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Hublot King Power Usain Bolt Watch

admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:13:15 +0000

Hublot brand ambassador and all-around nice guy Usain Bolt just got his first limited edition watch. Usain Bolt is the fastest recorded runner and is often affectionately referred to as the "fastest man in the world". Actually he is not from Africa but rather Jamaica. A little while ago (before this watch was released) I got a chance to interview him. I actually asked him some questions about what a limited edition Hublot watch for him might look like. Let's see if his answers match up to the result.

Inherently there isn't much new here because this is your standard King Power Chronograph watch. I discuss it because I think Usain is pretty cool and it is interesting to see many of the "reasons" for Hublot limited edition watches. What is different are the little touches that make it special for Mr. Bolt. What a damn good last name for a champion runner right? I've always thought that. According to Hublot, the strap is made from "exactly the same leather as the shoes he wore when he broke the world record in Beijing in 2008". To be honest I am not sure what that means. Is it leather from the exact same pair of shoes... or the same kind of shoes? The piece is a limited edition of 250 watches - so I have a feeling that more than one pair of shoes was sacrificed in the making of this collection.

The watch case is 48mm wide in black ceramic. The gold tone is mixed with a dash of green in honor of the Jamaican flag, and are actually a product of using a 2N gold powder coating on the strap and flange ring. In the subsidiary seconds dial is a silhouette of Usain's signature pose. The best part is that it looks good on his wrist, and if you are a tall Jamaican Olympic runner it might look good on your wrist as well. Again, Hublot will make 250 pieces of the limited edition King Power Usain Bolt watch.

Tech specs from Hublot:

KING POWER USAIN BOLT
Reference: 703.CI.1129.NR.USB12
Series 250 pieces numbered from 01/250 to 250/250
Case: "King Power" - Diameter 48 mm in micro-blasted black ceramic
Bezel: Black ceramic, 6 black PVD H-shaped relief titanium screws
Crystal: Sapphire with grey minute track transfer, Interior/exterior anti-reflective coating
Bezel Lugs: Black composite resin
Lateral inserts: Black composite resin
Case-back: Micro-blasted black ceramic, Silhouette of Usain Bolt on sapphire case-back
Crown: Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert
Push-pieces: Black PVD titanium with black rubber inserts
Screws: Black PVD titanium
Water resistance: 10 ATM or approximately 100 metres
Dial Matt: black, circular satin-finished flange with 2N gold coating, Satin-finished and black nickel-coated indexes with black SuperLuminova™, Transfer of Usain Bolt's silhouette in meteor grey at 9 o'clock and 2N gold powder Hublot logo
Hands: Satin-finished and black nickel-coated with black SuperLuminova™
Movement: Calibre HUB4100
Mechanical: chronograph with automatic winding and central seconds hand. Small seconds at 9 o'clock
No. of components 252
Jewels: 27
Date: Date window at 4.30
Power reserve Approximately 42 hours
Strap: Adjustable in black rubber, Made from the same gold-coloured synthetic leather as Usain Bolt's shoes.
Clasp: King Power folding buckle in black micro-blasted PVD titanium
Micro-blasted black ceramic decorative plate

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Hublot UNICO All Carbon Watch Hands-On

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 07:05:34 +0000

"Oh, hello carbon fiber. Yeah, I haven't seen you in a while. I know you used to hang out here a lot, but over the last few years ceramic has been stealing a lot of the attention. We didn't always get along when you were popular, but you did have your moments." This carbon fiber-based Hublot watch almost feels like a blast from the rather recent past. With an almost all-carbon fiber case and bezel, there is a reason this watch is named the Hublot UNICO All Carbon.

Carbon fiber was really starting to get overdone a few years ago when it started showing up all over the place. The worst was the legions of cheap watches with fake carbon fiber dials - yuck! The watch industry really put carbon fiber on the backburner as a material lately. Like I said, materials such as ceramic and titanium started to get so much more popular, and were so versatile, that carbon fiber just didn't get as much attention from designers.

