Discover the highlights of the Hublot 2016 collection
The exclusive preview “Geneva Days” was attended by the world’s horology experts and aficionados who witnessed the unveiling of Hublot’s magnificent creations for the year including the manly MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire, the dainty Big Bang Broderie, the sporty Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph and the stylish Classic Fusion “Racing Grey”
From establishing its genius use of sapphire and enticing the imagination of feminine clients, to providing tribute for watchmaking and football as well as highlighting the subtle beauty of grey palette, the Hublot 2016 collection is indeed worth the discovery of all watch connoisseurs. The new timepieces cement Hublot at the forefront of research into the latest hi-tech materials and guardian of traditional expertise.
Acting as a bridge between a past that bears the traces of the most talented watchmakers and a future nourished on visionary artistic concepts, Hublot has once again proven that it places no limit to innovation.
MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire
Hublot writes a new history of the MP-05 “LaFerrari” collection that was originally launched in 2013. Taking inspiration and used as tribute to the eponymous car, the initial MP-05 “LaFerrari” was crafted under close collaboration between the designers and watchmakers working on the Hublot movement and Ferrari's design director, Flavio Manzoni. This partnership resulted to a record-breaking timepiece which was known for showing off the bold shape of its movement.
With the new MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire, Hublot flaunts the case carved out of sapphire and the movement which appears to be literally suspended in mid-air. The three-dimensional construction of the case middle, in sapphire, provides an exceptional setting for the movement that can now be admired from every angle. In fact, this movement finally has the sculptured bodywork it deserves. The sapphire case middle is composed of seven components machined from seven blocks of sapphire and involved over 600 hours of work.
Revealing its hypnotic nature, the HUB9005.H1.PN.1 movement features 637 components and a suspended vertical tourbillon. The bridge of the manual winding movement even bears the word "Hublot", which the engineers carved into this transparent material, the hardest after diamond. In its vertical position, the small second is displayed via a transparent cylinder fixed on the suspended tourbillon cage. The hours and minutes positioned to the right of the barrels, and the power reserve to their left, are also displayed via transparent cylinders. With a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, the remarkable movement provides power reserve of 50 days that is indicated by transparent cylinders on the left side.
Complementing its exceptional design, the MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire is teamed with a transparent silicon strap, with a clasp which also features components carved from sapphire: The buckle polished sapphire crystal and microblasted black-plated Titanium deployant buckle. In keeping with the ultra-futuristic look of this timepiece, the watch is wound by a mechanism using a miniature power drill, modelled on the tyre-changing tool used in Formula 1®.
Featuring the case and caseback polished sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, this watch also flaunts its 11series-coupled barrels as well as its water resistance up to 30 metres. Indeed a rare timepiece, limited to 20 pieces, the MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire is a true collector's item.
Big Bang Broderie
This first Big Bang Broderie is a symbol of confident femininity and glamour. In blending two forms of Swiss expertise, it won the prestigious Ladies' Watch Prize at the 2015 Geneva Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie. The two new limited-series Big Bang 41mm Broderie Sugar Skull and Big Bang 41mm Broderie – presented at Hublot’s “Geneva Days” this year – are testaments to the inimitable character of its mother Big Bang which gained its iconic stature as the ultimate symbol of fusion.
The new timepieces feature the craftsmanship of the master of Swiss embroidery: Bischoff. Bischoff's master craftsmen prepared the silk organza embroidery of floral arabesques that subtly reveal the skull motif for the dial in their workshops in Saint-Gallen, near Zurich. The result of this work created a stunning transposition in the traditional use of the embroidery of Saint-Gall.
High on colours is the Big Bang Broderie Sugar Skull 41mm with the palette of turquoise, navy blue, pale pink, fuchsia, yellow, orange and violet harmoniously blending with Lurex silver or gold threads, the skull motif with 11 red spinels, and the arabesques on the strap. Its massive 41mm case is adorned in black ceramic with a bezel enhanced by 36 red spinels. There are 36 pink sapphires that enliven the pure steel while 36 blue sapphires highlight the cat’s eye effect on the red gold.
