Hublot is not making a Red Devil timepiece for the first time. But the latest Red Devil timepiece is as unique and characteristic as it gets. While the last Red Devil came in the classic fusion case, the new case is fitting a normal wrist despite its hefty 48mm size.

The microblasted black ceramic case and bezel are complemented with the Red Devil logo on the dial and houses a self winding HUB 4245 movement with chronograph function providing approximately 42 hours of power reserve.

When I saw the Red Devil for the first time, I thought, oh my god, this is striking with the skeletonized movement, and all the red accents as well as the most unique feature which are
indices made of real green grass. Such a controversial move, but the watch wear light and sits comfortably on your wrist.

You may ask where the grass is coming from? Well, it is from the hallowed turf of Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.

This is a limited edition watch of 500 pieces and is water resistant to 100 meters..

Oh, before I forget, there will also be a limited edition of 250 pieces for the King Gold version…

Boris Pjanic
www.watchesandart.com

The year 2010 has a special meaning for Hublot.It was the year when the first Hublot designed and manufactured movement was born. The HUB 1240 Unico movement is an automatic flyback movement.

The flyback chronograph allows to reset the chronograph seconds to zero without stopping the seconds hand. Instead, the seconds hand shoots back to noon (zero) and immediately starts running again. In the past, this has been a very challenging mechanical function in any chronograph movement.

While many people still have Hublot on their minds as a watchmaker who makes Quartz powered movements for their watches, Hublot integrated a watch manufacture into their manufacturing process already in 2009. It took about a full year to deveop their first mechanical movement. And the result can be seen in the „King Power Unico All Black“. The „All Black“ combines luxury and rugged appearance in a large 48mm contemporary timepiece which wears lightly on your wrist due to its ceramic case and bezel. The black looks represent a kind of understatement which makes the owner smile while he knows what he is wearing on his wrist.

Not too long ago, my buddies would have told me, how can you buy a Hublot? „That is just a Quartz watch.“Well, the more I get around, I see how more and more friends are getting Hublot watches and are truly enjoying them as fun technical marvels and comfortable watches to wear. I think it is safe to say that „Hublot has outgrown itself“ by becoming a manufacture in the truest sense of the word.

Boris Pjanic
www.watchesandart.com

The setting is spirited away as if by magic, the diamonds sparkle in all their glory without a claw to be seen. They have been shaped by a mysterious hand that leaves no hint of the device used to secure them.

The Big Bang One Million $ 38 mm is an exceptional piece featuring a total of 880 baguette diamonds, adding up to more than 48 carats. Equipped with the mechanical self-winding caliber HUB1110, it is made from white gold individually crafted by master stone-setters using the complex “invisible set” technique which magnifies the brilliance of the diamonds.

This exceptional piece has enjoyed major successes since its presentation in Basel in April 2010, has been awarded “Best High Jewellery piece 2010” at Premier Middle East Watches awards, and nominated “Best High Jewellery piece 2010” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie of Geneva, Switzerland. Due to the complexity of its production, it is a watch that is made by special order only.

As an ultra-exclusive symbol of the long-term partnership, on nvember 2011 Hublot was proud to unveil the first genuine Ferrari-stamped Hublot watch: A pure collectors’ item which will be produced in a series of just 20, in reference to the 20th anniversary of the first Ferrari in China. It was also a sort of special preview – in exclusivity in China – for the new Ferrari-stamped watch series that has been unveiled by Hublot at the 2012 Basel Fair.

The named Big Bang Chrono Tourbillon Ferrari is a timepiece with a sophisticated mechanism chosen especially for the occasion, a single push-piece chrono movement, with a flying tourbillon to delight the eyes of the initiated. It comes to life in a case made entirely from carbon fiber, with titanium and rubber. The whole makes for a perfect illustration of “the Art of Fusion” between great watchmaking tradition and the technology of the future, so dear to Hublot. In another mark of distinction, the sapphire crystal is solid red tinted, a technically complex process, but one that provides exceptional colour stability. Finally, the Prorosus crocodile strap with its red stitching accentuates the nobility of the watch.