Then all of a sudden I see this UNICO All Carbon watch from Hublot and suddenly remember why carbon fiber was interesting in the first place. I also probably like it so much because there is no carbon fiber in the dial. Just lots of Hublot style skeletonization with a view to the movement. The name UNICO is part of the watch and placed on the movement. UNICO is a title given to some of Hublot's in-house made movements. Based on a modified ETA Valjoux 7750 architecture, the UNICO is a totally in-house manufactured automatic chronograph movement. One of the improvements over the 7750 architecture in this caliber HUB1240 movement is the use of a column wheel in the chronograph. You can see the column-wheel right in the dial near 6 o'clock. The chronograph also has a flyback feature.

I don't know what the status is right now, but early UNICO movements I saw even used carbon fiber plates. I don't think that is the case with this model though. While the dial of the watch is skeletonized, it is not done in a way that you can't read the watch. Hublot was especially careful with this model to promote legibility as well as visual interest. On the rear of the watch you can see the movement through the sapphire crystal caseback window.

To create the look of the dial, Hublot used a tinted sapphire crystal for much of the dial. On it are applied ruthenium-coated hour markers with bright white lume and matching hands. The chronograph here has only one subdial and measures 60 minutes. The movement also has the time and date of course. Over the dial is another sapphire crystal that is AR coated.

For the UNICO All Carbon, Hublot uses a King Power chronograph case. The 48mm wide case is actually carbon fiber, as is the bezel. There are PVD black titanium screws used for the case and bezel. A ring of rubber lines the side of the bezel. The black carbon fiber case looks cool, and the visual texture of carbon fiber is really at its best here with the high-quality material. The case is very light and strong despite the size.

Matched to the case is the typical cool looking rubber strap you see on many King Power Hublot watches. The overall look and feel on this UNICO All Carbon is impressive. Hublot mixed a focus on the material with an in-house made movement for a truly unique timepiece. The UNICO All Carbon (ref. 701.QX.0140.RX) isn't a limited edition model, but will probably be produced in limited quantities for a couple of years.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Hublot King Power Knockout World Boxing Council Watch

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:36:25 +0000

Boxing seems to be the sport flavor of choice for many watch brands in 2012. You know it is serious when Hublot gets into the game. Their focus now is on a limited edition set for the World Boxing Council (WBC). The game Hublot is playing is pretty interesting actually. Hublot will produce 12 unique King Power "Knockout" WBC watches. As I understand it, each will look unique and be associated with one of 12 "legendary" boxers.

Each of the watches will be auctioned off for charity, and the winners will get the watches presented to them by the boxers themselves. It would be more fun if it also included a few round in the ring with them. Tyson is on the list!

The 12 legendary fighters associated with the Hublot limited edition boxing watch are as follows:

Lennox Lewis
Julio Cesar Chavez
Mike Tyson
Sugar Ray Leonard
George Foreman
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Tommy Harns
Roberto Duran
Oscar de la Hoya
Evander Holyfield
Jeff Fenech
Larry Holmes

The King Power chronograph based watch is unique for NOT having a skeletonized dial. It is 48mm wide in 18k King gold. Clearly the green and gold tones are meant to match the WBC belt that is given to the best fighters. On the rear of the watch is a graphic that looks like the front of the noteworthy belt. The auction for the Hublot Knockout WBC watches will be in Las Vegas in September 2012.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Hublot King Power Miami Heat Chronograph Watch

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:41:52 +0000

OK come on, this watch is cool. I am not even a basketball or Miami Heat fan, but this watch is really cool. It doesn't take a lot of thought to understand why Hublot is doing well with the aspirational youth audience or wealthy individuals who wouldn't take a Patek out for a night on the town in fear that they might fall asleep at 9:30pm from a lack of visual excitement. This watch is really what Hublot is doing best. The designs we see might sometimes be redundant or predictable, but they are still cool.

