The Hautlence Retrovision 85 represents a remarkable fusion of 1980s nostalgia and high-end Swiss watchmaking. This extraordinary timepiece doesn’t just tell time—it transforms from a sophisticated wristwatch into a standing robot figure, paying homage to the beloved Takara Kronoform toys that captivated a generation. With only eight pieces available worldwide, this limited edition masterpiece embodies childhood wonder executed with exceptional horological craftsmanship. Let’s explore the six key elements that make this watch a truly unique collector’s item.
The ’80s Aesthetic: A Wearable Time Machine
The RETROVISION ’85 immediately transports you back to the 1980s with its distinctive visual language. The watch features a frosted titanium base complemented by vibrant blue and purple PVD accents that instantly evoke the era of neon lights, arcade games, and robot cartoons. These bold color choices aren’t random—they carefully recreate the aesthetic of that golden age when digital technology was new and exciting.
The design perfectly balances nostalgia with sophistication. While it unmistakably references ’80s futurism, the execution is refined enough to belong on a collector’s wrist. The proportions, finishing, and attention to detail elevate what could have been merely nostalgic into something truly luxurious. This is the kind of watch that might catch your eye from across the room, prompting both recognition of its inspiration and appreciation for its craftsmanship. For those who grew up in the ’80s, it’s like wearing a piece of their childhood—reimagined through the lens of fine watchmaking.
The Takara Kronoform Inspiration: Toys Reimagined
The RETROVISION ’85 draws direct inspiration from the iconic Takara Kronoform—a Japanese watch that transformed into a robot figure, beloved by children worldwide in the 1980s. This wasn’t just any toy; it represented a time when watches could be more than timekeeping devices—they could be companions, protectors, and gateways to imaginative play.
HAUTLENCE hasn’t simply copied this concept but rather elevated it to extraordinary heights. Where the original was a children’s toy made of plastic, the RETROVISION ’85 is crafted from premium materials like titanium and features mechanical complexity far beyond its inspiration. The proportions and overall silhouette maintain enough similarity to trigger instant recognition for those familiar with the original, while introducing refinements that make it worthy of its place in the luxury watch market.
This connection to a beloved childhood item creates an emotional resonance rarely found in luxury timepieces. It speaks to collectors who appreciate not just technical excellence but also the cultural touchstones that shaped their early years.
The Vagabonde Tourbillon: Mechanical Mastery
At the heart of the RETROVISION ’85 lies HAUTLENCE’s celebrated Vagabonde Tourbillon movement—a mechanical marvel that elevates this watch beyond mere nostalgia. This sophisticated movement features a “wandering” time display system where discs rotate independently to indicate the hours and minutes, creating a mesmerizing visual experience as time passes.
The central sapphire minute disc incorporates applied numerals and Globolight rings that glow in the dark, ensuring legibility while maintaining the artistic integrity of the design. The tourbillon—one of watchmaking’s most prestigious complications—is prominently displayed, rotating continuously to counteract the effects of gravity on the movement’s precision.
This juxtaposition of cutting-edge horological technology with nostalgic design creates a fascinating tension. The movement represents the pinnacle of contemporary watchmaking excellence, while the exterior celebrates the playful aesthetics of a bygone era. It’s this contrast that makes the RETROVISION ’85 so compelling—it doesn’t sacrifice technical sophistication for thematic consistency but rather finds harmony between these seemingly disparate elements.
The Transformation Feature: More Than a Watch
The most extraordinary feature of the RETROVISION ’85 is its ability to transform. Just like the Takara Kronoform that inspired it, this luxury timepiece can be removed from the wrist and reconfigured into a standing robot figure. This playful functionality represents something truly unique in the high-end watch market, where serious horology rarely embraces such whimsical concepts.
The transformation isn’t merely a gimmick but a thoughtfully executed feature that requires precision engineering to maintain both the watch’s functionality and the robot figure’s stability. The components lock securely into place in both configurations, ensuring that this isn’t just a novelty but a genuinely dual-purpose object.
Imagine the reaction when, during a business meeting or social gathering, you casually remove your six-figure timepiece and transform it into a robot figure. It’s this unexpected playfulness—this willingness to embrace joy alongside technical excellence—that makes the RETROVISION ’85 such a conversation piece. It challenges the often staid world of luxury watches by introducing an element of fun without compromising on quality or craftsmanship.
Limited Exclusivity: Just Eight Pieces Worldwide
With a production run of just eight pieces worldwide, the RETROVISION ’85 represents the pinnacle of exclusivity. This extreme limitation reflects both the extraordinary craftsmanship required to create each piece and HAUTLENCE’s understanding of its target market—collectors who value both rarity and exceptionalism.
Each watch is meticulously handcrafted, with the rhodium-plated brass intermediate dial requiring countless hours of skilled artisanship. The frosted finishes, precise color applications, and perfect alignment of all components demand expertise that few watchmakers possess. This limited production run ensures that owners belong to an extremely select group, with the near-certainty that they’ll never encounter another person wearing the same timepiece.
The scarcity also acknowledges the special nature of this watch’s appeal. It’s created for a very specific collector—someone who appreciates fine watchmaking, embraces nostalgia, and values the unexpected. By limiting production so severely, HAUTLENCE ensures that each piece finds its way to someone who truly connects with its unique proposition.
Bridging Worlds: Childhood Wonder Meets Adult Sophistication
Perhaps the most meaningful aspect of the RETROVISION ’85 is how it bridges different worlds—childhood and adulthood, play and sophistication, nostalgia and innovation. For those who spent their youth dreaming of space exploration and robot guardians, this watch offers something beyond timekeeping: a tangible connection to those formative years.
Yet it simultaneously appeals to serious collectors who understand that exceptional watchmaking transcends utility to become art. The RETROVISION ’85 demonstrates that you don’t need to abandon your sense of wonder and playfulness to appreciate fine craftsmanship. It suggests that the best parts of childhood—creativity, imagination, joy—can coexist with adult success and discernment.
Wearing this watch makes a statement about who you are: someone who has achieved enough to afford a luxury timepiece but hasn’t forgotten what it felt like to transform a robot watch with childlike excitement. It’s a celebration of carrying your authentic self through life’s journey, maintaining connection to what shaped you while embracing what you’ve become. In a luxury market often defined by tradition and convention, the RETROVISION ’85 stands out by honoring something deeply personal—the formative experiences that make us who we are.
