Into Overtime with the H992 x Astro

 

Courtesy of H992

Tempus Fugit = Time Flies.  And it goes without saying that time flies when you're having fun, but all good things must, inevitably, come to an end. Such is my time with the H992 x Astro, a limited edition of 52 pieces.

Now I suspect for many readers, particularly those outside of a few key countries where H992 has established a beachhead, your first question might be: 

"Who, or what is H992?"

And that is more than a fair question as they are a small (but mighty) brand based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. You might remember La Chaux-de-Fonds from such notable figures as Le Corbusier, and internationally renowned brands like Girard-Perregaux, Corum, Tag Heuer, and even that darling of independent watch fans - ochs und junior. It is also home to the MIH, so needless to say, they speak watches there ; )

I got to spend a fair amount of time speaking with one of the H992 team at Time To Watches in Geneva this past April. I was struck by two things - the design and the pricing. H992 was kind enough to forward me the H992 x Astro to review. It is, as far as I can tell based on the H1 collection.

The packaging chosen by H992 is exactly in line with what I believe in - less waste, more fun!

The box itself is cardboard, nice squishy pillow for the watch to rest on, warranty cards and the COSC certificate.... (insert sound of record player suddenly stopping here) wait a minute! A certified chronometer for a watch that retails for 1,592 CHF?!? Yes. And the thing about H992 is that they take it even further - a SW260-1 automatic, COSC certified movement is "standard" even for the H1 collection that retails for 992 CHF! And in many ways, this makes sense as another notable resident of La Chaux-de-Fonds is the COSC itself ; )

And this is part and parcel to the ethos of H992. In their own words, the H can stand for a few things. 1 is the "H" grid of streets in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Having visited several times while working on mandate (consulting gigs) with a few of the brands there, I can attest that this is a real thing, not just folklore. As you may not know, La Chaux-de-Fonds suffered a horrific fire in 1794. When it was "rebuilt" it was laid out in a way to best enable watch making. These special grids maximized natural light, improved efficiency of transport, and most curiously (at least in my opinion) probably birthed the concept of the "live/work" spaces. If you walk through the city (particularly on the main station entry side), you will come across many beautiful homes that at one time had watch making activities going on in part of the house, with the family living in other sections.

The other part of the name is a nod to La Chaux-de-Fonds "place" in the world, specifically being 992 meters above sea level.

But back to the matter at hand - what did I think of the H992 x Astro?

Spoiler alert - I loved this watch! 

There are two key criteria I have for whether or not I like a watch. 

1. Is it nice to look at?

2. Is it comfortable to wear?

Well, the H992 x Astro scores 10/10 on the Henki Scale for both. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a bit goofy for color. Life is too short to live in black and white. With that said, I also realize that while I am a pistachio ice cream sort of guy, there are lots of folks out there who want vanilla or chocolate - and the good news is that H992 still has you covered with other options in the H1 collection if you are not as daring as me.

Beyond the colors, the dial is effectively a work of art. Specifically a work by Astro. 

And this is not your ordinary "painting on a dial". This is an elaborate, labyrinth of color and shape. You can't really pin it down as anything other that truly original.

The other fun part is that the dial will change and morph depending on the light - almost like a mood ring for the wrist ; )

Now while I am all about the looks for the most part, there are a few things that others might critique. Specifically the date window and the sub second. The date window pretty much blends into the dial, and the sub second hand while visible does not benefit from a defined scale or subdial as the other H1 pieces do. And part of me says fair enough. But then again, I think that there are certain things that you embrace when you choose to wear a watch like this. It reminds me of Jean-Claude Biver's all black Hublot Big Bang. The H992 is far more legible, but you get that same feeling - which for me is visceral (in a good way).

The H992 x Astro has proven to be supremely comfortable. The case is of stainless steel and measures 42 mm in diameter. 

Not a rough edge to be found anywhere. And at 42 mm it sits very nicely on the wrist, or at least my wrist -

The bezel has 12 marks that align perfectly with the 12 hour indices on the dial.

The strap is integrated and of rubber. It is quite comfortable, and unlike many rubber straps out there did not give the "slimy" feeling you sometimes get from a rubber strap in warm weather.