Technical details

Reference: 308.QX.1110.HR.SCF11

Series: 20 pieces numbered from 01/20 to 20/20

Case: Big Bang

Diameter: 44 mm, made from carbon fibre

Bezel: Carbon fibre

Crystal: Red sapphire with Hublot transfer

Bezel Lugs: Black composite resin

Lateral inserts: Black composite resin

Crown: Ǿ 8.40 satin-finished, with black rubber insert

Screws: Black PVD titaniun

Push-pieces: 2 o’clock satin-finished black with red lacquer

Case-back: Carbon fibre with red inscriptions

Case-back crystal: “20th Anniversary of Ferrari in China” transfer, with Ferrari Horse in the centre

Water resistance: 10 ATM, i.e. approx 100 metres

Dial: Matt black with black nickel indexes - Ferrari Horse in the centre of the Chrono minute counter at 2 o’clock

Hands: Faceted & polished hands + red 60-seconds counter

Movement: HUB 6300 Column-wheel chronograph, clutch Tourbillon escapement coupled directly to the cage, with power reserve indicator on the dial side

No. of components: 269

Jewels: 35

Bridges: Carbon fibre

Screws: Polished steel

Main plate: Circular-grained black gold

Barrel: Reinforced spring

Escapement: Glucydur hairspring

Power reserve: Approximately 120 hours

Strap: Adjustable black rubber and black Porosus Hornback crocodile strap, with red stitching

Clasp: Big Bang micro-blasted black PVD titanium deployant buckle, micro-blasted black PVD titanium cap, micro-blasted black ceramic decorative plate, black ink engraving and polished black PVD screws

One of these fabulous classic watches came at the Manufacture for a Service. It’s nothing to say that this Quartz model is eye catching as well elegant for Gents and basically one of the first Hublot.

In 1980, Hublot took the world of watchmaking by surprise when it created for the first-time ever, a watch with a precious metal case held by a natural rubber strap. This would mark the birth of the “Fusion” concept.

The porthole-shaped case with its combination of polished and brushed gold the inimitable bracelet in natural black rubber became the symbol of Hublot watches.

The twelve screws on the bezel are used as hour indicators so no need to encumber the dial with the numbers.

Made with Steel and 18 karat yellow gold this model is part of the Hublot history.

It’s a world “first”, and a technological and artistic achievement. The dream of combining key Hublot concepts – invisible visibility, “All Black”, watchmaking tradition and state-of-the-art technology – has become reality thanks to the creativity, the ingenuity and a touch of the “crazy” which spurred on its designers to create such a masterpiece. The high level of micro-mechanic sophistication, combined with the dexterity of the human hand, has resulted in the One Million $ Black Caviar Bang.

Its setting is very complex. The difficulty resides in the unusual lines of the Big Bang case – round but with sharp angles. The white gold, one-piece construction of the case does not reveal one grain of gold, and the diamonds, cut in mysterious ways, seem to hold together as if by magic. The only visible feature is the black and deep tones of the diamonds, shining in their harmonious alignment.

This unique piece, which houses a Tourbillon, symbolises the fusion between watchmaking and jewellery, between tradition and technology, and between glittering and invisibility. The vibration which emanates from it gives rise to an emotion tinged with fascination. AsJean-Claude Biversays: “When each element is crafted individually and in coherence with the one right next to it, this is invisible from the outside but creates a vibration of harmony which is visible and gives rise to emotion in those who perceive it”.

Creating this exceptional watch demanded over 2000 hours of meticulous work, from design to final adjustment, without forgetting the research and development, programming of the machines, choice of tools, diamond cutting, optical checking of each part, and setting and casing. 544 baguette diamonds, of quality TW IF-VVS specially treated to be black, adorn the watch’s case, dial, crown and deployant clasp.

You might not expect to find me at the Grand Havana Room. After all, a private cigar club is not the usual place for a woman. I must admit I do appreciate a fine cigar every now and then. Yes, I really do. However, the reason for my visit was Hublot’s New York unveiling of the King Power “Arturo Fuente” timepiece.

The Grand Havana Room is as you might imagine: men puffing on fine cigars in comfy lounge chairs, drinks in hand. Before even entering the club, you get a welcoming whiff of cigar smoke. Some don’t like the smell, I happen to find it pleasant and distinctly masculine. I enjoy the company of men so I felt right at home. And the boys graciously embraced me with open arms.

Before I knew it, a glass of champagne immediately appeared in my hand. There was lots of mingling and friendly chatter prior to a delicious three-course lunch. There’s no denying Hublot puts on a classy soiree. Cigar in hand, Mr. Carlos Fuente Junior, the owner of the brand, was also in the crowd making new friends and greeting old. He’s a dignified and warm man with stately manners. I loved the pocket square in his jacket and the hat he wore, tipped at a rakish angle.

In an interview with journalist Paula Zahn, Fuente, Jr. regaled the crowd with anecdotes about his family and their experiences in the cigar-making business in the Dominican Republic. It was almost like we were on the plantation ourselves among the tobacco plants and in the rolling rooms. To everyone’s surprise, Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City and close friend of Fuente, dropped by to say hello.

But what do watchmaking and cigars have in common? Quite a lot actually. I learned the complexities of growing tobacco and rolling cigars. When done at the highest level, as it is at Arturo Fuente, it’s a process that takes many hours and steps to produce a true handcrafted product, one that delivers to discerning connoisseurs. Though making cigars is an old art form, the brand incorporates modern tools in its production.

Hublot takes the same pride in their craftsmanship. On the King Power “Arturo Fuente” you see evidence of the same attention to detail. It has a rich brown dial reminiscent of tobacco and red accents. The 18K gold case stays true to the “Art of Fusion” with the bezel lug in black composite resin. Through constant R&D and pushing forward, Hublot continues to surprise. They invented Magic Gold—a virtually scratch proof form of the precious metal—and likewise bring the future to the past, for example, by building a minute repeater out of carbon, an industry first. Another one of the common tenets the two brands share is giving back to the community. Yes, this partnership makes good sense on all levels.

Included in the Hublot gift bag was a premium cigar, courtesy of Carlos Fuente, Jr. I stayed all afternoon long talking watches until the very last puff.

The Hublot King Power “Arturo Fuente” was made in honor of the 100^th anniversary of the Arturo Fuente brand and specifically for the Opus X, considered the rarest cigar in the world. The King Power “Arturo Fuente” is offered in two limited editions: 100 of the King Gold and 200 of a King Ceramic version. It’s fitting that the “Arturo Fuente” watches will come cradled in a Macassar ebony cigar case, which includes Opus X cigars.

Meehna Goldsmith
Watch Editor

Yesterday in Berlin, Hublot and mega-successful band Depeche Mode (100+ million albums sold!) announced a special partnership to benefit charity: water, a non-profit bringing safe drinking water to the developing world.  They will do this through increased awareness of the cause  as well as through the sale of 250 special Big Bang “Depeche Mode” watches, proceeds of which will go to support charity: water.  The watch is certainly a distinctive design — its appeal to Depeche Mode fans is not hard to see.  More importantly, let’s keep in mind that each of these 250 watches are for a good cause.

Hublot Chairman Jean-Claude Biver (left) and Depeche Mode wearing Hublot Big Bang “Depeche Mode” watches at the Berlin launch event

While I have no doubt that readers of Perpetuelle do not worry in the least about access to clean water, you may be astonished to learn that more than 800 million people around the world do not have reliable access to clean water.   The timing of the announcement from Hublot and Depeche Mode was not coincidental, as this Friday, March 22, is World Water Day.

Hublotistas may recall that this is not the first time Hublot and Depeche Mode have worked together for a good cause.  In 2010, Hublot and Depeche Mode raised funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust with an auction of 12 exclusive boxed sets, each containing a Hublot watch, a ‘pièce unique’ with the cover of one of Depeche Mode’s 12 studio albums on its dial, along with the vinyl and digital version of each album, a golden framed CD and autographed stills. The charity: water initiative is obviously much more ambitious than the first successful charitable effort, and I applaud Hublot and Depeche Mode for their efforts here.

Kyle Stults
www.perpetuelle.com

Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode

Hublot introduced an amazing version of the Big Bang in 2011 called the Chukker Bang. This watch possesses one distinction compared to other Big Bangs. It has an additional grille in front covering parts of the dial and emphasizing the dial setup. I find this an interesting idea and wonder where it is coming from? What was the inspiration for such an implementation?

The Chukker Bang was designed and inspired by the beautiful game of polo in mind. Since Hublot is the main sponsor of the Polo Gold Cup Gstaad in Switzerland, this was probably bound to happen to develop a watch dedicated to Polo. The watch was developed in conjumction with Facundo Pieres who is a world famous Argentinian Polo player and Hublot brand ambassador.

There is a counter for 7.30 minutes on the dial which corresponds to one polo game unit called chukka. That is how the name of the watch came about. This timepiece is limited to only 500 pieces worldwide. Without the Titanium grill, the watch looks quite different, as you can see below.

The red accents on the dial give this timepiece an extra touch of attention and viewing pleasure. The watch does not have a seethrough back, but has a flyback chronograph function. 

Built with lightweight Titanium and a ceramic bezel, this is a quite comfortable timepiece manufactured at Hublot. And last but not least, it is quite a looker. I am sure, people will look at your wrist when you are wearing this watch as the looks of the dial in combination with the grille get people’s attention. And rightfully so.

A car like LaFerrari deserves a watch worthy of its namesake. After taking the watch world by storm at last year’s Baselworld with the Big Bang Ferrari in Hublot’s own patented scratch-proof gold alloy “Magic Gold”, Hublot were bound to raise the bar even higher this year. With the recent unveiling of the Ferrari’s Enzo-successor “LaFerrari” at the Geneva Motor Show, the pressure was on for Hublot to deliver something just as exceptional. Just as I would have expected from Hublot, The MP-05 LaFerrari did not disappoint.

Before I get into the watch, let me just state that in Ferrari’s long history of watch partnerships, The Hublot LaFerrari project was the first time the design team from Ferrari collaborated with the watchmaking brand on both the design and technical fronts; the resulting watch an attestation to the growing synergy between Hublot and Ferrari.

