Hautlence Neuchatel Determining the Age of Watches
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Hautlence brand
- Founded: 2004 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Name: “Hautlence” is an anagram of “Neuchâtel” 🇨🇭
- Character: independent luxury manufacturer, small annual production volume (usually < 200 watches).
- Known for: avant-garde mechanical designs, retrograde displays, spring-loaded hours, horizontal case architecture.
- Proprietary calibers: e.g. HL 1, HL 2, HL Q — 100% developed in Neuchâtel.
Types of plants and production periods
| Main caliber | Production period | Watch examples |
|---|---|---|
| HL 1 / HL 2 | from 2004 to 2012 | First series, manual movements with retrograde minute, jumping hour |
| HLR (Hautlence Rotor) | ca. 2012 – 2020 | automatic models, round style |
| HL Sphere / HLRS / HLX | from 2019 | new generation, 3D displays, ball hour |
| HL Ti / HL H0 / HL H1 | 2016 – present | Part of the MELB Group (Moser & Cie) – newer design line |
Age determination by serial number
Hautlence maintains internal series lists, but there is no public table externally.
For guidance:
| Serial number / Format | Period | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| S/N < 0100 | 2004 – 2006 | First Edition HL 1 / HL 2 – Pioneer Phase |
| 0100 – 0500 | 2007 – 2012 | Models HL Q, HL R, HL S – early series |
| 0500 – 1000 + | 2013 – 2020 | Automatic line HLR, HL Ti |
| From 2020 onwards → prefixed numbers (e.g. “H0-XX”, “HS-XXX”) | new generation under MELB Group |
Since the production volume was relatively small, the year of manufacture and model series can be reliably narrowed down using the caliber abbreviation and design .
Instructions for verifying authenticity and timeliness
| feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Hand-engraved serial number on the back | for older HL 1/HL 2 (2004–2008) |
| Laser-engraved serial number with prefix (H0, HLX) | from approximately 2018 |
| Work engraved with "Manufacture Hautlence" | all genuine manufactured works |
| Limited series (< 100 pieces) | typical for 2004–2015 |
| “MELB Group” / “H. Moser & Cie” reference | from 2012 (after integration into MELB Holdings) |
Example dating
| engraving | Series | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| “HL 1 – No 045” | HL 1 | 2005 – 2006 | First retrograde manufacturing series |
| “HL Q – No 073/88” | HL Q | 2009–2012 | Jumping hour + retrograde minute |
| “HLR – No 162” | HLR | 2013–2018 | Automatic transmission, sporty trim |
| “H0 – No 023/50” | H0 | 2018 – 2021 | Modern 3D line, glass dial |
| “HL Sphere – No 07” | HL Sphere | from 2019 | Spherical hour display |
Swiss watch manufacturer
The Swiss watch manufacturer Hautlence was founded in 2004 by Guillaume Tetu and Sandro Reginelli. Hautlence is known and recognized for its original concepts in timekeeping. It follows a think-tank approach and brings a new vision to watchmaking while respecting traditions.
With surprising and sometimes unprecedented ways of telling the time, a powerful and easily identifiable design inspired by architectural principles, and a large proportion of in-house developed and manufactured calibers, Hautlence has established a strong reputation. Bill Muirhead, CEO of the MELB Group, acquired and restructured Hautlence in March 2012, and the company's reputation was further enhanced by the arrival of Georges-Henri Meylan , one of the industry's most respected figures. In 2015, Sandro Reginelli became CEO, and Guillaume Tetu left the company.
Source: Wikipedia, Watchwiki, KI
