Cédric Joos On What the HAUTLENCE Will Reveal at Watches & Wonders 2026

In the watch world, there are legacy brands shaped by decades of history—and then there are those that aren’t bound by it. These are the brands that create without fear. Founded in 2004, HAUTLENCE is one such name. Its very name is an anagram of Neuchâtel, paying tribute to its Swiss roots while signalling a fresh, unconventional spirit.

Cedric Joos, HAUTLENCE, Brand Manager

Over the years, HAUTLENCE has earned praise from collectors and watch lovers across the world for bringing a new energy to fine watchmaking. Today, it is known for its avant-garde designs and complex mechanical movements that challenge the traditional way we read time. As Brand Manager Cédric Joos explains, “We are fortunate not to be constrained by heritage, which allows us to push boundaries without fear. This freedom enables us to develop collections such as Retrovision, where we reinterpret objects from the past and transform them into watches. At its core, we are deliberately playing with nostalgia, reimagined through a contemporary lens.”

A key turning point for the brand came in 2022, when HAUTLENCE adopted a more contemporary and sporty direction. With an annual production of just around 200 pieces, the brand has developed nine calibres entirely in-house. “In 2020, we decided to move from Neuchâtel to Schaffhausen to be under one roof with H. Moser & Cie. This allowed us to unite both brands and benefit from strong synergies. That move gave us the momentum you can feel today. One of the most important models from this phase was the Sphere—an iconic creation that truly defines our identity,” Joos told The Style List.

The Signature Style

From bold masculine shapes to striking three-dimensional designs, every HAUTLENCE watch stands out. In the early 2000s, the brand was among the few independent watchmakers questioning traditional case shapes and functions. From the start, it chose to work with unconventional elements, such as the now-famous “locomotive arm,” which made full use of the rectangular case while combining retrograde minutes with jumping hours. “Our goal was always to push boundaries—not just through case shapes and functions, but by moving from 2D to 3D watchmaking,” says Joos.

The brand’s first true step into three-dimensional design came with the HL2.0 in 2012. This watch became the foundation for future exploration and eventually led to the Sphere, now HAUTLENCE’s most iconic creation. At the same time, the brand continues its conceptual approach through collections like Retrovision, where everyday objects from the past are reimagined as modern mechanical art.

HL2.0 in 2012 (Image: Ethos)

Retrovision (Image: Hautlence)

Watches and Wonders 2026

Come April, the watch world turns its attention to Geneva for Watches & Wonders—one of the most important horology events globally. For HAUTLENCE, this is the perfect stage to unveil its most experimental ideas. Each year, collectors can expect one special new watch, designed to spark the same emotion as the first truly memorable timepiece they ever owned. Joos reveals, “We have a new collection launching at Watches & Wonders 2026. For this project, we collaborated with Marcus Eilinger, the designer behind the Streamliner. It marks a return to the rectangular form, but this time with a vertical orientation. Just like in 2004, we’re going back to a simpler way of displaying time—focusing more on design than complexity.”

Looking Ahead

After pivoting in 2022, our next question to Joos was naturally what direction the brand will take for watchmaking next year? Is it sporty, masculine, feminine? Here's what he told us, "We deeply appreciate the purity of our earliest creations—starting with the first HL in 2004, which we reinterpreted in 2024 with the anniversary piece HLXX. The case design first drawn in 2004 still serves as a key visual signature of the brandtoday, and we strive to create pieces that can be identified from a distance. Next year, we will introduce a new rectangular shape that continues in this design trajectory, positioned more towards the entry level for Hautlence at around CHF 30,000."

Luxury in the market is on the rise, and the country recently become the world's fourth-largest economy, surpassing Japan, according to the latest World Bank figures. "With GDP (gross domestic product) valued at $4.18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, and is poised to displace Germany from the third rank in the next 2.5 to 3 years with a projected GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030," the Press Information Bureau said in the release, titled 2025: A Defining Year for India's Growth.

With this is mind, luxury brands and watch makers are traveling to India at a expanding pace from road shows, to increasing presence at luxury watch boutiques. HAUTLENCE's partnership with Ethos has given the brand a very strong group of collectors in the country. "India is approaching the luxury watch market with a remarkable level of maturity and curiosity. It has many collectors who appreciate uniqueness but may not yet be fully exposed to what independent watchmaking can offer. With our blend of conceptual design, three-dimensional mechanics, and strong aesthetic codes, HAUTLENCE naturally resonates with collectors who want something beyond the usual icons. " said Joos. He continued to say, "We see a new generation of collectors who are not simply following global trends, but who are developing their own taste—seeking individuality, authenticity, and meaningful mechanical

expression."