Tag: design

The HYT- H4 – Neo Watch

Art in Craftsmanship and Design: The HYT- H4 – Neo Watch

The HYT H4 Neo has two crowns. The crown at 2 o’clock is your standard crown for setting the time. The second crown at 4 o’clock is used to create energy. When the user winds the second crown, a second mainspring is wound, and that power is stored in a micro-generator. When the crown is pushed, that power is distributed to two purple LED lights that illuminate highly luminescent “nano-particles” throughout the transparent dial. While the hour indicators on the bezel, as well as the minute indicators on the dial are already coated with a white Super-LumiNova material, and the fluid hour indicator is luminescent in nature, when the light is activated every nuance and detail of the HYT exclusive caliber are illuminated and accentuated without hindering legibility. In fact, it enhances it.

The HYT H4 Neo measures 51mm width by 18 mm height. The charcoal grey, DLC-coated titanium case fits HYT’s standard black and green color theme, with the purple light giving an added dimension to the watch that isn’t always apparent in previous designs. The HYT exclusive caliber utilizes its standard micro-liquid technology. At a high level, the mechanical movement utilizes a bellow with a colored liquid, and a bellow with a clear liquid located at the bottom of the movement. As one compresses over time, one depresses, and the liquid moves slowly inside of the glass tube, thus displaying the time along the outer edge of the dial. Skeletonized for the H4 and visible through the transparent dial, the movement fits the overall theme of the watch.

The HYT H4 Neo is fitted with a fire-resistant, water-resistant, hypo-allergenic, and reinforced fabric strap. Featuring a curved sapphire crystal and screw-down sapphire case-back (pictures will be posted when we get them), the watch is water resistant up to 50m. Even with the second charging spring, the watch features a generous 65-hour power reserve. The HYT H4 Neo Ref. 512-TD-65-GF-TS will be limited to 15 pieces only, and carry a price tag of $95,000.

1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom

The Round Door Rolls: 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe

Custom coachbuilding of the 1920s and 1930s was the ultimate form of self-expression for the rich and famous. Whether it was a Waterhouse-bodied Packard, a Figoni & Falaschi-bodied Delahaye or a Murphy-bodied Duesenberg, the affluent could essentially own a one-of-a-kind vehicle. Each of these famous coachbuilders was known for their specialized workmanship and was commissioned to build custom bodies over the years. Conversely, a company more accustomed to clothing buses and trucks with their commercial styling wouldn’t be the typical choice to build the coachwork for a Rolls-Royce, yet Jonckheere Carrossiers of Belgium did just that when they re-bodied a 1925 Phantom I with what could arguably be considered the most ominous Rolls-Royce coachwork ever created.

In May of 1925, Rolls-Royce launched the New Phantom (today noted as the Phantom I) to replace the 40/50 model, which was from then on referred to as the Silver Ghost. Beginning its life with a stately Hooper Cabriolet body, this particular Phantom I was never delivered to its original purchaser in Detroit, after a last minute change of opinion. Instead it was re-sold as new to the Raja of Nanpara. It left northern India and passed through several more owners before making its way to Belgium in 1932. Two years later the Hooper Cabriolet found itself in the Jonckheere shops undergoing an extensive makeover.

In the early 1930s very few designers had considered (or dared) to modify the traditional Rolls-Royce vertical grill but that alteration became essential to Jonckheere achieving a more streamlined profile for the Phantom’s new body. Bullet-shaped headlights, flowing fenders, and a long vertical tailfin down the boot lid finish off the sleek contours. As Figoni experimented with oval doors, Jonckheere went with unique, large round doors which operate flawlessly and allow passengers into either row of seating. As attractive as round doors may seem, they did however present an issue for operating windows. The solution was to fabricate a two piece window that simultaneously split like scissors down into the door. At nearly 20 feet in length, it could very well be the largest 2-door coupe in existence. Unfortunately a few years later, the Jonckheere records were destroyed in a fire and it remains unknown who commissioned or designed this one-off masterpiece.

Gaetano Pesce

Gaetano Pesce, “Up” Chair, 1969

Gaetano Peace is an Italian architect and a leading figure in contemporary industrial design. Mr. Pesce was born in La Pezia in 1939, and he grew up in Padua and Florence.  During his 50-year career, Mr. Pesce has worked as an architect, urban planner, and industrial designer. His outlook is considered broad and humanistic, and his work is characterized by an inventive use of color and materials, asserting connections between the individual and society, through art, architecture, and design.

Wurlitzer

The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1853 by German immigrant Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company originally imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments from Germany for resale in the U.S. Wurlitzer enjoyed initial success largely due to defense contracts to provide musical instruments to the U.S. military. In 1880 the company began manufacturing pianos. The company quickly expanded to make band organs, orchestrions, nickelodeons and theatre organs which were popular in theatres during the days of silent movies.

Over time, Wurlitzer acquired a number of other companies which made a variety of loosely related products including kitchen appliances, carnival rides, player piano rolls, and radios. Wurlitzer also operated a chain of retail stores where the company’s products were sold.

As technology evolved, Wurlitzer began producing electric pianos, electronic organs, and jukeboxes and eventually became known more for jukeboxes and vending machines, which are still made by Wurlitzer, rather than for actual musical instruments.

The Cocoon Tree

The Cocoon Tree is a small circular tent, covered by a waterproof tarpaulin, which is suspended on trees and capable of holding two people. Available in 12 different colors, ranging from purple to green, the circular shape is a conscious design choice, which is used to give one the feeling of protection and warmth, similar to a bird’s nest.

Reblogged with thanks to culturenlifestyle: