HTD: The Italian Microbrand Built for Adventure

By Montredo in Lifestyle
December 22, 2021
HTD: The Italian Microbrand Built for Adventure

Established in 2018 by Italian designers Federico Del Guerra and Federico Zulian, HTD was founded with one goal in mind: to make exciting horological tools. That’s right, tools – because beyond telling time, each and every piece they produced had to serve a purpose, be well-engineered, and set your pulse running.

Given that HTDs first collection – which consisted of three ST19 based chronographs – and the subsequent short run limited editions are totally sold out, it’s fair to say that they have met that goal. And reading that sentence, you’re probably wondering why we would tease you with talk of watches that you can’t buy. Well, consider this background. Because HTD has new tools coming. But first, a little lesson in recent HTD history.

The First Collection: Hesagraph

Launched in 2020, Hesagraph was the result of two years of research, design and development. During which Federico and Federico met up with master watchmaker Renzo – the man who was responsible for inspecting Zenith movements (including the El Primero) in Florence during the 60s, 70s and 80s. And his friend Pietro – a master mechanic with Italian racing heritage running through his veins. And decided to develop a motorsport-inspired chronograph, powered by a mechanical, hand-wound movement, assembled in Florence.

After much research, the HTD crew decided that the Seagull ST19 was their movement of choice. Offering a perfect balance of technical interest, reliability, value, and the opportunity for some fine-tuning, and set to work creating a series of three pieces for their Motorsport inspired Hesagraph collection.

Hesagraph PureSpeed

  • Dial: Black dial with white printed details
  • Hands: Steel/lume filled hour & minute, steel/painted second, steel sub dial
  • Crystal: UltraDome Hesalite
  • Calibre: Seagull ST19
  • Case: 316L Stainless Steel
  • Dimensions: 39x48x13mm
  • Lug Width: 20mm
  • Water Resistance: 5 atm
  • Strap: Italian Handcrafted Leather with Butterfly Deployant / BH9 bracelet with solid links

Hesagraph Cannoli

  • Dial: Cream/Black panda dial
  • Hands: Steel/lume filled hour & minute, steel/painted second, steel sub dial

Hesagraph X-RA

  • Dial: White dial with blue tachy ring, and red/black 30 minute counter
  • Hands: Orange/lume filled hour & minute, orange second, white/orange sub dial

The Limited Editions: Jungle Boy and Safarigraph

Having seen huge sell out success with the core Hesagraph collection, the team created a pair of limited edition models, using Hesagraph as their base. Both with the rock solid Seagull ST19 inside, both utilising the case of the Hesagraph, and both seeing the addition of a rotating 120 click bezel. Now whilst they share some familiar traits, let’s be clear – these are a pair of truly unique pieces.

Jungle Boy

Jungle Boy tells tales of espionage, adventures under tropical canopies, covert underwater missions, and death-defying races across the desert. A horological tribute to the greatest action movies of all time.

  • Dial: Black with yellow/white chapter ring and blue/orange 10 minute engine warm indicator
  • Hands: Steel/lume filled hour & minute, steel/painted second, steel sub dial
  • Crystal: UltraDome Hesalite
  • Calibre: Seagull ST19
  • Case: 316L Stainless Steel
  • Dimensions: 39x48x13mm
  • Lug Width: 20mm
  • Water Resistance: 5 atm
  • Strap: Italian Handcrafted Leather with Butterfly Deployant

Safarigraph

Safarigraph was designed for the desert dunes. A special collaboration with Matteo Fratini of The Watch Strategist that was produced in an ultra-limited run of 50 pieces. Inspired by adventures on the savannah. Big game, big skies, and clear air. Coated with a generous portion of vintage magic.

  • Dial: Black with yellow/white chapter ring and blue/orange 10 minute engine warm indicator
  • Hands: Steel/lume filled hour & minute, steel/painted second, steel sub dial
  • Crystal: UltraDome Hesalite [ultrahigh-reinforced]
  • Calibre: Seagull ST19
  • Case: 316L Stainless Steel
  • Dimensions: 39x48x13mm
  • Lug Width: 20mm
  • Water Resistance: 5 atm
  • Strap: BH9 Bracelet with solid links

The New Collection: Aquatíc

Having conquered racetracks, deserts, and jungles with their chronographs, for 2022 HTD are taking to the seas, with a new collection of ruggedly handsome Aquatic skin divers – The Pallettoni, and the Space Boy.

Powered by the Miyota 9039 automatic movement, and cased in 316L stainless steel, these retro-inspired divers are equally at home cruising Lake Como on an AquaRiva, spearfishing in the Bahamas, or enjoying a game of Baccarat at the tables of Monte-Carlo.

Inspiration for this watch came after working on the Safarigraph and minutely studying all sorts of vintage hesalite crystals. One of these was used as crystal for those skin-divers heading towards the sea depths beyond fear and sorrow where a boy can find himself and rise a man: Resistant to the highest pressure, strong and effortless, but clear as a midnight sky in the Sahara. We got the message from this crystal, now we had a mission to make it come true.

Aquatíc Pallettoni

  • Dial: Black with printed minute track and applied Swiss Super Luminova BGW9 hour markers
  • Hands: Steel/lume filled hour & minute and Sweep Second
  • Crystal: Sapphire with a U-Box Curve “Top Hat”
  • Calibre: Miyota 9039 Premium Grade
  • Case: 316L Stainless Steel
  • Bezel: 120 click with Aluminium insert
  • Crown: Screwdown
  • Dimensions: 39x47x11.5mm
  • Lug Width: 20mm
  • Water Resistance: 200meters
  • Strap: BH3 bracelet with solid links, end links and clasp, the heir of the BH9

Aquatíc Space Boy

  • Dial: Black with printed extended minute track and applied Swiss Super Luminova BGW9 hour markers, with hollowed numerals at 3, 6, and 9
  • Hands: Steel/lume filled hour & minute and Sweep Second
  • Crystal: Sapphire with a U-Box Curve “Top Hat”
  • Calibre: Miyota 9039 Premium Grade
  • Case: 316L Stainless Steel
  • Bezel: 120 click with Aluminium insert
  • Crown: Screwdown
  • Dimensions: 39x47x11.5mm
  • Lug Width: 20mm
  • Water Resistance: 200meters
  • Strap: BH3 bracelet with solid links, end links and clas, the heir of the BH9

The HTD Aquatic Palletoni and Space Boy are available to pre-order now (up until 4th January 2022), with the first watches shipping in Spring 2022. Head to the Horological Tools Department to learn more.


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