Haldimann Horology H8 Sculptura....Watch?

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed)
Mar 12th 2010 at 12:01PM

Can you call something a watch that does not tell the time? I am not sure. Well assuming you can, this new watch is from Haldimann Horology, and it is the H8 Sculptura. In a nutshell it is a tourbillon movement with the tourbillon in the center of the dial, and well nothing else. The starkness of everything except the tourbillon is meant to emphasize and draw all of your attention to the tourbillon escapement.

As most of you know (and some don't), a tourbillon is an expensive source of visual interest. They are fun to watch, and that is just about it when it comes to practicality. Of course, they are hard to make as well. Haldimann Horology touts this as an "art piece," or rather a moving sculpture where the tourbillon is the art. Yea, that is sort of cool, but for the money this watch likely costs, you can probably get a watch with a tourbillon that you can see in operation, as well as other things, such as the time maybe? The H8 Sculptura comes in a 39 or 42mm wide case in platinum, with a sapphire crystal (front and back), and features a relatively nice case design.

While the manually wound H.Zen-H calibre movement is capable of telling the time, Haldimann Horology has "banished" these items from the dial. The idea is to see the watch and focus on the "transience of time." Execution of the idea is well-done, as is the design of the watch. Plus, I think that in theory the concept is pretty, but to actually go out and buy one? Well, (in the event I could afford one) I would be generous and give that 'opportunity' to someone else.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: H8, Haldimann Horology, HaldimannHorology, Sculptura, tourbillon, watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Jerry Mar 13th 2010 4:11PM

They should name it the Obama watch. It moves around a lot but doesn't really do anything useful.

N2 Mar 13th 2010 4:59PM

Jerry, that was hysterical. Well said.

dugandob Mar 13th 2010 6:47PM

Yea I think Bush had three of them. Because we all know he didn't know how to be a President. Heck he couldn't even eat peanuts and watch a football gamewithout choaking. Talk about someone who didn't know what time it was, that had to be Bush

Lita Mar 13th 2010 6:53PM

And if, by chance, it someday causes a nation to fight a needless war, then they should call it the George W Bush watch? Now, see what happens when you make me stoop to your level of stupidity? You are an ass--just like the ones who took every opportunity to level their ugly comments at Bush, even though the stories they were commenting on had nothing to do with politics--and I'll bet you railed against them. Just wanted to show you how foolish you look--thought people of your ilk (regardless of political view) rarely recognize themselves as the asses they are.

Dawn Mar 14th 2010 12:45AM

A watch that can't tell time is called a "bracelet" !!

ycav4424 Mar 14th 2010 4:46AM

Or maybe a congress watch. It just sets there waiting for somebody to throw money at it.

UBCool Mar 13th 2010 11:36PM

The perfect watch for Obama . . . . . useless like the man.

David S. Mar 14th 2010 5:15AM

Ubcool --- and if anyone is an expert on useless...it would be you, friend.

Sandra Mar 13th 2010 5:29PM

I have a Movado watch that "sort of" tells time--no numbers on the face. About the only way I can set it, if needed, is to wait for exactly 12:00, either noon or midnight. I think it's for people who don't really need to know what time it is.

John Mar 13th 2010 6:19PM

I had a similar watch. The selling point was "for people who just need to know approx what time it is". Plus it was a sharp looking watch

John Mar 13th 2010 6:24PM

I had a similar watch. It gave only the approx time. ....and it was a sharp looking watch

Kevin Mar 14th 2010 3:46AM

Sandra, does anyone really know what time it is? Does anyone really care? Excepting of course that it is less than 7 months til election 2010!

Carrie Mar 13th 2010 6:45PM

Just goes to show you how naive Americans have become.

leolux10 Mar 13th 2010 10:27PM

Seriously. People will try to sell you anything. This is as ass-backwards as Bush trying to sell people a dream. He failed, remember? Scrap this "pretty" piece of crap, along with the iPad.

NEXT!!!!

mrsdawn6863 Mar 14th 2010 12:24AM

A watch that doesn't tell time is called a bracelet.

Joe Papierz Jr Mar 13th 2010 7:19PM

Just more proof that you can never underesimate the intelligence of American consumers. Unfortunately. Good Lord, please bless us for we need Your help now more than ever. What possible good is a watch that only tells you approximately what time it is? I can review my activities since I woke up and look at the sky and do that. If you want something on your wrist that is pretty and unique try a bracelet. All jewelry stores have them, even flea markets.

rc Mar 13th 2010 10:49PM

if you order now, they'll throw in a set of combs with no teeth.

Cass Mar 13th 2010 7:47PM

Alright people, seriously. It's just a watch(useless piece of "art"?). We do NOT need to bring politics and religion into this. It kills me how people just drag those into totally unrelated subjects just to start a goddamn flame war. Let's just drop it, and move on as a society.

Back on subject, this does look pretty useless.I have no clue what a tourbillon is, but if it goes on your wrist and looks like a watch, yet isn't, it's a useless piece of equipment. But I'm no art critic, I guess someone would find this useful

Jennifer Mar 13th 2010 9:38PM

It is a useless watch and the present politics are useless too. Obama is useless so if you don't want to read about Obama and the present culture woven into the uselessness of a timeless watch versus a useless Obama...then don't add to the blog. Period...that is simple and not useless.