I talked about Hublot and the Miami Heat a while go here in an enjoyable article. First they produced a limited edition watch for Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade, then announced that they would be the official watch maker and timer of the Miami Heat, and here is the first Miami Heat watch. It is called the Hublot King Power Miami Heat Chronograph and will be produced as a limited edition of 200 pieces.

The number 48 appears three times in the watch. The 18k King gold (red gold mixed with some platinum I believe) case is 48mm wide, the power reserve in the movement is 48 hours, and the special chronograph measures 48 minutes. Why 48? Not sure actually. The chronograph has two centrally mounted hands. One measures 60 seconds and the other measures up to 48 minutes. That is sorta cool and quirky. Hublot said it is to measure the "four quarters of a basketball game." I thought Basketball was two halves. Maybe I missed something... You also get the date on the dial. UPDATE: I feel silly as people keep telling me NBA games are four 12 minute quarters. Has it always been that way?

On the watch dial you see the Miami Heat logo, and a plate before the exposed movement that is supposed to look like a swoopy basketball net. On the rear of the watch located on the sapphire exhibition caseback is another Miami Heat logo. One of the nicest basketball themed feature is the texturing on the rubber strap that is meant to look like the surface of a basketball itself.

The case is further constructed of rubber, resin, and black ceramic (for the bezel). The black and gold crown with the Hublot logo appears particularly nice in this watch. Black and gold color combinations tend to look good in my opinion and with the Hublot style and hints of red this makes for a nice high-end sports watch. It is glitzy and loud, and just how many people like it.

Inside the watch is a Swiss automatic Hublot movement. The skeletonzied dial shows elements of the movement in action and the piece has a unique rotor for the King Power watches. Limited to 200 pieces each, the watch will come in a rather neat looking basketball style box and each piece will come with a Miami Heat team jersey signed by Udonis Haslem. Price is $42,400.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Hublot Watch Winder Safe By Dottling

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:39:53 +0000

As useful as they are, people still don’t get super excited about watch winders. Well, perhaps most watch winders. The upper echelon of watch winders are incredibly impressive machines that do way more than merely keep your favorite automatic timepieces well-wound. A fun and stimulating example is the Hublot Safe produced by watch winder and safe maker Dottling.

I got to check out this machine hands-on and I must admit that the over-the-top super watch accessory is as appealing as it is priced for people who own more than one yacht. I included the image here of the safe with Markus Dottling and Jean-Claude Biver of Hublot to show you the size scale of the safe.

To start, the Hublot Safe is 180 kilograms in weight. The mostly steel safe is like a large outer cylinder with an inner rotating cylinder. That rotating cylinder has two sides of winders with the capacity to wind 42 watches. In mostly black, the safe has panels of carbon fiber, and you’ll notice that it uses larger versions of Hublot’s signature “H” screws.

The Hublot safe isn’t just a safe and a watch winder – but also a stereo. This seems to be a bit of a trend, where high-end “watch winder furniture” seems to include a stereo. It also includes an iPad. There is an iPad dock at the top of the safe that is used to control all of the safe’s functions as well as unlock it. Each of the winding modules is programmable, and you can control the stereo and other functions. Using WiFi you can control the safe with the iPad off the dock as well. Everything is done via a custom application pre-loaded on the iPad. A cool function is the ability to indicate precisely what each watch is and where it goes to have it receive the right amount of turns per day. You can also apparently hook up the Hublot Safe to your home security system. Presumably the safe will hide the watches if the alarm is triggered. Or perhaps messing with the safe will trip the alarm. Dottling really thinks all this stuff through.