From a distance the entire watch reminds me of the back of LaFerrari; the case being the engine hood and the exposed movement the engine within. The sapphire crystal is domed yet incredibly smooth, and really enhances the “miniature engine” look. At the same time the watch still retains a clear Hublot identity with cues from past masterpieces such as the MP-02 Key of Time. The case is made in lightweight Titanium with a PVD treatment.

Up close, the first detail that you just can’t avoid is the spine-like central column of barrels (11 in total), which allow the watch to reach a record-breaking power reserve of approximately 50 days; a mechanical feat that once again showcases Hublot’s R&D and manufacturing prowess.

The hours and minutes are indicated by two rotating aluminum cylinders on the right side of the watch, and are painted with white Super-luminova for increased legibility. The left side of the watch displays the power reserve. The cylinders are supported by anodized red aluminum elements, a Very Ferrari touch. The extra-large vertical tourbillon sized to look more integrated with the barrels also serves as the constant seconds indicator.

The movement deserves a post of its own, so I won’t discuss it in too much detail here. Suffice to say that it contains 637 parts, making it Hublot’s most complex movement to date in terms of number of components.

The titanium and carbon fiber crown at 12 o’clock winds the 11 barrels, while a discreet crown on the underside of the watch sets the time. Interestingly enough, the watch comes with a dedicated winding device, allowing the wearer to wind all 11 barrels and reach the maximum power reserve quite effortlessly. Manually winding 50 days worth of power reserve would not be a pleasant experience!

The watch is limited to 50 pieces and comes in an accordingly impressive case made from Schedoni leather (Schedoni have been Ferrari’s exclusive leather supplier since 1977) and carbon fiber, discretely housing the special winding tool within.

The MP-05 is more than just a watch; it is an engine on the wrist made possible by a harmonious partnership between two iconic brands. This is what every partnership should aspire to.

This is it, the piece every Hublotista has been asking for since Hublot’s in-house chronograph movement was first announced: a Big Bang equipped with the manufacture’s Unico movement. Except, well, it’s not a Big Bang per se.

Yes, it carries the same name as Hublot’s most emblematic design to date, but Hublot has marked the Big Bang Unico as a separate line from that original Big Bang, and with good reason: They simply aren’t the same watch. While many of the signature design cues have been retained from the Big Bang, such as the sandwich case construction in a myriad of materials, the Big Bang Unico is a different machine altogether. When seen in the metal (and ceramic), a clear evolution in the overall design is evident, taking hints from some of Hublot’s most popular designs and incorporating them into one very seductive timepiece.

At 45.5mm, the case of the Big Bang Unico is slightly wider than the original 44mm Big Bang but just as comfortable on the wrist. The entire silhouette of the case is more menacing, with less curves and a completely satin-finished surface. On the strap attachments are the innovative and wearer-friendly quick strap-change buttons, first introduced on the Oceanographic 4000 collection and later on the Big Bang Ferrari. The bezel (ceramic on this model) is also vertically brushed for a satin-finished top and is polished on the side; a sportier look than the knurled bezels found on the original Big Bangs.

The distinctive H-screws have also been rethought on the Big Bang Unico and are visually quite interesting, as they don’t protrude out of the case like the screws on the King Power, nor do they sit flat on the case and bezel like the original Big Bang. Rather, the Big Bang Unico’s case screws are in relief, with polished edges and matte “H’s” that have a much more 3-dimensional look to them.

For the first time in almost 10 years, Hublot has gone for round pushers; reminiscent of the original Hublot chronographs and the “Super B” from way back when. The crown is screw-down, which further reduces water infiltration risk through the crown. The pushers are designed to resemble engine pistons, and are protected by pusher-guards that aesthetically balance the proportion of the pushers to the case.

The open dial is a sapphire, allowing the wearer to admire the in-house Unico calibre (after all, that is the purpose of the aptly named Big Bang Unico). It has a minute chapter ring similar to the original Big Bangs with red and white markings, two metal sub-dial rings applied onto the sapphire, extra-large Arabic and baton hour markers that call to mind the original Big Bang, but this time much larger and hollowed with a substantial amount of Superluminova. The Big Bang Unico’s hands have also been evolved, baring some resemblance to the King Power’s multi-layered sword hands; facetted on two levels with varying finishes. The constant seconds subdial is placed at 9 o’clock, while the chornograph minutes and date aperture on the larger subdial at 3 o’clock.

The strap is a sturdy but flexible structured rubber strap with a ribbed finish on the middle. While thicker than the original Big Bang’s strap, the Big Bang Unico’s is just as soft and comfortable on even the slenderest of wrists.

The movement, which takes the centre stage of the watch as it can be admired from both the front and back, is the UNICO flyback chronograph with column-wheel, boasting 72 hours of power reserve. The entire movement is finished in a space age looking matte ruthenium.

