Second Life is rich with such marketing endeavors and Hublot

Branding is really what it is all about, as many makers of fine watches envy the results of the Rolex monolith. Whether it surprises you or not, most people consider a Rolex watch to be the best you can get and the most expensive. How little they know. But this is because Rolex spends the most money on advertising by far, out of all other watch companies. Even if the people noticing Hublot watches on Second Life for the first time aren't about to go out and buy one, the key is the brand inoculation; making users remember the name and forming associations. Informing potential future buyers is big money. Get them while they are a bit younger with free time, and when the time comes to get a nice watch, they will remember the "Rolex alternative." My feeling is that this is Hublot's main intention.

Hublot has been working hard to engage the younger, richer market. Young doctors and other professionals who are style conscious yet wants something functional. Hublot scored big with the Big Bang (no pun intended), and would be foolish not to capitalize on that. By sponsoring events, and engaging the future well funded thinkers of America, Hublot is doing an admirable attempt as being (at least one of) the nice watches of choice.

They were not interested so much in buying and selling

Now that Hublot is on Second Life, things aren't going to change much there, unless you really want to play around on a big H shaped island. Hublot promises to offer interesting insights on how Big Bang watches are made and designed. Best of all, you get the outfit your Second Life avatar with a Hublot Big Bang watch! Whether or not there is a fee involved is unclear. Basically, you have a virtual Hublot amusement park. Meeting Hublot representatives, and checking out Hubolt media.

From a marketing perspective this might seem an odd route for Hublot to go given the medium and audience. However, consider this, setting up shop on Second Life is relatively cheap. Several graphic designers and coders working a couple of weeks could do it, and then just one or two would be contracted to upkeep it. So costs are cheap. While you may have heard of Hublot watches and not Second Life, chances are that most people on Second Life have never heard of Hublot watches. The branding potential is there, in a big way.

Virtual World Marketing: Hublot Watches Establishes Itself

In what seems a strange marketing decision, Hublot Watches with its new French captain, has sailed in to the waters of Second Life and purchased a virtual island there. For those of you now keen on all that is virtual, Second Life is a well established virtual world. Not quite a game, not quite a second existence, Second Life (run by Linden Lab based out of San Francisco) got its claim to fame by making some of its inhabitants rich by selling virtual real estate. Millionaires from selling what some people claim is vapor. Other see virtual worlds as the next big thing in real estate.

A couple of years ago, Second Life was the haute place to go for the marketing elite to set up shop. They were not interested so much in buying and selling, but more branding and getting themselves out there in a new way. Companies like Coca-Cola and Toyota saw this as the next big tech land grab. Not since the days of sweeping up .com names, did companies flock to establish themselves on Second Life. Things fizzled out a bit as the Second Life population did not bubble as expected, but Second Life held strong, showing the world that there is a lot of innovation in virtual, user created content. As such, you have to applaud Second Life for being the locus of so much user created innovation.

Hublot MDM Professional Watch On eBay

Hublot's come back astonished many people. Few would think that a relatively obscure watch maker could save itself via the introduction of one stellar watch. That watch being the Hublot Big Bang, in its many iterations. However, Hublot is not thriving because of the Big Bang only, it was the legacy of supreme watch making that allowed it to produce the Big Bang. That combined with innovative marketing efforts makes for a serious watch industry player.

Some call Hublot's styling quirky, but they are really the type of watch you have to wear to appreciate. On eBay currently is a Hublot MDM Professional Diver's watch. A highly functional and attractive piece, this is a serious watch, employing the best of what Hublot has to offer. Styling has uncanny similarity to Temption watches. They share similar types of bezel's and design themes which are Bauhaus superlatives. Each in their own right have classic designs.

This Hublot MDM Professional Diver Watch is being offered at a low price. While one cannot predict the ending price, this is a rare watch, and one with a very high quality construction. The rubber strap with the steel buckle is well done, and inherently sporty. The retail price on a watch like this is between $4000-$5000, but Imagine this watch will go for somewhere between $800-$1600 because it is used but in good condition. And in case it was not obvious, this is a Swiss watch with a very accurate automatic mechanical movement with about a 50 hour power reserve, better than the ETA standard. Now you know that Hublot is more than just a maker of the Big Bang.

Focusing more on a younger market along with the release

I hope that LVMH does not change the direction Hublot has been heading too much, but this is unlikely. In fact, LVMH will likely allow Hublot to carry on as before, but now with some corporate veto power at the top. Except to see Big Bang derivative watches for as long as humanly possible. Perhaps when they have reached a few models short of "Movado's bleeding the Museum watch for all it is worth," they will focus on a new Hublot star.