For show, there are changing color LED lights placed behind the winder modules. This means you get a bright light show when the inner cylinder spins into view and your many Big Bangs and King Power watches greet you. It is pure spectacle, but at these prices you better damn demand it. In this skin, the special item is called the Hublot Safe. It is based on the newer Dottling Morphosis watch winder safe which can be ordered in many other styles based on the cylinder architecture. An even higher-security version is available which weights 500 kilograms. Price is around 190,000 Swiss Francs. Unfortunately the cost does not include Mr. Biver personally rolling it into your living room.

Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Watches Hands-on

admin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 07:04:25 +0000

Straight from the mouth of Jean-Claude Biver, "Ferrari and Hublot are now married. Where Ferrari goes, Hublot must go as well." Ferrari executives grin as the godfather of Hiublot enthusiastically memorializes the relationship between the two brands by unveiling the new Big Bang Ferrari watch. Those familiar with the brand, who have a careful eye, will know just what this watch means. In a sense, it is a summation of the many ranged accomplishments that Jean-Claude Biver has achieved during his time as CEO of the brand.

Recently he officially handed the CEO reigns over to his number 2 man Ricardo Guadalupe. Stepping aside to be Chairman, Mr. Biver now takes a less active role in the future of Hublot. A future he has helped to build with his tenacity, creativity, and sheer energy. Admired and envied by many others in the industry, Biver is a master at what he does, and connecting Ferrari and Hublot is one of his proudest achievements. You can see it right on his face.

As the official watch maker partner, Hublot and Ferrari will enjoy a long and interesting relationship together. Still, this is likely to be one of the most important watches of the relationship. Hublot chose an opportune time to release a watch that even without the Ferrari branding would be important for the brand and the legacy of Mr. Biver. In about 2004 Hublot was officially "relaunched" with the debut of the original Big Bang. Little did they know how ironic the name would be given that the collection really birthed the success of today's Hublot.

The Big Bang was considered massive when it was released with a size of 44mm wide. It combined several materials (under Biver's "fusion" philosophy), and was almost revolutionary in its design. Now in 2012 the core Big Bang case finally gets updated. The look is more contemporary with a mixture of angles and curves. It has been enlarged to 45.5mm wide, and features an easy release strap system that Hublot developed for its Oceanographic dive watch collection. The new case debuts with a prancing pony on the dial.

To start Hublot will offer the Big Bang Ferrari watch in either titanium or Magic Gold. The latter material I covered here in more detail. Seeing the Magic Gold version of the Big Bang Ferrari was the first time I got to check out the material hands on. Hublot just barely completed the case in time for its Baselworld show debut. The ceramic gold mixture material is interesting. It is certainly smooth, but darker than normal gold. It also has a slight greenish-gray tint to it. I have a feeling Hublot will be tweaking the colors a bit moving forward. Even if they don't, it is a new material and color that they haven't before offered. It is also more than twice as scratch resistant as gold is. Exotic materials and new ones like Magic Gold are horological inclusions that were a cornerstone of Biver's product strategy.

Inside the Big Bang Ferrari is an in-house made Hublot Unico 1241 automatic chronograph movement. This is one of the first watches to feature the newer in-house made caliber. The Unico is another one of Biver's proud achievements - the development and production of an in-house movement suitable for more than its low-volume ultra high-end watches. Fully skeletonized on the dial, the caliber 1241 offers the time (no seconds), date, and 60 minute chronograph. The rotor of the movement is designed to look like the wheel of a Ferrari car. The skeletonization of the dial and back of the watch is technical and attractive. Hublot even fashioned new hands and hour markers for the updated Big Bang watch. Another neat feature is a crown that rather than screwing in, twists-in and locks securely.

Ferrari gets branding on both the dial and side of the case. On the dial is a small three-dimensional model of the prancing horse Ferrari logo next to 9 o'clock. On the side of the case is a fully spelled out Ferrari name on the chronograph reset pusher. Actually the pushers were designed to look like Ferrari shifting pedals. On the dial is a yellow background for the date indication, helping the number to pop out. The entire execution ends up looking cool because it is totally Hublot DNA, appropriately Ferrari, has some appreciated design updates, and is something new that nevertheless fits in with the brand clear future direction.