It is secured with a tactile, yet very comfortable buckle.

So we've got the look, and the feel. But what about the performance?

Under the hood is the previously mentioned Sellita SW260-1 with COSC certification. During the week the H992 x Astro kept very good time with the power reserve true to its advertising.

So overall - I am a big fan. Apart from the dial design (which I really liked), it is a very good looking, sporty watch. The case design is intriguing without being jarring, and although I had mixed feelings about the indices on the bezel, I really grew to appreciate them.

Some things that might put others off:

1. Case design - if you have a set idea of what a case should look like (read perfectly round) then this might not be for you.

2. The integrated strap - I love it, but I realize that it's not for everyone. More importantly, you will be best served reaching out to H992 for a replacement strap rather than going secondary market.

3. The date window - as I mentioned, it sort of blends into the dial itself. While I really find this intriguing, if an absolute clear view of the date is going to be a deal breaker for you, I would recommend a different version of the H1.

Would I buy it - Hell yes!

Here are the pertinents:

Price: CHF 1'592.00

Movement
SW260-1 automatic, COSC certified

Case
Black PVD steel, Steel

Case diameter
42mm

Case thickness
10.1mm

Dial
Astro

Strap
Rubber

Water resistance
10 ATM 100 meters

Glass
Sapphire, double anti-reflective treatment on the inside AR43, thickness 1.40mm

Limited edition
52

The 25 de Abril Edition

From MeisterSinger -

Courtesy of MeisterSinger

A special limited edition of 25 pieces has been made in partnership with Joalharia Ferreira Marques of Lisbon to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Lisbon's 25 de Abril bridge -

Courtesy of MeisterSinger

Per MeisterSinger -

For six decades, it has shaped Lisbon’s skyline and become one of Portugal’s most recognizable landmarks: the 25 de Abril Bridge. Opened in 1966, the two-level suspension bridge stretches more than 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) across the Tejo River, connecting the heart of Lisbon with Almada on the southern bank.

Every day, hundreds of thousands of commuters cross its six traffic lanes and lower railway deck. For visitors, its striking red silhouette is often one of the city's defining sights, whether viewed from Lisbon’s historic center, one of its many scenic overlooks, or while traveling along the riverfront.

With its elegant proportions and unmistakable color, the bridge inevitably draws comparisons to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Built during an era when monumental steel bridges stood as symbols of engineering excellence, the 25 de Abril Bridge remains a lasting expression of Portugal’s modernization during the 1960s. Originally inaugurated as the Salazar Bridge, it received its current name after the Carnation Revolution, becoming a powerful symbol of the country’s political and social transformation.

Here are the pertinents -

Model		Edition Ponte 25 de Abril (ED-P25DA)
Movement		Sellita SW200, Automatic, power reserve 38 h
Diameter		40 mm
Case		Stainless steel, six-screw case back with engraving, 5 bar waterresistance, sapphire glass
Dial		Sunburst Red
Strap		Suede leather, Grey, second strap made of Portuguese cork
Specialty		Limited to 25 pieces and available exclusively through Joalharia Ferreira Marques in Lisbon.
Origin		German watch brand; Swiss Made
Retail price*		2.690€
Availability		Available now, exclusively through Joalharia Ferreira Marques (https://www.joalhariaferreiramarques.pt/) in Lisbon.

Perhaps Just Under the Radar - the Confetti

From Ardath -

Courtesy of Ardath

Ardath's description of the Confetti pretty much sums it up:

A Swiss-made automatic watch, unconventionally small, unapologetically colorful. Seriously Fun.

The Confetti is a smaller than typical watch, measuring just 26 mm in diameter. The case is of stainless steel, and under the hood beats a Sellita self-winding (automatic) movmement.

Available in six different colors, there is clearly something for everyone ; )

The Confetti is priced at $990.00 US here in the lower 48, and available direct from Ardath.

Square by Square

From Hanhart -

Courtesy of Hanhart

This is your chance to own a very unique, extremely limited Hanhart watch. Quite literally, a chance to own one of six (6) prototypes!

