Hautlence - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Hautlence is a watchmaking house founded in 2004 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, whose name is an anagram of its birthplace. Created by Guillaume Tetu and Renaud de Retz, the brand speaks to enthusiasts of independent watchmaking seeking original time displays, with a strong visual identity and unconventional indications. Now based in the canton of Schaffhausen, it cultivates a conceptual approach that reinvents time reading while remaining anchored in horological heritage.

TV-screen case, dial staging and alternative readings

The instantly recognisable “TV-screen” case offers a wide aperture and sculpted volumes that emphasise mechanical depth; this case format shapes both the aesthetics and the on-wrist ergonomics. Layered dials deliberately reveal key organs (bridges, cams, micro-chains) to turn time display into a true mechanical performance.

From HL2.0 and Vortex to Sphere, Vagabonde and Linear

The brand made its name with “staged complications”: jumping hours, retrograde minutes, spherical hours and wandering satellites. Each family deploys a different reading grammar designed to be grasped at a glance:

• Hautlence HL2.0 — Chain-driven hour display and rotating regulating organ at each jump, delivering a theatrical, animated reading of time.
• Hautlence Vortex — Three-dimensional architecture and regularly pivoting regulator cage, with a sculptural case showcasing the movement.
• Hautlence HL Sphere / Sphere Series 1 — Multi-axis rotating sphere for the hours with retrograde minutes; a spectacular yet intuitive display.
• Hautlence Vagabonde (Series 4, etc.) — Wandering hours via satellites/domes and rotating central minutes; a sportier take within the modern “TV” case.
• Hautlence Linear (Series 1–3) — Vertical jumping-hour scale with classic minutes, sometimes paired with a tourbillon, offering a bold, graphic readout.

Across the collections, limited editions (often 28 pieces) set a deliberately measured pace, reinforcing exclusivity while enabling variations in materials, finishes and colours.

Confidential volumes, pricing and selective network

Hautlence operates at low volume, with recent annual output in the low hundreds at most; this artisanal scale positions the brand squarely for connoisseurs. Pricing depends on complexity: contemporary lines like the Hautlence Vagabonde Series 4 sit around the low-thirty-thousand CHF mark, while more technical pieces such as Hautlence Linear Series 1 or Hautlence Sphere Series 1 are significantly higher, with historic “Concepts d’Exception” models notably above.

Distribution combines direct sales and carefully selected retailers (reference stores across Europe, the Middle East and Asia). This tight network fosters close collector support (special orders, small-batch deliveries, after-sales), while ensuring focused visibility in points of sale with strong expertise.

Conclusion

Hautlence appeals to those who want an expressive, assertive reading of time, where the dial becomes a stage and the indication, movement. You identify the brand by its “TV” case, its retrograde minutes, its raised hour displays (chain, satellites, sphere) and its sculpted volumes. Whether you favour kinetic drama (HL2.0/Vortex), graphic immediacy (Linear) or poetic originality (Sphere, Vagabonde), the choice follows naturally. To refine your pick, rely on Dialicious customer reviews, useful to gauge on-wrist feel, real-world legibility and day-to-day enjoyment.

(Updated August 2025)