The Hulsman Easy Perpetual is the most complex-looking yet simple QP you’ve ever seen
Borna Bošnjak- AHCI member Machiel Hulsman develops the Easy Perpetual, a foolproof perpetual calendar controlled only by the crown.
- With a compact, 39mm case, the Easy Perpetual uses a pair of sapphire prisms to cleverly display the month and day on the caseband.
- Hulsman is only creating 12 pieces in this souscription series, with the 13th and final prototype being auctioned for charity.
If you’re not thoroughly involved in the goings-on of independent watchmaking, a name that could’ve easily slipped by without you noticing is that of Machiel Hulsman. If that is the case, it’s a shame, because the banker-turned-watchmaker has quite a few achievements to his name, such as being the first to create a watch, by hand, entirely in the Netherlands. What makes Huslman’s ascent to respected horologist all the more impressive is that he went from zero to hero in just five years, quitting his day job and making everything from scratch.
2025 marks the release of his new souscription watch, the Hulsman Easy Perpetual, which came about as a solution to the often finicky nature of the complication, and was developed alongside Hulsman’s tri-axis tourbillon and 50-complication movement projects. It seems that Mr Hulsman has plenty of talent (and time) on his hands, and we can expect a world record in the (hopefully) near future.
Let’s get right into what makes the Easy Perpetual tick. The exhibition caseback reveals, well, not much really, especially considering how robust this movement actually is. You do have indications for the leap year, month, and day of the week, however, which help clean up the dial. The movement’s basic function remains that of a perpetual calendar, but it’s all the built-in idiot-proofing that makes it impressive.
The crown, for example, has three positions: winding (unidirectional), time-setting (bi-directional), and calendar-setting (also bi-directional). These three setting modes are all you need, as all the calendar functions will remain synchronised, and you can easily go back if you overshoot the setting. The crown stem has also been reinforced, and the movement will not allow the wearer to exit the calendar-setting position if the date is not set correctly.
Let’s take a closer look at how Hulsman utilises the freed-up space on the dial, then. It’s not a simple design, per se, but it is a very clever one – let’s work from the centre outwards. As I’m known to do, I have to spend a bit of time pining over the hands. The flowing surfaces are just stunning all around, and the ultra-sharp, small counterweights are the cherry on top of the stylised spade shape. The inner scale tells minutes, with blued droplet markers and a railroad track separating it from the date ring. This is where the genius of the Easy Perpetual begins.
Notice the two cut-outs occupying the spaces at 2 and 4 o’clock. To ensure that there is no mistake when reading the date and obscuring the apertures, Hulsman geared the crescent moon-shaped hand to jump across them when going from 4 to 5 and from 7 to 8. Finally, circled by a ring of polished steel are two apertures beneath 12 o’clock. The left will turn red once the power reserve dips low enough, while the other serves as a day/night indicator.
The space beneath the pinion is reserved for the visual centrepoint of the Easy Perpetual, and that’s its floating balance. Suspended beneath a sapphire bridge, this allows unobstructed views of the gorgeous escapement and its blued steel components, as well as the top-notch hand-finishing. The balance is free-sprung, and beats at a leisurely 21,600vph, for up to 90 hours.
While all that likely would’ve been enough for me to call this one of my favourite releases of the year, Hulsman drives it home by using prisms and the laws of physics. The Easy Perpetual refracts the image of the two calendar discs you can see through the caseback by embedding two sapphire prisms into the caseband, displaying them in a convenient, but subtle fashion.
Speaking of the case, it’s surprisingly compact for the level of innovation and complication in the movement, measuring in at 39mm in diameter and just 9.5mm thick. Hulsman will offer it in all three types of the usual gold – white, yellow, and rose – with further customisation available when it comes to the dial, depending on the eventual customer’s wishes.
While I eagerly await the projects Hulsman has been working on for some time now, it’s clear that the developments of these ultra-complicated pieces can be apportioned into production runs, however small, and to help him complete the 12-piece series, Hulsman has recruited the help of Julien Tixier, Philippe Narbel, and Kaj Korpela, all of whom are respected artisans and will undoubtedly leave a positive mark on the project. If I had a spare €140,000 burning a hole in my pocket, I know where I’d be spending it.
Hulsman Easy Perpetual pricing and availability
The Hulsman Easy Perpetual is a limited series of 12 souscription pieces, with the 13th watch – number 0/12 – to be auctioned for charity. Price: €138,000
| Brand | Hulsman |
| Model | Easy Perpetual |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 9.5mm (T) |
| Case Material | White, yellow, or rose gold |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back, sapphire prisms in caseband |
| Dial | Sapphire crystal, meteorite, stone or guilloché options |
| Strap | Alligator leather, case-matching pin buckle |
| Movement | In-house development, manual winding |
| Power Reserve | 90 hours |
| Functions |
Hours, minutes, pointer date, weekday, month, day/night, low power reserve indicator
|
| Availability | 12 souscription pieces, 1 piece for charity |
| Price | €138,000 |