The Big Bang Unico, which will initially be available in several combinations of Titanium and King Gold with either metal or ceramic bezels, is a milestone piece that showcases just how far Hublot has come in creating a unique sense of hi-tech watch-making; on the outside as well as the inside of a watch.

In October 2011 at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, Hublot took the world of watch-making by storm when it unveiled a watch movement unlike any other, a miniature homage to the ancient and obscure Antikythera mechanism of Greek antiquity.

The ancient Antikythera mechanism which dates back to 150 BC, served as an astronomical calculator as well as a sort of ancient “GPS” system, since the celestial bodies were often used as a reference point in navigation. The mechanism has the oldest known complex gear mechanism and is sometimes called the first known “analog computer” in human history.

Recreating this mechanical marvel alongside the Antikythera Research team was a huge achievement for Hublot. Not only did it validate Hublot’s position as an haute horlogerie manufacture, but also gave Hublot a link to an epoch that no other watchmaker could claim. But perhaps the most surprising part to many watch aficionados’ disappointment was Jean-Claude Biver’s decision to never make the Antikythera movement or watch commercially available, as he intended for it to serve solely as a homage to the great minds of millennia past. Only four examples would ever be made, with two currently on display at the Musée des Arts et Métiers and the National Museum of Athens, one is in Hublot’s own collection, and the final example will be sold at a special auction to be held in 2014.

But this wouldn’t be the end of Hublot’s Antikythera story. Remember, the 2011 Hublot Antikythera movement was based on all the research made on the original fragmented mechanism up until 2008. Since then, the Antikythera Research team has made some astonishing discoveries, so you can be sure that Hublot will continue to come out with new Antikythera concept.

One of the problems with the original Antikythera mechanism was that it was far too complex for our 21st century minds to fully grasp and appreciate. I mean, has anyone honestly referred to the Metonic or Sorros cycles in the past few centuries?

So this year in Baselworld, slightly shadowed by the mind-blowing La Ferrari as the brand’s talking piece of the show, Hublot surprised us with a simplified version of the Antikythera mechanism (well, as simple as you can make an Ancient Greek astronomical calculator), with fewer complications than the original mechanism (295 components and 7 complications vs. 495 components and 14 functions), allowing the entire movement to be further miniaturized to fit into a wearable watch case.

The Antikythera SunMoon displays both solar and lunar calendars, as well as the position of the sun and moon in the night sky. Superior to the traditional moonphase indications found on watches, the Antikythera Sun Moon shows the shape of the moon in the sky, the name of the constellation behind the Moon, as well as the time required for the Moon to pass through a constellation. The watch also shows the constellation located behind the Sun and the time required for the Sun to pass through a constellation.

The movement is housed in a new square-shaped Titanium case, with a round dial giving the impression of looking throw a porthole at the night sky. The movement is equipped with a flying tourbillon that serves as the seconds indicator, and boasts a power reserve of 120 hours. It has been simplified from 14 to 7 functions, and is considerably smaller and thinner than the original Hublot Antikythera mechanism.
The display back shows the movement finished in matte and satin ruthenium, complete with a giant central gear which bears a striking resemblance to the front of the original antique mechanism.

The Neo-Antikythera or MP-07 will join the other super-complicated Hublot pieces in the Masterpice collection, and will be limited to just
20 pieces.

In the coming weeks and months, I will be covering the entire Hublot/Antikythera story from both mechanical and philosophical aspects, so stay tuned!

The world first piece of Bright Red Ceramic

It’s a world premiere! Hublot is proud to announce the creation of a bright red ceramic! And not any red: the Ferrari Red.

After months of research, the team who has developed the Magic Gold, Mathias Buttet and Senad Hasanovic from the R&D and Metallurgy departments, succeeds to make the first bright colored ceramic which can be machined for components.

The watchmaking industry tried to accomplish this achievement for decades but none of the brands performed this result. It always turned orange or burgundy-coloured and never with the bright effect. Not every color can be made with ceramic and for specific reasons, nobody could achieve to make the red color. Red is the most difficult color to apply on materials, so everyone understands the Hublot’s feat!

Is it really the Ferrari Red? Yes! When you put this little piece of bright red ceramic on a spectrometer, you observe the exact same pantone (color matching)! It also means that Hublot has the knowledges to develop this process and produce in-house ceramics in wide range of colors.

Among thousands kinds of ceramics, Hublot found the right combination of ingredients to produce this amazing color. Naturally, the recipe of this “Magic Red” is classified Top Secret for the Swiss Manufacture and they decided to register an international patent to protect this know-how.

