Designed by renowned industrial engineer Marc Newson, who has worked with companies from Apple to Ferrari to Nike to Heineken, he is celebrated for his iconic Lockheed Lounge chair and the Apple Watch. He has also ventured into watchmaking by founding lkepod in 1994, with its bold design still legendary in today’s market The present streamlined hourglass possesses a remarkably simple appearance, yet its construction involves a surprisingly sophisticated process.
Crafted from a single piece of glass, the hourglass is skillfully hand-blown in Switzerland by HG Timepiece. The walls of the hourglass are exceptionally thick, measuring between 5 mm and 7mm. Unlike conventional glass, this borosilicate glass is resistant to high temperatures making it a highly durable material. The hourglass is filled with countless microscopic solid metal spheres known as nanoballs. Each nanoball measures only 0.6 mm in diameter, totaling approximately 3 million nanoballs, resulting in this unique De Bethune x HG Timepiece collaboration.
More a sculpture than a mere timekeeper, this unique hourglass features iconic heat-treated purple stainless steel nanoballs, a striking alternative to the usual metal coated nanoballs. This innovative color is derived from De Bethune’s exclusive techniques, similar to those found in their new D828xs Purple Rain. Additionally, this hourglass departs from the typical limited editions that measure 10 or 60 minutes; it records a duration of 20 minutes, in a new glass size.
Please note that a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the present watch will be given by the Consignor to Albert Hausammann Foundation. The foundation provides financial support to eligible students from regions in Asia for the purpose of training or advancing their skills in the art of watchmaking.