Silicon: because we can

It’s not every day that an independent brand like HORAGE announces an entirely new movement. But as you know, HORAGE isn’t like other brands…

Today we launch the next chapter in Swiss performance watchmaking.

The K3 is HORAGE’s 5th in-house developed and manufactured movement and yet our brand is just 15 years old. This is unique in the modern watchmaking world. Within a fragment of time our team have conquered the toughest challenges in horology. K3 brings the highest level of modern watchmaking technology to a new audience.

What’s in a name?

As you know there is a tradition at HORAGE to pre-fix our movement descriptions with the letter K. Where is this from? When we set out to build our first calibre, the K1 we were warned by experienced industry figures that developing a brand-new movement was an almost impossible for a start-up. It would take decades, cost 100 million CHF and likely end in failure.  Like they say: no-risk, no fun. We ignored the advice……

K2 might only be the second highest mountain, but it is the most difficult to conquer. So, the “K” theme felt fitting our journey, without of course wishing to belittle the achievements of the mountaineering community.

The second meaning of our “K” nomenclature is the word “kit”. Each HORAGE movement is a kit, and this brings us to our first K3 ‘must-have’: making a new calibre available outside the core HORAGE product range.

Open up your heart

We are regularly approached by brands seeking to access our technologies. Getting kudos from within the industry is nice – but it has been frustrating as we never had the capacity to make it happen. With the K3 movement we finally have the perfect tool.  We are not planning to morph into an OEM supplier – that’s not how HORAGE ticks. Think of it more as the 1st step in a journey to establish a new ‘collective’: a group of like-minded peers working together to strengthen independent watchmaking.

So, what’s new with the K3? The second ‘must-have’ in developing the new K3 movement was to widen access to our passion: performance watchmaking. We believe horology shouldn’t just reside in the high-end, luxury domain. K3 allows a timepiece to go to market at price points from 2750 CHF. This is the sweet spot offer an innovative, Swiss-made, performance watch to a bigger audience.

K3EP it simple stupid!

The K3 calibre is an automatic centre rotor movement. Designed, Engineered and manufactured in Biel/Bienne, the city at the beating heart of Swiss watchmaking. We’ve been very focussed in designing the movement efficiently, yet the K3 is packed full of modern tech. Don’t for a second think that the K3 is basic in its timekeeping: it offers COSC certified accuracy of -4 /+6 Sec per day.

Si2 inside

We live in the silicon age. Since the 1950’s semi-conductors have transformed humankind. But using this material in mechanical watches has not been straightforward. Only certain brands had real access to this material. For independents adopting silicon meant embarking on a journey through an international legal minefield. Most smaller brands thought “Life’s too short” and steered well clear of using it. Not HORAGE of course…… Why should the independent sector be excluded from using modern technology? We have always been convinced that silicon offers clear benefits.

What are they?

Firstly weight: silicon is lighter. This means that less energy to move it. Less energy means longer run times and less winding.

Secondly friction: Reducing friction benefits both the maker and user of a timepiece. Less friction means less wear and less servicing. If materials require less lubrication service intervals are reduced.

Thirdly reactivity: unlike a ferrous metal part, silicon components cannot corrode and are less affected by temperature changes.

Lastly magnetism:  Arguably the most important to the user. We are surrounded by magnets – kitchen appliances, entertainment systems, microwaves and induction cookers, large hadron colliders, washing machines and dishwashers, E- bikes, scooters and cars – the list could be waaaay longer. Life without magnets would be unthinkable, but every one of them can distort the accuracy and performance of a mechanical watch.

Silicon components offer greater efficiency, higher reliability and anti-magnetic properties that keep the watch accurate day to day and in the most demanding of environments. The K3 calibre features a silicon escapement comprising of pallet fork, balance wheel and escapement hairspring.

Modularity

Like the K2 before it the K3 movement will allow for a variety of versions. In its stripped back form, the K3 is a pure time telling tool with 3 centre hands for hour, minute and seconds. Other variants can include small seconds, date and power reserve indication.

Here’s the rest of the specification:

Features: 3 hands, Hour, Minute, Centre Seconds, Small Seconds, Date, Power Reserve Indicator (on reverse), Automatic Winding.

Regulation: Screw balance regulating system, COSC Certified -4/+6 Sec per day. Movement Dimensions: 30 x 4.2mm Technology: Silicon Escapement & Silicon Hair Spring Frequency: 3.5 Hz Power Reserve: 96hr /4 days

Rotor: Centre Mass Brass automatic

Jewel Count: 26 Jewels (standard version, 3 hands)

Availability

Serial Production of the K3 movement has commenced. Keep a look out for some exciting new timepieces featuring this great new calibre – they will start to appear pretty soon in 2025!

You can find out more about the new K3 callibre on our website CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

What do you think about K3? Tell us in the comments below

Do you yearn for a new timepiece in 2025?

Which other brands would you like to see using our K3 movement?