The Star Trek Communicator Is Now a High-End Wristwatch
After humidity It was Rolex’s anniversary celebration at this year’s Watches and Wonders show in Geneva (maybe Rolex will bring back the Milgauss in 2027?), we began to worry that truly WIRED watches would be in short supply this year. Then we found the Retrovision ’64 from Hautlence.
Clearly channeling none other than Captain Kirk, the high-end Swiss brand has transformed Star Trek’s iconic Communicator into a luxury wristwatch in its own right – and we’re definitely here for it. Fans of the ’60s sci-fi series will be pleased to recognize the distinctive lid and perforated grille that, oh yes, flips up to reveal the workings of the watch underneath. However, despite the lightweight design elements, these works rely heavily on serious watchmaking.
The Star Trek universe is no stranger to 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 the Geneva watchmaker Agenhor, who worked with Hautlence in 2022.
Beneath the metal grille, the Retrovision ’64’s hour display is arranged horizontally, apparently referencing a spatial transmission indicator, and it is on this linear display that the hours immediately move to the next digit once the minutes displayed on the central circular dial reach the 60 mark.
The central sapphire crystal dial also gives a window into the serious timekeeping capabilities of the Retrovision ’64, as a flying minute tourbillon with a double hairspring is on display. This is a sophisticated, high-end mechanical watch movement designed to achieve maximum precision and a flash of visual appeal. The “flying” tourbillon (which rotates every minute to negate the effects of gravity on the delicate movement) is combined with a pair of matching opposing hairsprings that stabilize the movement of the balance wheel, further improving precision and stability.
Photography: Courtesy of Hautlence
Photography: Courtesy of Hautlence