Meanwhile, the other timepiece Big Bang Broderie 41mm receives new editions in ceramic, steel and yellow gold. The web-like material, embroidered in black or silver Lurex affixed on glossy silk, black for the ceramic, silver for the steel, golden for the yellow gold, sensually evocative and subtly erotic, are sumptuously adjusted to the body. The stunning beauty of this watch comes from prolonging the lace pattern from the dial to the bezel.
For both Big Bang Broderie Sugar Skull 41mm and the Big Bang Broderie 41mm, the dial is a result of innovation and increasingly advanced technology. Based on carbon material, the special layered sheets of carbon fibre, coated in a transparent resin make it possible to compress the embroidery while magnifying the pattern and adding an illusion of depth. Enhanced by this optical effect, the dial offers a particularly reduced working thickness so that the hands and the embroidered pattern do not touch.
Big Bang Broderie Sugar Skull 41mm and the Big Bang Broderie 41mm, each of which comes in three runs of 200 pieces.
Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph
As Official Timekeeper for the EURO, the World Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League, Hublot stands on the touchline of the most prestigious competitions and championships. Since the football world marches to the beat of Hublot, the Swiss watchmaker needed designed a watch dedicated to the most popular sport in the world: the Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph.
This year, on the occasion of its third participation at EURO, Hublot introduces the Official Watch of UEFA EURO 2016™. Designed with the football world in mind, the Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph wears the colours of France, the organising country of the 15th edition of the EURO. This sporty timepiece features a huge 45mm case in black ceramic that is fitted with a “One click” interchangeable strap system in blue alligator sewn onto rubber and overstitched with white and red seams. It comes on a limited edition of 100 watches, in red, white and blue colours.
On one hand, with its recent partnership and its status as “Official Accredited Watch” for the Champions League, Hublot unveils a second limited edition of 100 pieces featuring its mythic Unico retrograde chronograph movement. Dressed in the Champions League’s midnight blue, its 45mm case in black ceramic sports a strap in blue alligator sewn onto rubber and overstitched with a white seam.
The timepieces are powered by the HUB1261 movement which is visible through a sapphire caseback with the UEFA Euro 2016™ or UEFA Champions League™ emblem. A bi-retrograde module with patented automatic winding is fitted to the UNICO manufacture calibre, enabling it to time a football match. Designed to time two halves of 45 minutes, and extra time, allowing a total of 60 minutes, its central chronograph display has the seconds and minutes hands moving on a circular arc between 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock. A push button at 2 o’clock activates the mechanism and moves the second hand to the 60-second mark before it swiftly jumps back to 0 and starts again, whereas the minute hand measures elapsed time as it moves around. The aperture in the centre indicates the ongoing period (1 for the first half break and 2 for the second half or end). Meanwhile, the local time is displayed by a counter at 6 o’clock.
With power reserve of 72 hours and water resistance of up to 100 metres, the new versions of the Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph also flaunt the dark blue rubber and dark blue alligator strap with white stitching, and treated black titanium folding buckle.
Classic Fusion “Racing Grey”
This 2016, Hublot is also releasing its new addition to the Classic Fusion collection in on-trend yet timeless grey. Following on from its Spring/Summer 2015 blue collection, the Classic Fusion quintet now boasts a total “Racing Grey” look. Less harsh than black and more timeless even than blue, this grey – inherently neutral and universal – reinforces the model's versatile elegance. From tweed to iridescent satin, grey works with every style from the understated to the ultra-sophisticated.
Depending on preference, the timepiece offers the case in a choice of four dimensions as well as three movements. The 38mm and 42mm models are driven by a HUB1110 self-winding mechanical movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The 33mm case boasts a HUB2912 quartz movement. Meanwhile, the 45mm version, with 3 hands and date, or chronograph with the date at 6 o'clock, house the HUB1112 and HUB1143 automatic movements respectively.
With its beauty enhanced by the “metallic” flecks of the titanium or the vibrant bronze of King Gold, the Classic Fusion “Racing Grey” is undoubtedly a piece with timeless elegance. Easy to wear, it suits any style and is as masculine as it is feminine.
Flaunting power reserve of 42 hours or 3 to 5 years for the HUB2912 movement, the models of Classic Fusion “Racing Grey” keeps the grey alligator leather and black rubber, with deployant buckle in steel or 18K red gold.
