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Watches & Wonders 2023: Hautlence reveals the Linear Series 2 and Vagabonde x Black Badger

Hautlence marks an expansion of its Linear Series and Vagabonde collections with the Linear Series and the Vagabonde x Black Badger watches at Watches & Wonders 2023.

A prolific independent watchmaker of the 2000s, Swiss watch brand Hautlence reveals an elevated version of their Linear Series with the new Linear Series 2 in Black PVD and the new Vagabonde x Black Badger. 

1. Vagabonde x Black Badger

All about three-dimensionality and contrast, the new Vagabonde x Black Badger model forms an interplay of organic structure fused with modern sharp angles with glowing colours and black using luminescent materials. 

Inspired by a 1980s arcade game - think pinball! - the Vagabonde x Black Badger comes in a TV-shaped, satin-finished, and polished steel case with a planetary display of the wandering hours and minutes on a frosted Blackor base dial. 


Hautlence Vagabond x Black Badger

Designed by the Black Badger himself, James Thompson, the dial is topped with Orange 3D Badgerite® elements and white 3D Badgerite® minute numerals. Badgerite® is a 3D luminescent composite developed by James. 


Hautlence Vagabond x Black Badger


The base dial also includes an elevated sapphire minute dial and a central disc with rotating hours on matte black discs. Both elements offer a play on different levels and are domed with the case in extra-hard beveled sapphire crystal. The caseback reveals a sapphire crystal engraved with "HAUTLENCE", the Black Badger logo, "10 ATM WATER RESISTANT", and "Horlogerie Suisse". 


Hautlence Vagabond x Black Badger

Limited to 28 pieces, the Hautlence novelty is equipped with the matte black B30 in-house automatic movement and houses a power reserve of 72 hours. It is available on a blue rubber strap.

2. Linear Series 2 

Launched first in 2022, the linear display introduced by the brand was a revolutionary approach to time reading. Today, it is further accentuated with a linear retrograde jumping hour. 

The iconic TV-shaped deep black steel case retains the modern-yet-classic, rectangular shape of the watch. It carries an all-black PVD notched bezel, polished steel and black PVD-coated crown with a black rubber ring, and sits on a black rubber band with a steel black PVD clasp.  

Hautlence Linear Series 2

The dial, like its predecessor, is all about the layers. The main all-black PVD dial offers a partial view of the calibre D50 self-winding movement - the eight in-house manufactured movement produced by the brand. An additional, vertical satin-finished sapphire dial featuring the white minutes, sits on top of the skeletonized rhodium-plated, satin-finished brass base dial. 
The Linear Series 2 is equipped with a flying tourbillon in a blue skeletonized bridge that displays its balletic movement at the 6 o'clock position. 
Hautlence Linear Series 2 Tourbillon

The partial window into the movement also displays the minute cam component, an integral part of the minute hand that rotates once per hour and lifts the minute sector as soon as the hour elapses. 
The calibre D50 self-winding movement comprises 239 components and houses a power reserve of 72 hours. One of the modules has been designed in collaboration with Agenhor, an independent watchmaking company specializing in complex watch mechanisms. It oscillates at a frequency of 3 hertz and is reminiscent of the brand's famous Moebius movement. 

Hautlence Linear Series 2 lifestyle

The sapphire crystal at the back of the Linear Series 2 is engraved with HAUTLENCE, 10ATM WATER RESISTANT, and HORLOGERIE SUISSE. It is limited to 28 pieces. 


Images: Courtesy Hautlence

This story was updated on March 27, 2023, following the release of Hautlence's Watches and Wonders 2023 novelties
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