The strap change system works really well. There is a pusher on the lugs that you press to release the strap. It clicks out and then clicks back in again. This system allows wearers to interchange Hublot straps which is likely to be a new and lucrative business for Hublot - as its watch owners can personally swap out straps as they like.

With an updated case design, highly technical skeletonized dial showing an in-house made movement, new convenience features, and celebrating the brand's relationship with an extremely important car maker, the new Big Bag Ferrari is almost a guaranteed hit. Even if the look of it doesn't suit your tastes, you have to admit that Hublot mixes so many desirable things for watch lovers and luxury appreciator's alike, that this timepiece is sure to maintain the "bang" in Big Bang for a while to come. I don't recall the specific prices but believe they are in excess of $30,000 each. Plus, the Big Bang Ferrari is a limited edition watch with 500 pieces in Magic Gold, and 1000 pieces in titanium.

BIG BANG FERRARI MAGIC GOLD, BIG BANG FERRARI TITANIUM - Tech specs from Hublot:

References 401.MX.0123.GR (BIG BANG FERRARI MAGIC GOLD) 500-piece limited edition

401.NX.0123.GR (BIG BANG FERRARI TITANIUM) 1000-piece limited edition

Case Diameter: 45.5 mm - polished Magic Gold or satin-finished Titanium

Bezel: Polished Magic Gold or satin-finished Titanium

6 H-shaped black PVD titanium screws, countersunk, polished & locked (Magic Gold)

6 H-shaped countersunk, polished & locked screws (Titanium)

Crystal: Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective coating

Bezel lug: Black composite resin

Lateral inserts: Black composite resin with carbon insert at 9 o'clock

Crown: Micro-blasted and polished black PVD titanium (Magic Gold), Micro-blasted and polished titanium (Titanium), Black rubber insert with Hublot logo

Push-buttons: Micro-blasted and polished black PVD titanium (Magic Gold), Micro-blasted and polished titanium (Titanium), Black rubber insert on the push-piece at 2 o'clock, Engraved Ferrari logo with red lacquer on the push-piece at 4 o'clock

Case-back: Micro-blasted and polished black PVD titanium

Sapphire crystal with interior anti-reflective treatment

Water resistance 10 ATM, i.e. approx. 100 meter

Dial: Sapphire with white Hublot logo transfer

Rhodium-plated Ferrari prancing horse applique

Satin-finished rhodium-plated or 2N gold-plated indexes

Hands: Satin-finished rhodium-plated white SuperLuminova™ (Titanium) or 2N gold-plated black SuperLuminova™ (Magic Gold)

Minute counter hand with Ferrari red coating

Movement: HUB 1241 Unico movement, developed and manufactured in-house by Hublot, self-winding chronograph

Date: Yellow window at 3 o'clock

Oscillating weight: Satin-finished and micro-blasted black coating, imitating the shape of a wheel rim

Power reserve: Approximately 72 hours

Straps: Black rubber strap with central rubber decoration, alcantara and tone-on-tone stitching or black rubber, scedoni leather and tone-on-tone stitching

Clasp: deployant buckle in satin-finished black PVD titanium with carbon insert (Titanium) or satin-finished titanium with carbon insert (Magic Gold)

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Hublot Watches + Jet Li + China

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:24 +0000

In a recent interview with Hublot's CEO Jean Claude Biver he mentioned to me how Hubot will put a lot of focus into Asia (namely China) in 2012. Boy, he wasn't kidding - and I expect a full of series of spectacle style events to ensue in the next few years that only Hublot knows how to put on. Hublot hasn't ignored China up to know. Starting in 2010 they chose martial arts actor Jet Li as a brand ambassador, and have had other events in the region.

