Telling time is not a new concept. Tracking the passing of time takes different forms – from noticing shadows on the ground, to tracing paths of stars in the sky, to everything in between. Some people track time using a watch or clock. Others track time in terms of a specific goal achieved, such as ten times around the track. And some out of the box thinkers find really amazing ways to tell time.

Some of those amazing people are from HYT. In 2012, HYT took the horological world on a journey through water by creating a watch that used their patented fluidic module. The watch has fluid in it to note the time, as they explain it, “A colored liquid documents the recent past; a transparent fluid indicates the foreseeable future. Their meeting point is a meniscus, aka the now.”

And what a beautiful now it is. The HYT SOONOW DROP THREE (ref. no H02455) is a vibrant expression of their concept, in turquoise, orange, and burgundy. Choosing colors can be traditional, such as a complementary pair or a monochromatic range. In the case of the HYT SOONOW DROP THREE, the three colors are considered a set of split complementary colors. Although unexpected, somehow they just go together well.

Each color is presented differently on this watch, with turquoise and orange taking initial prominence. The 48.8mm anodized titanium dial is turquoise and provides the backdrop for the orange and burgundy skull. The skull is a piece of work in itself, and the 313 pins in rose gold are perfectly aligned and matched with the perforations on the turquoise dial. Remember these perforations, they’ll come into play in a bit. The mouth has rose gold teeth, also adding an additional depth of color. Each socket is treated differently, with the 65-hour power display in one and an incredibly creative representation of the seconds in the other — the small plate shifts to change the visible print of SOON into NOW.

In case you forgot, you are looking at watch and it should be able to tell you the time. But how, with no hands on the dial? This is where the liquid comes in. There is a vial that circles the skull and it has the transparent liquid and dye-colored liquid that move to show what the time is. Similar to a traditional watch, the hours are marked off but in words, not numerals, and not on the dial but on the case (you’ll see ONE, TWO, and so on in white).

So, back to the perforations. Looking at the dial, you’ll see they are nicely lined up, and even extend to the bright orange rubber strap. But if you look closely at the side of the dial, you’ll see that the perforations also spell out the hours. It’s so sublime that you might not notice it at first. It’s like an Easter egg, but on your watch.

The HYT SOONOW DROP THREE is a statement-making watch, not for the timid or meek. It is definitely meant to catch your eye and be the object of your obsession. But move quickly, only five pieces were released in March 2020.