Courtesy of Hanhart

In Hanhart's own words -

A radically reimagined watch

Hanhart is breaking new ground. Created in collaboration with designer Marcus Wiedemann (Studio supercreative), the Square by Square was developed as an entry for the Dubai Watch Week x Grail Watch Design Competition in the category “Most Out-of-the-Box, Innovative Yet Viable Shaped Watch Design.”

Inspired by historic shaped watches from the Hanhart archives, it combines striking geometry, a layered dial, and a fresh interpretation of classic hands. The result is a watch that is both unmistakably distinctive and perfectly suited for everyday wear.

The Square by Square is limited to just six prototypes: three with a deep blue sunburst dial and three with a mother-of-pearl dial.

Courtesy of Hanhart

Whether this concept will eventually evolve into a regular production model remains undecided. Until then, these six prototypes are the only examples of this extraordinary design.

Courtesy of Hanhart

Inspired by the Past. Designed for the Future.

The design process began with the Hanhart archives. Historic case shapes, dial layouts, and typography served as inspiration, not as blueprints.

The classic rectangular watch case was reimagined step by step. Surfaces were reshaped, contours refined, and proportions reconsidered from every angle.

The design was influenced by concepts such as curved space-time and hyperbolic paraboloids, resulting in inward and outward curved surfaces that create a faceted yet highly wearable silhouette.

The result is a truly distinctive timepiece with roots in Hanhart’s heritage while representing a bold departure from the brand’s previous designs.

Numerals and hands. Refreshingly different.

Three prototypes feature a deep blue sunburst dial, while the other three are fitted with a mother-of-pearl dial. Both finishes interact beautifully with light, constantly changing their appearance.

A stepped rehaut adds depth to the dial. Applied numerals and indexes in a steel finish create a clean, technical look.

The hands are skeletonized, faceted, and polished. At 12 o’clock, their shapes align to form an elongated diamond.

Powering the watch is the automatic Sellita SW1000-1 b movement, operating at 4 Hz, with 18 jewels and a power reserve of approximately 46 hours.

The Square by Square brings together Hanhart’s archival heritage and a bold new design language in a watch limited to only six prototypes.

If you are interested in acquiring one of these six unique pieces, please contact us at info@hanhart.com.

Price: €1,890 (including 19% German VAT)

The GMT Neon Series

From Bamford -

Courtesy of Bamford

This is the latest iteration of the Bamford GMT collection - Neon.

Available in five color ways: Aqua Blue, Electric Green, Sunset Orange, Neon Lime, and Hot Pink.

Priced at: £1,450.00

Here are the pertinents, straight from Bamford -

• TYPE: Automatic GMT watch with internal rotating bezel
• MOVEMENT: Sellita SW330-2, 25 Jewels, 28,800 Vph, 56 hour power reserve
• FUNCTION: Self winding mechanism with ball bearing, 3 O’Clock date position with quick date setting, second time zone by central hand
• CASE MATERIAL: Stainless Steel, Sapphire Crystal glass with antiglare
• CASE DIAMETER: 40 mm
• CASE THICKNESS: 11.7 mm
• CASEBACK MATERIAL: Steel
• WATER-RESISTANCE: 100m / 10 ATM
• LUG WIDTH: 20mm
• LUG TO LUG LENGTH: 46.5mm

The Chilton

From Haven -

Courtesy of Haven

This is (I believe, anyway) the latest iteration of the Chilton from the still semi-nascent Indiana brand.

The dial is a wonderful take on what I'll call functional fun. Very legible, very easy to understand - and yet that little bit of whimsey with the 12 o'clock register.

And what I totally love? in the bottom dial segment where you might normally find "made in..." it says simply:

Midwest.

And most importantly in these uncertain financial times? It is priced very, very reasonably at $1,499 US.

Here are the pertinents:

Diameter: 37.5mm
Thickness: 13.1mm
Lug-to-lug: 47mm
Lug width: 18mm
Case Material: 316L Steel case, titanium caseback
Water Resistance: 5ATM
Bracelet: Lemon top-grain premium leather bracelet
Caliber: Sellita SW510 M b
Power Reserve: rated for 50 hours, but most of ours get to 60.
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 28,800
Jewels: 23

H992 - and the H992 × Astro

It seems that there is always something new to be discovered. And such is the case of H992. 