It’s all about vision and innovation … It’s all about Hublot

Since 2007, Hublot and the Senna family have worked closely to pay homage to the late F1 pilot Ayrton Senna, and to help raise funds for the family’s NGO, The Instituto Ayrton Senna.

The MP-06 is the 4th limited-series collection Hublot launches that bears the legendary F1 pilot’s name (well, if you don’t count the one-off Big Bang All Black Ayrton Senna sold at the 2007 Monaco Senna Celebration charity auction) and it seems that with every edition, Hublot ups the ante.

The MP-06 is the most complicated Senna piece to date, and the first to join the ranks of the Hublot ” MP’s” alongside such pieces as the Key of Time and Cathedral Minute Repeater. While we might have expected a case such as the King Power or Big Bang for the canvas like past Senna editions, Hublot opted for something radical this time.

Now, this isn’t the first time Hublot has released. In fact, the first piece ever from the MP collection (Hublot’s more experimental, ultra high-end line) the MP-01 mono-pusher chronograph was a larger, bolder tonneau shape. For the MP-06, Hublot has created a slimmer, sleeker case. Made in either matte black PVD treated Titanium, King Gold or natural Titanium, the MP-06 is not overbearingly big, as the slightly curved case fits the wrist’s contours quite comfortably.

The almost invisible sapphire dial is open at the 6 o’clock position, exposing the tourbillon cage beneath. The Senna brand logo in yellow at 9 o’clock adds to the high-octane look of the watch. Above the sapphire sits the chapter ring, with the minutes rail in black, and applied satin-finished black metal hour-markers filled with a copious amount of yellow Superluminova.

Designed and manufactured entirely in-house, the manual-winding skeleton tourbillon movement was made to be as see-through as possible. The cutout bridges are finished in dark ruthenium plating with satin-brushed and circular grained surfaces. The movement houses 2 barrels stacked on top of each other, fashioned to resemble brake disks. The 2 barrels are able to deliver a power reserve of 5 days.

The eye-catching strap really makes the watch pop, and is made of a rubber backing to make the strap more flexible and resistant to sweat. On the top is perforated calf leather, a more traditional design cue for automotive racing watches. Between the rubber and black calf is a strip of yellow calf leather revealed through the perforations; the touch of color on the strap harmonizing well with the strong accents on the dial.

The MP-06 Senna will be available in 3 editions (Black Titanium pictured, Titanium with green accents and King Gold with red accents), each limited to 41 pieces; the number of the late racer’s Grand Prix victories

Now I’m sure many critics see this as just another opportunity for Hublot to increase brand awareness by teaming up with a reputable group for their comeback. They would be right, but for a Depeche Mode fan such as myself, this watch perfectly resonates the spirit of the band. Here’s why.

If case you’re not familiar with their music (in which case I would have to ask where you’ve been living for the past few decades), Depeche Mode are easily one of the most globally popular electro-pop bands of all time, known for their innovative sampling methods and their influence on techno and electronic/pop music in general. While often categorized as “synth-pop”, Depeche Mode’s sound carries a uniquely dark, almost gothic edge that continues to fascinate and influence artists even today.

Knowing Hublot and Depeche Mode, it came as no surprise that their namesake’s watch would be a very, very dark piece. Remember, Hublot originally collaborated with Depeche Mode in 2010 when they created 12 unique All Black pieces, which were sold at a charity auction for the Teenage Cancer Trust. So, while I was certain it would be something black, I was blown away by how far Hublot had gone to make this special edition stand out.

Matte black ceramic was an almost natural choice fir the case and bezel, with the open “aero” dial giving it that touch of complexity and depth. The bezel is certainly the most eye-catching element with its pyramid stud decoration all around. In case you’re wondering, the spikes or “clous pyramide” inspiration comes from Depeche Mode’s most recent logo that you can find on the cover of their latest album Delta Machine.

The skeleton dial, which reveals the chronograph mechanism beneath, is expectedly all-black with a dark ruthenium surface treatment, again with pyramid studs used for the hour markers.

The strap is also unique to the Depeche Mode Big Bang, using a heat-molded calfskin strip of leather with stud shaped polymer resin injected into it. This is sewn onto the black rubber, making the strap much more supple and comfortable than it looks.

As “Charity Partner” on Depeche Mode’s Delta Machine Tour, portions of the sales of the Depeche Mode Big Bang will go to the charity “water”, a non-profit bringing safe drinking water to the developing world.

Any watch collector will you, there is nothing more heartbreaking than sending your beloved watch “to the spa”, a term watch-lovers use when sending their watch back to a manufacture or service centre for servicing. Whether it’s for a major repair or just a routine maintenance service, you know you won’t be seeing your watch for a few weeks.

While most of us have more than one timepiece in rotation, let’s face it: the Hublot is almost always the go-to watch. Whether it’s because it looks so darn good in both business and casual settings, it’s scratch-proof materials or even the sheer comfort of the natural rubber strap, the absence of the Hublot from the watch-box is definitely felt.

