Hysek’s first collection of precious mechanical watches is the Kalysta range designed and produced in-house. It also features a brand new complication developed by the manufacture – all of which makes Kalysta a major turning point for the manufacture. Kalysta is the fruit of a pure aesthetic vision – set jewels. Bearing in mind that women are more sensitive to creative touches than to mechanical sophistication, the manufacture has thought first and foremost in terms of shape, diamonds, brilliance and emotion.
The resulting collection, Kalysta, embodies this innovative flair – its name means the fairest (in Greek). Beneath its fine apparel, though, Kalysta is powered by an exclusive caliber that redefines refinement and preciousness. The complication designed and produced in-house, does away with traditional hands, offering instead a whole new way of reading the time.
Hysek presented a series of models in this collection earlier this year at Baselworld, including references in rose gold and titanium, all 39 mm in diameter; that can be divided into five families. This Kalysta model constitutes a family in and of itself – something of a unique specimen. Its white powder-coated dial is protected by a rose gold case, above which a graceful butterfly hovers, delicately spreading its wings over a finely-etched floral motif. Neither engraved nor painted, the butterfly is an appliqué. Hysek opted for this technique as being the only one that really gives the impression of flight.
At 12 o’clock, a delicate window displays the jumping hours. A marquise sapphire travels round the rose gold bezel. Its brilliant red denotes the passing minutes, contrasting nicely with the snow-set bezel, along which it runs – thus providing perfect readability.
The snow setting – Hysek’s main inspiration for the collection – is composed of diamonds of different sizes, resembling stars scattered across the Kalysta’s convex bezel. This apparently random setting is infinitely more complex than regularly-spaced diamonds of equal size, calling for outstanding care when selecting stones – and taking much longer than traditional jewel-setting methods.
The composition is regulated at 3 o’clock by a rose gold crown, specially designed for Kalysta: a gold circle with a diamond moon. A moon-stone cabochon adds the perfect finishing touch to this dreamlike metaphor. The watch comes on a white satin strap.