I first clapped eyes on the H992 collections last year in Geneva. This past year I got to spend more time with Maurizio Milani, who handles sales for the brand.

And in that time, I also got to spend more time with the various collections, and well... let's just say I might be raiding my piggy-bank yet again!

           

This is the H992 × Astro, and I am beguiled.

The case is of stainless steel, and measures 42 mm in diameter. The movement is Sellita's SW260-1, but with a COSC upgrade! 

     

So why is that such a big deal? I mean, plenty of COSC watches out there. But at this price point?

CHF 1'592.00?!?

This is really something special.

Okay, but beyond the tech niceties, I gotta be honest, I am seriously crushing on the dial.

Courtesy of H992

The dial is courtesy of Astro, a world-renowned artist known for his murals and street art.

If you are as obsessed as I am, here are the pertinents:



MOVEMENT:
SW260-1 automatic, COSC certified

CASE:
Black PVD steel,  or Steel

Case diameter
42mm

Case thickness
10.1mm

DIAL:
Astro

STRAP:
Rubber

Water resistance
10 ATM 100 meters

CRYSTAL:
Sapphire, double anti-reflective treatment on the inside AR43, thickness 1.40mm

LIMITED EDITION:
52

The Ultimate Easter Egg!

Today is Easter. In truth, I am not particularly religious. But what I do remember about Easter was waking up early (even earlier than Christmas or my birthday) because once each year, on a Sunday morning...

the Hunger Games would take place in the Henderson household. And as I've come to learn, it's not really Easter until somebody cries ; )

Eggs of chocolate, peanut butter filled, jelly beans of every description, and for each of the three of us, a stuffed plush bunny. I do remember once getting a stuffed duck - although I don't think that singular event as an 8 year-old set my path to the University of Oregon, but you never know...

Courtesy of Holthinrichs

This is the LAB Series 1.S (the "S" is for small second). It is a thing of beauty. And in many ways, it is the ultimate Easter Egg to come out this year - full of unexpected awesomeness! Ten years is both a long time and can pass in a flash. 

And looking at these two latest offerings from Holthinrichs it is clear that he has firmly established his grammar in WatchTown.

Courtesy of Holthinrichs

There will be 100 pieces, and shipping will start this summer.

Here are the pertinents -

Case
Material 

Titanium grade 5 - 3D printed
Finish 

Selectively hand-finished brushing contrasted by raw & polished surfaces
Measurements 

Diameter 38.5 mm 

Thickness 7.8 mm

Thickness including crystal 9.85 mm

Lug-to-lug 46 mm

Dial
Material In-house made domed copper-oxide patina dial

Hands
Material Nickel plated base metal
Shape Signature shape hands with diamond tooled chamfers

Movement
Caliber Sellita SW360

Finishing Top grade featuring our own hand-carved and heat-treated rotor

Strap
Material Rooster feet leather cognac

Buckle 

Holthinrichs Titanium Grade 5 buckle and pin

The GMT Forged Carbon

From Bamford London -

Courtesy of Bamford London

Here are the pertinents, straight from Bamford -

The Green Fifteen

From Christopher Ward and Bark & Jack -

Apologies for not having more images ; )

When I heard about it I was very intrigued. And now that I've seen it, it is a pretty cool project, a really cool partnership, and a VERY cool watch. So for a deeper dive I encourage you to run (don't walk) to either Bark & Jack or Christopher Ward for more details and the order info. All ordering is through Christopher Ward, and per the website pre-orders run through February 12th - so move "sharpish"!

