After the damp squib that was Rolex’s anniversary celebration at this year’s Watches and Wonders in Geneva (maybe Rolex will bring back the Milgauss in 2027?), we started to worry that truly WIRED timepieces would be few and far between this year. Then we found the Retrovision ’64 by Hautlence.
Clearly channeling none other than Captain Kirk, the high-end Swiss brand has turned Star Trek’s iconic Communicator into a full-on luxury wristwatch—and we’re very much here for it. Fans of the ’60s sci-fi series will be delighted to recognize the characteristic cover and perforated grille, which, oh yes, flips up to reveal the watch workings underneath. However, despite the light-hearted design cues, those workings very much lean into serious horology.
The Star Trek universe is no stranger to watch collaborations, but this is a whole new level. Inside the retro-futuristic case beats an in-house caliber equipped with a linear jumping hour mechanism developed in collaboration with Geneva-based artisan watchmaker Agenhor, which worked with Hautlence in 2022.
Under the metal grille, the Retrovision ’64’s hour display is arranged horizontally, apparently referencing some space transmission indicator, and it’s on this linear display that the hours jump immediately to the next number once the minutes displayed on the central circular dial hit the full 60 mark.
The sapphire crystal central dial also gives a window into the Retrovision ’64’s serious timekeeping abilities, as a flying minute tourbillon with a double hairspring is on show. This is a sophisticated, premium mechanical watch movement designed to achieve maximum precision and a flash of visual allure. The “flying” tourbillon (which rotates every minute to negate gravity’s effects on the delicate movement) is combined with a pair of matching, opposing hairsprings that stabilize the balance wheel’s movement, further enhancing accuracy and stability.
Photograph: Courtesy of Hautlence
Photograph: Courtesy of Hautlence