Hautlence: Dynamic designs for the bold watch-wearer

Together with his brother Edouard, who manages another watch brand, they are the drivers behind a watch market that is bolder, more hip and more adventurous than their predecessors The brand, founded in 2004, is known for its unique and dynamic designs, gaining respect among watch aficionados with its different approach to the art of watchmaking You couldn't accuse any of its watches of being boring - there's the Labyrinth maze watch that doesn't even tell time, rather, it functions as more of a conversation piece or a game to pass the time - and then there's the likes of the Vortex Gamma, which features a vibrant case material which can take on any colour, bespoke to the wishes of its customers.

Cantona, who contributed to designing for the brand, has made appearances at events here in Malaysia, drawing watch and football fans alike to the occasion Using a system based on gravitational force, the HL Newton indicates the time only when required - the watch enters mechanical standby mode whenever the passing minutes are of no interest to the wearer More traditional watch fans may scoff at the flamboyance of some of the brand's creations, but with a younger, bolder crowd, designs like these are gaining traction.

According to Meylan, the Hautlence customer could be anyone from the avid watch collector with a huge collection, to the watch enthusiast who only has a few watches but wants to add something different to complement the more traditional watches he owns. . Source