Luckily, Hublot have come up with a solution to remedy our woes: the Hublot “Atelier Watch”.

Keep in mind that in the early years of Hublot, when a customer sent in a watch for servicing, the brand would offer a temporary replacement. While this showed the brand’s commitment to excellence in customer service, the increasing success of the brand and the risks to not get the replacement watches back, didn’t permit anymore to undertake this level of service and customer relationships, and so the service watch ceased to be.

Today, Hublot is regarding by many collectors and tries to keep a leader position in after-sales service in the watch industry. Even with its open communications and fast lead times, Hublot felt there was still something missing in the after-sales experience. So at the end of last year, Hublot announced that the service watch concept has been brought back, under “Hublot Atelier” moniker. The case, based on the 45mm Classic Fusion, is made of a black resin composite similar to Kevlar. The case, bezel and even the tang buckle are made of this light yet resistant material. The dial is as clean as it gets, with no visible indexes or markers. The “Hublot Atelier” logo replaces the traditional “HUBLOT” at the 12 o’clock position, and at 6 o’clock my favourite part of the watch that says it all really: “NOT FOR SALE”.

The movement is a no-fuss 3-hands quartz movement with a date function, insuring accuracy and reliability while you wait for your watch to come back home. What’s interesting is that a large majority of the components in the Atelier watch are made in Switzerland.

The Hublot Atelier watch is making its way to Hublot boutiques around the world and will be exclusively available to customers who hand their watch over to a boutique for servicing and repairs.
So fear not Hublotistas, even when your watch is getting pampered in Switzerland, you will never have to go without a Hublot again!

A frequent discussion among watch collectors and Hublotista for the past few years is the number of limited editions Hublot releases and how they affect the brand’s prestige and collectability. While purely subjective, we would like to explore why limited editions are a good thing, especially for a brand like Hublot.

Some limited editions are made as a way to gauge the receptiveness for a given design, case, material or complication. If we look for example at the original Big Bang All Black from 2006, one of the most iconic Hublot pieces to date, it was a marginally bold and daring aesthetic that Hublot just weren’t sure how the public was going to react. After all, who would really want an all-black watch that you can barely read the time off? To Hublot’s surprise, the All Black was an instant hit and was later adapted into other models and collections.

Then you have the color limited editions, like the All Black Blue, Red, Green, or more recently the Denim and Fluo collections. These are a great way to offer variety to the current offerings without overcrowding the core collections. Whether it’s a newcomer to the brand or a Hublotista looking to for a particular color or look (after all, who doesn’t like matching their watches to their cars or outfits?), the color limited editions are a great way to keep things fresh and build on a successful core design.

You also have to remember that a lot of these limited editions are commissioned and designed by retailers or partners, for sale exclusively to their customers through their point of sales. This is a great way for the retailer to offer en exclusive product to his customers, and some of the resulting watches (I opted for a Marcus edition Big Bang) are quite stunning.

Last but not least, you have the partner or ambassador related limited editions. If you look at the King Power Red Devil or Juventus or FC Bayern, they are essentially the same watch, yet each has its own character and speaks to an entirely different group. I once met a young collector at Baselworld a few years ago who had never heard of Hublot before their first Manchester United limited edition Big Bang. He went on to buy 3 examples of that same watch, plus every other Red Devil edition to date. Another example is the Ferrari Big Bang city/country editions. There are Ferrari “tifosi” out there who have only associated with Hublot since their partnership with local Ferrari clubs and through the release of local Ferrari editions.

Ultimately, it’s not about how many limited editions or how different they are, but what they mean to the targeted audience. While you and I might not really care for an obscure entity like the Yacht Club de Monaco for instance, to its members, having a watch made just for them means the world, and Hublot is a brand that enjoys celebrating that sense of fraternity.

Last Saturday in Usain Bolt regained his 100m World Title in 9’’77 during the IAAF World Championships 2013 in Moscow. At this occasion, Hublot Nation official blog is pleased to offer a closer look at the Hublot King Power. The Hublot watch dedicated to the fastest man in the world.

This special model, limited at 250 pieces, has been developed in close consultation with the champion. He wanted his watch to be a fusion of the symbols representing everything he holds dear.

Starting with his silhouette, that pose – his unique signature – stylised and immediately recognisable in an anthracite grey transfer on a black background at 9 o’clock in the centre of the movement’s permanent small seconds counter. Another symbol… the choice to appear at the centre of the permanent chronograph, embodying time which constantly passes, never stopping…

The chronograph movement features a central 60-second hand and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock (which could serve him well in his crucial preparation routine during the final countdown prior to each race).