When Hublot puts their sights on something they do aim and fire with the biggest bullet they have. While I doubt they will reach the popularity of Omega in China (which is a totally different kind of brand), Hublot will likely be able to replicate the modern style and fun wearing experience that Hublot has a reputation for in Europe and the United States (among other places as well). From all that I hear China is a very tough market to crack. Many Chinese consumers are interested in fashion and status symbols, as well as wearing and owning "the best." With superlative items being those that speak the loudest to them in terms of wealth and success.

As they have done in other countries, Hublot will connect with popular people and events in the Chinese market to attract media attention and give watch buyers things to talk about aside from mere product. The Jet Li connection as well as the limited edition watch for him is a good example.

I recall as a kid watching Lethal Weapon 4. It was probably the first time that I saw Jet Li in a movie. There was a fight season between him and Mel Gibson - and he was kicking Mel's ass. That was one of the best fight scenes of its era and Jet Li was burned in my mind as a much more bad-ass fighter than Jackie Chan. Chan (who works with some other brands such as IWC and Richard Mille) was more the sweet-faced good guy, when Li could be as mean and foreboding looking as he liked. Though in real life I understand he is a pretty nice guy and does some serious philanthropy work.

One of the first indicators of how Hublot approaches the Chinese market is with their logo. See how they added Chinese characters to it? I've not yet seen another brand do that, and I think it makes the brand more personable in the market. Is this the right approach for all brands? No. Other brands benefit from being distinctly European and exclusive. Chinese buyers pride themselves on actually going to Switzerland to buy watches and then bringing them home. Anything Chinese about those products would ruin the experience. So it really depends on how a brand wants to be perceived in a market.

The Hublot Big Bang Jet Li watch will be 44mm wide in black ceramic and limited to 200 pieces. The dial has the motif of traditional Chinese screen work - which I think is a clever touch. It is actually a variation on the Aero Bang skeletonized watch dial look. The black and red tones makes for a nice look that while not unique, are pleasant and fitting to be worn. It also has the appearance of a cool looking villain watch! Inside the watch is an HUB4214 automatic chronograph movement.

Hublot likely opted fro a Big Bang cases because many Asian consumer's don't yet prefer larger sized watches. The King Power case is usually 48mm wide and can appear beastly on small wrists. Even at 44m wide the Big Bang case style looks good on most wrists. On the back of the watch is said to be a nice looking Yin-Yang motif applied to the sapphire crystal and Jet Li's signature.

To launch the watch Hublot threw some crazy Tai Chi related event. Even the performers had Hublot logos on them. Hublot martial art warriors are coming to invade. What a message! Hublot got a huge space and put down a super-sized Yin-Yang on the floor. Jet Li was there and it must have been a blast. I can imagine onlookers walking buy eagerly interested in what was going on. Even if they didn't know what Hublot was, there were probably inclined to find out.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: BIG BANG 44 MM "JET LI"

Reference: 311.CI.1130.GR.JLI11
Series: Limited to 200 pieces numbered from 01/200 to 200/200
Case: 44.5 mm Big Bang in micro-blasted black ceramic
Bezel: Micro-blasted black ceramic 6 H-shaped black PVD titanium screws, countersunk, polished & locked
Crystal: Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective coating
Bezel Lugs: Black composite
Lateral inserts: Black composite
Crown: Black PVD steel, with black rubber insert
Push-pieces: Black PVD steel, rectangular, with black rubber inserts
Case-back: Open, in micro-blasted black ceramic with Yin-Yang crystal and the signature of Mr. Jet Li
Water resistance: 10 Atm, i.e. approx. 100 metres
Dial: Matt black openworked skeleton, with Chinese screen decoration
Satin-finished indexes with black SuperLuminova™ ruthenium coating Red minute track transfer
Hands: Faceted and polished with black nickel coating, plus black and red SuperLuminova™
Red chronograph hand with H counterpoise
Movement HUB4214 - Aerobang Mechanical Self-Winding Chronograph
Components: 257
Jewels: 27
Date: Sapphire disc with display at 4.30
Oscillating weight: Openworked and black PVD coated, tungsten segment
Power reserve: Approximately 42 hours
Wristlet: Adjustable black rubber and black gummy alligator strap with red stitching.
Clasp: Micro-blasted black PVD steel Big Bang deployant buckle, micro-blasted black PVD titanium screws and plate

