Hautlence
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland · Est. 2004
Founded by Guillaume Tetu
Hautlence is a Geneva-based independent watchmaker founded in 2004, known for its highly distinctive jumping hour displays and three-dimensional movement architectures. The brand is a sister company of MB&F and shares that brand's commitment to experimental and collector-focused watchmaking.
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Vagabonde — Wandering-hours complication where satellite hour discs rotate around the dial, offering an ever-changing display of time.
- HL — Core collection featuring retrograde minutes and jumping hours displayed via a chain-and-fusee mechanism visible through the dial.
- Sphere — Three-dimensional time display using a rotating sphere mechanism, one of Hautlence's most visually dramatic complications.
Timeline
- 2004 — Guillaume Tetu founds Hautlence in Neuchâtel, Switzerland — the brand name is an anagram of 'Neuchâtel.'
- 2005 — First collection launches with a distinctive chain-and-snail retrograde minute display inspired by railway mechanics.
- 2012 — The Meylan family (MELB Holding) acquires Hautlence, relocating it to Schaffhausen alongside H. Moser & Cie.
- 2023 — Hautlence relaunches under the Meylan stewardship with the Vagabonde and Sphere collections, emphasising unconventional time display.
- 2025 — Exhibits at Watches & Wonders 2025 and WatchTime New York with the new Sphere Series 3 and 4, featuring a more compact and architectural case design.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hautlence
- What does Hautlence mean?
- Hautlence is an anagram of 'Neuchâtel,' the Swiss city where the brand was founded in 2004. It reflects the brand's roots in the heart of Swiss watchmaking territory.
- Who owns Hautlence?
- Since 2012, Hautlence has been part of MELB Holding, owned by the Meylan family. It operates alongside H. Moser & Cie. from Schaffhausen, Switzerland, under the leadership of Edouard Meylan.