WATCH
Its sleek and modern styling for a classic look in smart leisure wear is typical of HD3’s futuristic outlook.

The Slyde watch was made according to the traditional standards of top-grade Swiss watchmaking and is labeled “Swiss Made”.

The sapphire crystal is both curved and touch-sensitive. The technical challenge of this innovation required intense and sustained research and development. The watch is water-resistant to 30 meters and is made with the most hardwearing luxury materials.

The Slyde comes in seven models in steel or titanium with different finishes such as a black PVD coating, gem-set or pink-gold lugs. They are available on a black leather strap with an alligator pattern or a band in black rubber.

A CONSTANTLY EVOLVING PLATFORM
The management of the watch is also virtual. On one hand, the owner can decide on the configuration, customization or content of his watch by downloading the purpose-designed Slyder app. The user thus benefits from increasing freedom of action.

On the other hand, the www.slyde-shop.com platform, scheduled for summer 2012, makes available new virtual movements developed in conjunction with renowned watchmakers. The owner can thus enhance the interfaces of his Slyde watch by adding new virtual movements — all with the seven indications: time, date, timezones, moonphase etc.)

FUTURISTIC VIRTUAL MOVEMENT IN VINTAGE STYLE
HD3 has developed a new virtual movement, introduced at Baselworld 2012. It joins the current Slyde apps and will be available in the Slyde shop from mid-year. It is inspired by the Flip Clock, common in railroad stations and airports in the late 1960s. The display consists of a number of wheels turning at different speeds that flip over sets of cards showing the numerals for the hours and minutes. In the Swiss brand’s 2012 analog version, vintage mechanisms and cards go through their routine in 3D.

The Slyde adventure has only just begun. Other models and movements will be among 2012’s new launches, widening the scope of an idea that opens a new creative dimension in watchmaking.


Original Language: English