Founded in 1980, Hublot celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. 40 years of dizzying rise of a small Swiss watch brand that in less than half a century has become a real avant-garde watch manufacturer recognized all over the world. The first brand to dare to combine gold and rubber in a watch, Hublot has made this bold approach a philosophy on which all its creations, innovations and partnerships are based: the Art of Fusion. Blending past and present in a futuristic watch. Blending precious materials and high-tech components. Merging the know-how of traditional watchmaking with cutting-edge technologies. Every Hublot action originates from the concept of the Art of Fusion. It all began in 1980, with the Classic Original, which for the first time in the history of watchmaking combines a precious material, gold, with a modern material, rubber. Then in 2005 the emblematic Big Bang Original had a profound impact on the watch design scene, with its black composite insert that gives the impression that the watch is entirely crossed by the black rubber strap and its ” sandwich ”which allows you to play with materials. One year after the tremendous success of this watch, Hublot creates the Big Bang All Black: all black, this piece with a strong identity pushes even further the combination of new materials and extreme design. Later, the model comes in an even sportier version, the King Power and then in the barrel shape with the Spirit of Big Bang. The best-seller also incorporates Hublot’s first “in house” engine, the UNICO chronograph. Equally emblematic of the Hublot style, the Classic Fusion launched in 2008 also derives from the first innovative designs of the 1980s. Since 2004, Hublot’s growth has been truly dazzling. A success that in 2008 pushed the world leader in luxury LVMH to buy the brand. To cope with this rapid expansion and verticalize production, Hublot opens two new offices in Nyon, the first in 2009 and the second in 2015.
Since its first pairing with a gold case in 1980, rubber has been THE essential and emblematic material of the brand. Likewise, Magic Gold, developed in collaboration with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and produced in the Hublot foundry, remains the only 18-karat gold alloy that does not scratch, as well as the hardest in the world. world. The metallurgists of the Manufacture have also developed a red gold color, King Gold, which has a warmer hue than traditional red gold. In the field of ceramics, Hublot has been exploring the exceptional properties of this anti-allergic, unalterable, stainless material for 15 years and creates vibrant new colors, such as scarlet red and royal blue. As for sapphire, the Maison is still the only one to master its complex industrialization and to develop new shades in its laboratories: black, yellow, blue and pink. The Art of Fusion is also expressed in the creation of innovative and unique movements. Introduced in 2010, the UNICO caliber is the first mechanical chronograph movement entirely designed, developed and manufactured by Hublot. It stands out for its atypical architecture, with double clutch and column wheel visible on the dial side. This is followed by the MECA-10 caliber, which features a skeleton reminiscent of a “Meccano” construction game and boasts an autonomy of 10 days. In the register of traditional complications, in 2012 fake Hublot presented a tourbillon with a 5-day power reserve, which it then associates with a minute repeater with a double cathedral stamp, before rethinking it in the shape of a barrel. In this department there are also “Masterpieces” in very limited series, such as the MP-02 Key of Time model, which indicates the time according to our wishes, the MP-05 “LaFerrari”, which incorporates 637 components, a tourbillon and a power reserve of 50 days, the MP-07, transposition of an engine block into an elegant high quality replica watches uk, or the Big Bang MP-11 and its 7 barrels in series for an autonomy of 14 days. To these excellent models are added creations of high jewelery such as the Big Bang Tourbillon High Jewelery, entirely covered with 1,574 baguette-cut diamonds (~ 84.9 carats).
From the Italian entrepreneur Carlo Crocco, founder of Hublot in 1980, to Ricardo Guadalupe, engine of Hublot’s expansion since 2004 and CEO since 2012, to Jean-Claude Biver, president since 2004 and inspirer of the Big Bang and the Art of Fusion , all these visionary and daring personalities have forged the success of the brand. Alongside them, living sports legends such as Usain Bolt, Pelé, Kylian MBappé, are Hublot’s ambassadors and share its philosophy: to be unique, first and different. Other partnerships in art and music, such as Depeche Mode, pianist Lang Lang, contemporary sculptor Richard Orlinski, tattoo artist Maxime Plescia-Buchi (Sang Bleu) or Italian entrepreneur Lapo Elkann (Italia Independent) have given birth to exceptional creations.
The exhibition designed by Samuel Ross has been set up in the heart of the Hublot H2 Manufacture in Nyon, Switzerland, which opens to the public in a phygital way and will therefore also be accessible remotely, with a virtual visit to the Hublot.com website starting from 23 November. At www.hublot.com/40-years it will be possible to immerse yourself in the exhibition dedicated to Hublot’s 40th anniversary. Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, will illustrate the four themes of the exhibition that tells the story of the Maison: starting from the products up to the Art of Fusion, the women and men who embody it and its universe of communication. Special guests, ambassadors and Friends of the Brand who will take part in the celebrations.
