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.
By Amr Sindi The Horophile