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

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Live Chat With Hublot Watch’s Jean-Claude Biver On February 14th

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:04:11 +0000

Watch lovers now have a reason to cut Valentine's Day short. Live from Geneva at 3:00am Swiss time Hublot's Jean-Claude Biver will be hosting a live conference style chat online. He will be taking questions via e-mail, Hublot's fan forum, and Twitter. He will then respond directly to the questions on video. For people in the US that is 6pm PST time and 9pm EST time. To watch the live chat you need to visit HublotNation.com. To participate, you have the following options:

Leave a comment on the Live Chat page: http://hublotnation.com/live/second-live-chat-with-jc-biver/
Twitter, by tweeting with the hash-tag “#Hlive”
Post on the dedicated Facebook “Hublot Live Series” tab: http://www.facebook.com/Hublot?sk=app_210217089066671
E-mail your questions to hublotnation@hublot.ch

Now you can ask Mr. Biver about his biggest bang and where he gets all of his king power.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

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Hublot Classic Fusion Extra-Thin Skeleton Watch Hands-On

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:06:30 +0000

A surprising new member of the Hublot watch family this year will be the new Classic Fusion Extra-Thin Skeleton. It is relatively thin (especially for a Hublot), it is relatively simple (just the time), and it has a very nice looking modern skeletonized movement and dial. Overall a winner if the look suits you.

Recently the Classic Fusion collection came out (covered here) and was an interesting mix of Big Bang and more traditional watch looks. I had some nice things to say about it, but this Extra-Thin Skeleton model is much more impressive. I actually like that the hands are not skeletonized. Speaking of which, there is this huge trend in people making skeletonized hands and I really don't get it. Do people really go so ga-ga over skeletonized hands?

Skeletonzied movements on the other hands are much more interesting. Here, Hublot seems to take a base Unitas style manually-wound movement and built it using a new framework with technical looking bridges and a hip modern feel. This sure isn't your grandfather's skeletonized watch. The movement is called the Hublot caliber HUB1300 and is just 2.90mm thick with a 90 hour power reserve. It only has the time with subsidiary seconds dial. Overall it looks fantastic and very nice with the Classic Fusion case and style.

The dial has nicely sized hands that aren't too short. Short hands on this watch would kill it for me - but Hublot doesn't fail at all in this department. While the movement is the dial, Hublot is still able to apply sizable hour markers to ensure legibility is high. This is done with a sapphire plate over the movement I believe. An interesting design touch is that the Hublot uses a thin black outline for its logo to ensure it sticks out. I quite like that.

Offered in both titanium and 18k King Gold (basically red gold), the Classic Fusion Extra-Thin Skeleton comes in a 45mm wide case attached to a black alligator (with a rubber lining) strap. The case is water resistant to 50 meters and looks real nice on the wrist. Hublot really did an excellent job with these and both versions look nice. They will actually be offered as limited editions. There will be 1000 pieces of the Hublot Classic Fusion Extra-Thin Skeleton in titanium and 500 pieces of the watch in King Gold. Look for them later in 2012.