A 12-hour chronograph counter sits at 6 o’clock, and is decorated with a touch of green in a nod to the colours on the flag of Bolt’s beloved home: Jamaica. Indispensable.

A date window at 4.30 completes the design. The 48 mm-diameter watch, in micro-blasted ceramic, is predominantly black, with gold – Bolt’s own colour and that of his lucky fetish shoes – very much in evidence, adding a further symbolic touch. The flange features a 2N gold powder coating and the strap is made from exactly the same gold-coloured synthetic leather as his shoes. This is stitched onto black rubber – a Hublot signature – to guarantee comfort, strength and flexibility.

As Usain said, “the best is yet to come!”. We wishes him the best of luck for the coming events especially the 200m and 4x100min the IAAF World T&F Championships in Moscow next weeken.

With Masterpieces like the La Ferrari and Antikythera Sun Moon showcased at the Hublot booth during Baselworld, it’s easy to overlook some of the other novelties being presented. One such piece is the King Power “King Cash”.

The Hublot King Power King Cash is based on the King Power Unico GMT released last year. With it’s rotating discs and original aesthetics, the Unico GMT was a novel way of reinterpreting the world time complication. The King Power King Cash takes this approach to this next level and sees the addition of a theme or “purpose”. You can call it a financial timer, as the King Cash displays the times across some of the most important stock exchanges in the financial world.

The movement’s 4 rotating disks on the dial have 24-hour markings that are painted in differently from 06:00 to 18:00 and 18:00 to 24:00, serving as instantly comprehensible day/night indicators. I love how the only colour is green, an investor’s delight. The disks can be advanced by increments of 30 minutes via the single pusher on the case.

The case is the 48mm-wide King Power in matte-finished Carbon fibre, with an engraved ceramic and rubber bezel. I have always liked the circular satin finish found on some King Powers’ ceramic bezels, like the Unico GMT or Euro2012 pieces. Especially with the GMT/World Timer pieces, it helps the text on the bezel blend in more fluidly with the watch.

The watch runs on Hublot’s proprietary movement, the Unico, equipped with an in-house developed and manufactured module for the GMT/World Time complications. The watch boasts a power reserve of around 70 hours when fully wound.

I find the King Power King Cash to be an innovative piece with an original way of implementing the world time function, especially in relation to the financial world. Especially if you work in finance, I think you’ll find the King Cash as alluring as it is functional.

The King Power Unico collection is already a staple in the Hublot’s lineup. Being the first collection to offer an entirely in-house developed and manufactured chornograph movement, the Unico collection has become a Hublotista favorite. While the original All Black and King Gold (Hublot’s own corrosion resistant red gold alloy) versions were both limited editions, last year Hublot introduced several Unico-equipped watches as standard offerings in their collection. This year at Baselworld, Hublot introduced another non-limited variation, the King Power Unico Black Magic.

When we think of Hublot, the first thing that comes to mind is black cases. Ceramic is an incredible material, especially for a 48mm watch case. It’s lightweight when compared to more traditional metals like steel, and its high scratch resistance makes it the ideal material for a sports watch case.

The Big Bang Black Magic was Hublot’s first full-ceramic Big Bang, and has become one of its most popular combinations to date. The King Power Unico Black Magic takes cues from the Big Bang Black Magic Evo, with it’s applied metal markers filled with copious amounts of Superluminova. The monochrome look adds a sense of understatement to an otherwise very visible watch.

The 48mm case is made of entirely matte finished black zirconium oxide, with raised attachment “H-screws” and a crown and pushers done in polished Titanium. The side of teh bezel is protected by a rubber layer which is also attached via the bezel’s six screws.

The original Unico limited editions used blackened rhodium-treated movements, but the Black Magic is finished in a relective metallic grey ruthenium. Visible through the dial, it adds some contrast to an otherwise black watch. The Unico movement was designed with a modular construction, meaning that different complications can be added on top (or under, from the watchmaker’s perspective) of the timekeeping top plate of the movement. The 60-minute chornograph’s column-wheel, fashioned in the emblematic “H-screw” can be seen at 6 o’clock.

The sapphire dial has a bi-compax layout, with the constant seconds at 9 o’clock and the chronograph minutes (60 instead of the more common 30) at the 3 0’clock subdial. The date wheel is made of an intricate skeletonized metal disk, visible through an aperture between 4 and 5 o’clock.

The automatic chronograph movement delivers a power reserve of 72 hours and uses a bi-directional winding system for more efficient winding. The escape wheel and pallet fork are made of high-tech silicium. The chronograph is a fly-back and uses a column-wheel instead of the cam/leaver system found in the HUB4100 movement for example.

The King Power Unico Black Magic is the first full ceramic non-limited edition Unico-equipped watch, and as any Hublotista knows, no collection is complete without a ceramic piece. The first examples are slowly making their way to Hublot boutiques and retailers near you.