When I initially established Total Watch Reviews my prime objective was to feature as diverse a range of brands as possible. This includes the large groups (Swatch, Richemont, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) and small independents. I was also keen to showcase the craftsmen from different geographic regions. Ultimately it has been an absolute pleasure writing about ateliers like Konstantin Chaykin (Russia) Valerii Danevych (Ukraine) Masahiro Kikuno (Japan) McGonigle (Ireland), Stepan Sarpaneva (Finland) and Itay Noy (Israel).
I personally became aware of Itay Noy’s exceptional talent a few years ago. What fascinated me originally was his meticulous attention to detail and location. So far he is the only Israeli watchmaker I have ever featured on my website. Within a relatively short space of time (fourteen years) he has gained a solid reputation within the industry. In fact he has won several awards for his beautifully crafted timepieces. As well as designing watches he also teaches at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. Essentially this shows how genuinely passionate he really is about this business.
Last year I wrote an in depth article about Itay Noy’s wonderful Hyper Scape collection for Luxurious Magazine. Within the series there are four exciting models to choose from. Whilst I was visiting Singapore, Red Army Watches (http://redarmywatches.com) kindly gave me the opportunity to try on the fabulous Landscape B. Prior to this I had only ever seen pictures of this watch, which certainly don’t do it justice. Dimensionally the timepiece measures 42.4 mm X 42.4 mm x 11.6 mm but appears much larger due to the square case. Generally I found the watch sat comfortably on my wrist and felt fairly lightweight. However for a timepiece costing nearly $7,000 I would have expected the use of titanium rather than 316L Stainless steel.
Visually the Hyper Scape Landscape B has a bold and distinctive appearance. What makes this watch so special is the magnificent black and white illustrated dial. This characteristic portrays a charming scene depicting mountains, trees and water. The fact that Itay Noy has only produced 24 pieces also makes this timepiece even more exclusive. Other fine details include a second time zone, large dual date window (located at 12 o’clock) and moon phase indication. Overall the composition is delicately handled and the finishing is first rate. It is also pertinent to mention that there is an equally impressive cityscape model.
Powering the watch is the self-winding Caliber TT651-24H sourced from Swiss manufacturer Technotime SA. This movement comprises 21-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). The mechanism is perfectly showcased through the sapphire crystal exhibition case back. Functionally the Hyper Scape Landscape B features hours, minutes, seconds, date facility, second time zone and moon phase indication. The timepiece also has a power reserve of 42-hours and is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
The Hyper Scape Landscape B (as tested) has a black rubber strap with steel folding clasp. Priced at: $6,900.
For more information about Itay Noy visit his website: http://www.itay-noy.com