Here are the pertinents -

Technical

• SKUC60-41C3H31T0KK1-B0W
• Watch ModelC60
• Size41mm
• Dial ColourBlack
• Case MaterialTitanium
• Case ColourTitanium
• Bezel ColourBlack
• Height10.75mm
• Lug-to-Lug47.90mm
• Case Weight53g
• Weight inc. Strap105g / 77g
• Water Resistance30 ATM (300m)
• MovementSellita SW300-1 COSC
• Power Reserve50 - 56 hours
• No of Jewels25
• Complication Type3 hands
• Vibrations28,800 p/hr (4Hz)
• Timing Tolerance-4/+6 sec p/day
• LumeSLN X1 BL C1 / X2 GL C1
• Strap SKU22-TIT-24-TXT-MA2 / 22-WEB-03-TXG-DC-ST
• Strap Size22mm
• Strap MaterialBader bracelet / Rubber webbing
• Strap ColourTitanium 

Features

• Swiss made
• Up to 56 hours power reserve
• SW300-1 Chronometer movement
• Brushed and polished Light-catcher™ Titanium Grade 2 case
• Embossed screw-down crown with crown guards
• Helium release valve
• Screw down, closed caseback with B&J logo
• Uni-directional diving bezel with ceramic insert
• Light sandblasted dial with Globolight XP© ceramic applied indexes
• Hands and Dial with Globolight XP© ceramic applied hands X1 BL C1 + X2 GL C1 on minute hand and 0-15 bezel minutery
• B&J rubber strap with Titanium buckle and quick-release pins for easy changing
• Eco-friendly luxury presentation case with B&J logo and owner's handbook
• Pocket-sized, rechargeable ultraviolet torch to reveal hidden Bark & Jack logo on the dial activated only by exposure to UV light

 

Just Under The Radar - The Neografic

From White Star -

Courtesy of White Star

Proof positive that I am often late to the party, this is the Neografic from White Star. I think it's safe to say that you'd be forgiven for never having heard of White Star before. But with that being said, today's the day! 

White Star is the re-boot of a firm that started out in (I am assuming here) 1895. A family company, it survived the ups and downs that most companies did, and like many companies tossed in the towel in the 80s, selling the company. It was given the Sleeping Beauty treatment, and has been awakened by Cédric Berruex.

Courtesy of White Star

The Neografic has my favorite complication - a moonphase, and enhances it with a day / night indicator. And as I am a man of a certain age, the large and prominent date window is an added plus.

I will try to come back with more about the White Star brand and the people behind it shortly. But we will leave it for now with the Neographic. It is very well priced at 2,635 CHF, and it is definitely not something you will see on too many other wrists. At least not yet ; )

Here are the pertinents -

Case:

904L stainless steel, alternating mirror polished and finely satin finishes.

• Dimensions: Diameter: 39.5 mm. Lug to lug: 47.0 mm. Thickness: 12.20 mm. Lug width: 20.0 mm.
• Crown: 904L stainless steel.
• Bottom of box : 904L stainless steel, 6 star-shaped screw heads.
• Glass: Box-shaped sapphire crystal, treated with six layers of colorless anti-reflective coating.
• Water resistance: 10 ATM / 100 meters / 328 feet

Caliber:

Sellita 285-1 b, White Star oscillating weight.

• Complications, functions: Hour, minute and second in the center, moon phase at 5 o'clock, day/night indication at 9 o'clock and date at 2 o'clock.
• Rubies: 26
• Power reserve: 41 hours
• Frequency: 28,800 Hz
• Finishes: Geneva stripes, beaded mainplate. Bevels, crown wheel, ratchet and snailed barrel, blued screws. Nickel-plated.

Dial:

The meticulously crafted decoration reveals a subtle gradient of browns and beiges achieved through precise color matching. The concentric circles, applied with particular care and coated with Grade X Super-LumiNova®, create a remarkably fine, off-center "radar" effect. A luminescent moon phase, also made with Grade X Super-LumiNova®, and the day/night function stars are also featured. The dial is adorned with a metal White Star logo appliqué.

• Index: Individually diamond-cut, rose gold plated by electroplating and coated with grade X1 Super-LumiNova®.
• Hands: The hour, minute, and second hands are custom-made and diamond-cut, creating a mirror-like polished surface. The seconds hand, with its curved tip, follows the domed shape of the sapphire crystal. All hands are filled with X1-grade Super-LumiNova®.