THE “Hydromechanical Horologists” at HYT have followed up the SIHH release of the Blue, Green and Liquid Editions of their updated H1.0 watches with a Black Fluid model. While the latest piece is merely a new rendition of the earlier H1.0s, it helps boost the collection’s fresher vibe and newfound ease on the wrist. All look awesome.

Defining the H1.0 is a thick case made from anthracite PVD-coated steel. It measures 48.8 millimeters in diameter. Sitting on top of the case is a tall domed crystal. Put together, the pieces add up to a height of 20.08 millimeters. Imposing does not start to describe this watch.

There’s method to the madness though. The H1.0’s dial has a multi-tiered architecture composed of a large subdial for the minute indication, a small second register that looks like a turbine, a power reserve meter and a pair of large pistons (yes, pistons). The pistons, powered by a conventional mechanical movement, pump liquids through a glass tube running around the periphery of the dial. These are a lot of components, explaining the H1.0’s wrist real estate.

The liquids — one black, the other transparent — flow over a green SuperLuminova-coated disc. These dictate how little or how much of the disc beneath the glass tube can peek through. The resulting luminescent display, depending on how much of the disc is visible, is what reads out the hour. It’s a clever module with a list of components that are as complex as they sound; borosilicate glass capillary tube with nano-coated interior, multi-layer metal bellows (the pistons), “immiscible liquids,” a thermal compensator, and ceramic fluidic restrictors.

Meanwhile, green SuperLuminova also coats the numerals which serve as minute markers, the minute hand, and the indices and numerals that mark the hours. Adding another color is the red paint of the power reserve hand and meter. These touches of bright bits contrast starkly with the monochromatic black, gray and muted metallic parts that make up the rest of the watch’s case, dial structure, strap and movement.

Speaking of which, the movement is a true collection of good old-fashioned springs, levers and gears. Developed with Swiss movement manufacturer Chronode, it’s a hand-winding calibre with 35 jewels, beats at 28,800vph, and packs power good for 65 hours. It also operates the bellows of the fluidic module through a cam-follower system, which converts the rotation of the movement into a linear action.

HYT says the inspiration for its fluidic module, introduced in 2012, is the clepsydra, a time-measuring device that relied on the flow of water. Used in ancient Egypt, this water clock can trace its name to the ancient Greek words for “to steal” and “water.” It was called as such because “water thieves” transported water from one container to another. This allowed measurements for “stolen” time.

So time does “flow,” and the H1.0 illustrates this figuratively and literally.