Approximately ten months ago I received an email from Snyper CEO Jean-Denis Delétraz. At the time he seemed pretty annoyed with another company called Hyetis and suggested they had plagiarized Snyper’s designs. Normally I wouldn’t even entertain getting involved in this type of debacle, as it is counter productive. My feeling is that the brands should resolve this matter together amicably or take the appropriate legal action. However in this instance Hyetis do seem to be at fault and appear to have let down a lot of people. A couple of years ago they took (several hundred) advance orders for a watch they called the Crossbow and to date not one piece has ever been produced. The excuse has always been that there is a lot of cutting edge technology involved in the timepiece and it needs to be executed perfectly. I have contacted the owner Arny Kapshitzer numerous times recently and am still waiting for a response. Hopefully this has all been a massive misunderstanding and this amazing watch does reach the market.
A few weeks ago I finally got to meet Jean-Denis Delétraz in the Palace at Baselworld. Not only is Jean-Denis a huge watch enthusiast but also he was once a famous Formula One driver in a previous life. In 2011 he acquired Snyper with the assistance of his business partner Daniel Favre and the rest as they say is history. Certainly from the collections I viewed at their booth I was very impressed with the quality of their timepieces especially the formidable F-117 Tourbillon.
Even though I have seen Snyper watches in high-end boutiques, this is the first time I have ever tried one on. Dimensionally the F-117 Tourbillon exudes masculine proportions and measures in at 45mm x 53mm (excluding the crown). Realistically a watch of this scale won’t appeal to the faint hearted. However it did feel exceptionally comfortable and lightweight on the wrist. Ultimately this is down to the innovative case design and choice of high performance Grade 5 titanium in production. For that reason I would recommend this superb timepiece as a practical option for most occasions.
Visually the F-117 Tourbillon has a futuristic appearance and is reminiscent of Linde Werdellin. In fact both of these of these Über cool brands have the facility to include additional modules. In my opinion this enhances the design and gives the watch a whole new dynamic. What makes this watch so attractive is the multi-layered façade with different textures. The dial also allows the recipient an intimate view of the mechanical movement including the majestic rotating tourbillon carriage. Other features include open worked hour/minute hands, side fixation bars (positioned at 9 o’clock) and an oversized crown. Overall the industrial composition is cohesive and the finishing is first rate.
Beneath the robust exterior is an exclusive Swiss made manual-winding movement devised by Concepto. The Caliber 8004 comprises 19-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz). Every component of this supreme mechanism has been decorated (Côtes de Genève) finished and assembled by hand. Functionally the F-117 Tourbillon features hours, minutes and seconds (displayed on the rotating tourbillon). The timepiece also has a power reserve of 72-hours and is water resistant to a depth of 100 metres.
The F-117 Tourbillon has a black alligator strap and is limited to 25 pieces worldwide. Priced at: 86,400 CHF (approximately $91,308).
For more information about Snyper visit the company’s website: http://www.snyperwatches.com
