Established in 2015, the French brand Hegid resumes its forward march after experiencing a serious period of turbulence. On the cusp (already!) of its tenth anniversary, it continues to promote its concept of evolving watchmaking with surprising chameleon watches.
The Mirage Soleil, which has just joined the collection, perfectly embodies the DNA of the Hegid house, drawing inspiration from both the art of living of the French Riviera and the old 1960s Lamborghini!
Hegid, watches unlike any others!
When one loves beautiful watches, one enjoys changing them regularly. Wearing a model that reflects our mood of the day or that fits our outfit. But for this, you must own a certain number of watches… and therefore have a budget in line.
For several years, many brands have developed concepts that allow you to customize your watch, to evolve it on a daily basis. For example, consider Fugue and its interchangeable modules or SYE and its self-assembly models (partially)! But among these innovative spirits, one brand has particularly stood out for nearly 10 years: Hegid.
This concept could be translated with an appropriate acronym: Global Evolutionary Watchmaking, Different Identity. That’s at least how Emeric Delalandre and Henrick Gauche, the two co-founders, presented it to us at the very beginning of the adventure. Three years of development were necessary to achieve the completion of the EVOL dressing complication.
“Creative, playful, and sensible” according to its inventors, but also very easy to use, this novelty allows to evolve your watch endlessly (or almost). The case, or rather the capsule, easily detaches from the watch’s frame and strap. In a few seconds, you can thus switch from an elegant and refined timepiece to a sporty and colourful model. Today, a dozen capsules, 8 frames and 7 straps allow to vary the pleasures, offering no less than 672 possible combinations!
The Mirage Soleil, a Lamborghini Miura on the wrist
The Mirage has already been a classic in the Hegid collections since 2020. A 39.6 mm capsule, with a streamlined dial, thin indexes, a date window at 3 o’clock. Simple, efficient. Perhaps too much. In 2024, the family therefore expands with the arrival of a model named Mirage Soleil, available in green, blue or black.
Therefore, we find the same lines, the same dimensions, but this time, the fluted dial stands out for the 60 facets that cross it and offer a very nice play of light. Even on the black version tested (especially on this version?), the rendering is very successful, creating a beautiful impression of relief.
But depending on the build it adopts, the Mirage Soleil doesn’t sport the same look at all. Hegid mentions “a romantic cruise aboard an elegant and classy transalpine supercar” as a source of inspiration. Precisely, a 1960s Lamborghini Miura, whose bold, both sharp and rounded lines, are found in the design of the steel Mirage body.
With its “Clandestine Laboratory”, always in steel, the watch strives to be more elegant, refined, seemingly straight from the early 20th century and the great hours of Art Deco. Finally, with the “Vision Black Series” frame, the Mirage Sun evolves in a more sporty register, with its eye positioned at noon on the bezel and its black anodized aluminum insert.
This versatility is also found at the level of the bracelet with leather, rubber or even NATO canvas on the menu. But our preference clearly goes to the Virage model, whose quilted strands recall the typical leather seats of sports cars, with a nappa leather shaping that is sun and weather resistant. At the tip, a discreet tricolor edging reminds us that this bracelet is made in France, just like the frame and capsule. Only the Sellita movement is Swiss made, displaying its decorated oscillating mass on the back of the case, and giving the watch a 40-hour power reserve.
Finally, the Hegid concept doesn’t stop at the design of the watch, since each timepiece is delivered in a superb evolving wooden box, with different compartments capable of accommodating several watch cases and bracelets. As for prices, this Mirage Soleil Noire is offered at a price of 3320€. You must count 2700€ for the capsule alone, 50 to 220€ for an additional bracelet and 400 to 500€ for a new watch case.
