INTRODUCING: The Horage Supersede aims to deliver unprecedented value with new K2 micro-rotor GMT caliber

Zach Blass

With hope on the horizon, and borders hopefully beginning to open, the relevance of GMT and world timer complications is bit by bit returning. Heck, if you are like me, a part of an international team, than the GMT complication does come in handy even now when coordinating Zoom calls. Regardless of circumstance, it is one of the most highly desired complications, and any novel entries into the category are especially welcomed by the watch community. If you do your research, like independent brand Horage have done, you would be hard pressed to find a micro-rotor automatic GMT caliber watch under CHF 7,500 – and where there seems to be a gap for value, Horage looks to fill it. The new Horage Supersede, with their debuting K2 micro-rotor automatic GMT caliber, delivers unprecedented value and variety with an initial pre-order price of CHF 4,500 and six dial colours (along with other details) for inquirers to vote for. I know, a lot of praise from the outset here. But let’s dig into the specs, and you’ll likely see where my excitement is coming from.

Sports watches have skewed larger in the modern era of watchmaking, but there has been a resurging demand for slimmer and more compact novelties to be introduced into the marketplace. The Horage Supersede case comes in at a desirable 39.5mm in diameter and a surprisingly slender 9.85mm thickness and is made of 904L stainless steel – the same grade of steel used by Rolex in their unobtanium sports pieces. Mixed finishes grace the sharp and faceted case profile, with primarily brushed surfaces accompanied by mirror-polished bevels to the lugs. Crown guards protect a screw-down crown that currently aids in a baseline depth rating of 100 metres water resistance, but Horage is working to increase the rating 200 to metres if tolerances allow. The scalloped caseband has a futuristic vibe, an aesthetic note also found in the frosted and in-relief timing bezel as well as the bordering polished bar patterned knurling that aids in gripping it.

From top left to bottom right: 1200 white, 2400 black, Atoll (light blue), Boreal (green), Jet Stream (grey), and Transatlantic (dark blue)

Currently Horage has dreamed up six attractive dial colour schemes for the Horage Supersede, but unfortunately, only three will make it into initial production. The silver lining is that those who inquire to pre-order the watch will actually get to vote for their favourite(s) to go into production. Horage founder Tzuyu Huang meticulously designed each of the matte dials to be aesthetically pleasing while also offering the utmost functionality. Above the Horage branding at 12′ you will find a power reserve indicator, at 3′ a black-on-white calendar complication that displays the date through its applied framing, and at 9′ you have a day/night indicator that corresponds to the GMT hand.

Each of the applied indices, the central hours, minutes, and seconds hands, as well as the day/night indicator’s sub-hand are covered in Super LumiNova Grade A & X1 coatings that glow brightly in darker settings. The openworked central GMT hand is not luminescent, however the day/night indicator sub-hand will fill such purpose when the situation calls for it. Whichever three get selected, I don’t see there being a bad group, but my personal picks would be the Atoll, Boreal, and 1200 white. Then again, it all depends on what is currently in your collection and the colours you feel you have yet to tick off in your watch box.

As yet another baseline, the Horage Supersede will be offered on a case-matching 904L stainless steel bracelet. What has yet to be decided, however, is whether or not the three-piece links will have centre-polished links or brushed links – another component for inquirers to vote on. There will also be a poll as to whether or not there is interest for a bundled rubber strap at an added cost, but if not bundled it will be made available for purchase separately and Horage claims it will be easy to swap between the two.

Note: the baseline water-resistance is 100 meters, Horage is working to achieve 200 meters if possible before final production begins.

Proudly visible via an exhibition caseback is the new K2 micro-rotor automatic GMT calibre, a true GMT calibre with a distinct blend of traditional and futuristic decorations to the bridges. You have quadratic, brushed, and Côtes de Genève surfaces in an attractive stealthy blackened aesthetic. The micro-rotor, based on inquirer votes, will either be solid 22K gold or a gold-plated tungsten mass – yet another democratic point of choice for buyers. The single-barrel movement has been designed with high efficiency, packing in 72 hours of power reserve in part thanks to its middle-ground 3.5HZ beat rate of 25,200 vph. The COSC-certified calibre is also highly anti-magnetic as a result of it silicon escapement, another signal of Horage striving to pack in a ton of tech at high value.

Horage Supersede pricing and availability:

The Horage Supersede is available for “VIP-Bird” inquiries now. For full information on delivery timeframes and pre-order rounds, click here to learn more. The watch will have a starting retail for 6,500 CHF when pre-order rounds end, but the starting pre-order price is CHF 4,500 (Price includes all taxes, duties and shipping, excluding luxury tax in selected countries).