TECHNICAL DETAILS from Hublot:

References 515.NX.0170.LR - Titanium, 1000-piece limited series
515.OX.0180.LR - 18K King Gold, 500-piece limited series
Case "Classic Fusion" - Diameter 45 mm
Titanium or 18K King Gold, polished and satin-finished
Bezel Titanium or 18K King Gold, with vertical satin finish
6 H-shaped countersunk, polished & locked titanium screws
Crystal Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective coating
Bezel Lug Black composite resin
Crown Polished titanium or 18K King Gold, with Hublot logo
Case-back Satin-finished titanium or satin-finished 18K King Gold with sapphire crystal, interior anti-reflective coating
Water resistance 5 ATM, i.e. approx 50 metres
Dial Sapphire with silvered or red gold Hublot logo transfer
Anti-reflective coating on topside/underside
Polished & rhodium-plated or red gold-plated indexes
Hands Polished & rhodium-plated or red gold-plated
Movement HUB1300 hand-wound skeleton
Small seconds at 7 o'clock
Thickness 2.90 mm
Components 123
Jewels 23
Frequency 3 Hz (21,600 Vib/h)
Power reserve Approximately 90 hours
Wristlet Black alligator strap stitched onto black rubber
Clasp Deployant buckle in black PVD steel or 18K red gold

Jean-Claude Biver Steps Down As CEO Of Hublot

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:01:46 +0000

Hublot watches just announced that its charismatic and successful CEO Jean-Claude Biver has stepped down as the brand's CEO. I state this with sadness as Jean-Claude has not only been a friend but a very good example of what a Swiss watch CEO should be like. He is a master of marketing and collaborations. He not only knows how to save a brand but also how to make it something that the non watch news wants to cover. As a member of the press if there are two things I can say about him that all CEO's should aspire t0, then it would be his accessibility and involvement. Mr. Biver almost instantly responds to all e-mails and requests, and has a special talent for making each person he speaks to feel unique and important.

Jean-Claude isn't exactly leaving Hublot. He will remain there as the Chairman of the Board. This loosely defined position will give him less responsibilites but keep him aboard as a figurehead and adviser to the brand he helped revive. It has long since been rumored that Jean-Claude would leave Hublot to buy another brand and start over, but this is not the case. While not an old man, Jean-Claude is likely stepping down for health reasons and due to the draining nature of all the travel that is required of a Swiss watch CEO. As the Chairman of the Board he will be able to more selectively participate in brand activities and spend more time at home with his family. If you recall this is the same thing that Steve Jobs did at Apple, but I am not insinuating that Biver has those types of health problems.

Replacing Jean-Claude Biver as CEO will be Hublot's current Managing Director and # 2 man Ricardo Guadalupe. While Guadalupe has been friends and a colleague of Biver for about 20 years, he has been part of Hublot since 2005. He is no stranger to Biver's tactics or personality. Guadalupe however is a very different man than Jean-Claude. It is unclear how things will change once Guadalupe is placed in the top position at the brand, but with Mr. Biver around for advice and as a spokesperson I don't anticipate much change for the next several years.

My hope is that Jean-Claude Biver continues to devote much of his time to the brand he worked so hard to build-up. I have always said that Hublot is very much a "Biver brand." It is difficult to separate the two. When I see most Hublot watches in my mind I see his red tinted face and boyish smile announcing it with pride. Good luck to Ricardo who has some big shoes to fill, but who has been trained well for the job.

Official Statement from Hublot:

All of us at Hublot are very pleased to inform you that Mr. Ricardo Guadalupe, former Managing Director of the Company, and personal friend of Mr. Jean Claude Biver with whom he has been working since nearly 20 years, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer effective January 1st 2012.

This step was planned a long time ago in consideration of Mr. Guadalupe’s significant and instrumental achievements together with Mr. Jean Claude Biver since joining Hublot in 2005.

Mr. Jean Claude Biver will continue to serve Hublot as the company’s Chairman of the Board, and as in the past give his precious insights into business strategy and product development. As the official spokesperson of Hublot, Mr. Biver will also coordinate communications activities with the press, collectors as well as trade and industry.

“There is a time for learning, a time for doing, a time for handing over, and a time for moving on. I’ve happily made it safe and sound to the hand-over stage. With the gratification of being able to hand over to a friend and colleague of more than twenty years. And happiness at the prospect of remaining part of the team on matters relating to strategy, products and corporate relations.” -- Jean-Claude Biver

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.