Expect the transition to be relatively smooth, but don't expect too many sales prices. It is unclear the effect this will have on online sales as well. Tag Heuer and Zenith are notorious for sticking with "authorized dealers." Production of Hublot watches is likely to increase, but availability online is probably not. This of course doesn't change the bounty on eBay, thankfully.

Louis Vuitton Corporate Bag Gets Even More Stuffed

Here in San Francisco you see an interesting trend since the dot com boon of the late 1990s. You have companies that are started, only to be sold. The whole intent of the company is to paint itself in flattering colors only to attract a large buyer. This odd corporate mating ritual reverses the traditional M&A (merger and acquisition) roles, and has alpha companies sit around and wait for attractive young companies to stroll by presenting their promising futures and wide marketing reach. There is even an entire niche industry dedicated to creating attractive companies that will appeal to Google’s unquenchable hunger more consumer eyes.

Ah, but it was not always this way. Large companies used to be the predatory ones, aggressively seeking out the profitable and weak. Using their superior resources to purchase both their competition and those companies with something innovative to offer. Just such an example has presented itself in LVMH's (Moet Hennessey, Louis Vuitton) recent "adoption" of Hublot, whose marketing efforts over the last 5 years have turned the company around. Focusing more on a younger market along with the release of the widely successful Big Bang line of watches has made Hublot a force to be reckoned with. One apparently that made enough of an impact on Tag Heuer and Zenith (also under the LVMH umbrella) that engulfing Hublot seemed the "natural" thing to do.

Many thanks to Jay and Gary who provided more images the watch

Sadly, this is the closest picture I could get of the gold Bvlgari watch that is worn in Tony Stark's garage/workshop. The movie watch shares the gold case and "Bvlgari Bvlgari" names on the bezel, though it has a new chronograph feature which utilizes two retrograde indicators on the each side of the face. Traditional Bvlgari chronograph watches features typical round subdials for the chronograph registers. Use of retrograde registers is a stylistic approach that offers a more unique sense of functionality. Assuming I find images of the exact watch, I will place them in this post. Any heads up would be appreciated.

In accordance with the first watch worn in the movie (the Hublot Big Bang), Robert Downey Jr. was seen wearing an Orange numbered Bell & Ross BR 01-94 in an interview about the movie. This indicates that Mr. Downey Jr. is indeed a watch fan owning several tech luxury watches. These are perhaps not the most challenging of watches to acquire, but at least he is interested in owning them. Good for him.

Also of immense popularity among the Hollywood crowd are Panerai watches (mainly due to Sylvester Stallone), and IWC. Of course Omega and Rolex have their deeply ingrained popularity as well. But what I really like to see is when a star wears something totally out of the ordinary (I'm not talking about a Timex). I mean a nice and rare watch that signals the wearer put effort in to acquiring or learning about. Not merely something they walked into Westime (popular luxury watch store in Los Angeles) and picked out. Look out for more movie watch sightings.

Iron Man saves a black Audi Q7 from being destroyed

In the beginning of the movie, you can make out a Hublot Big Bang with a rich blue face, probably with the tantalum bezel and gold case. This watch is visible at Downey Jr. rolls around in the dust avoiding enemy fire. The Hublot Big Bang is a fitting watch for Tony Stark, as it represents high technology and luxury. The watch is immensely popular in the Hollywood circuit, but then again, most attractive luxury watches are. I imagine that Robert Downey Jr. probably has a collection of these in real life. Though he admits to wearing the Bvlgari watches in Iron Man because of the sponsorship.

After Tony Stark is kidnapped, his captors probably take the Big Bang and trade it for some more arms and armor. After his daring escape and return to Malibu, we see Tony Stark wearing a Bvlgari Diagono Sport with a black face and black leather band while in a tuxedo. The watch in the movie differs from the pictured version in that the movie watch has gold screws in the lugs holding the strap in place, which the pictured watch does not. Bvlgari obviously had some sponsorship in this movie, and the next watch Downey Jr. is seen wearing is a far fancier Bvlgari.

Range Of Watches In New Iron Man Movie Bvlgari & Hublot

I love spotting watches in movies, and there were a few of interest in Iron Man, which I saw last night. To tell you right away, the watch that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.'s character in Iron Man) wore that received the most screen time is very new, and I could not get an image of it to you show, though I will describe it. I was able to get pictures of all the watches, check them out below. The movie by the way was very well done. Perhaps not as much action as I would have liked, but Jon Favreau did a great job bringing a very different type of superhero to the big screen in a way that did not destroy the franchise. Notable elements are the attempt to make the process of building the Iron Man suit more realistic by displaying the development along with testing of the suit, and the ability of Tony Stark to publicly announce his role as Iron Man, in comparison to most heroes who keep such things secret. Another item of interest; Robert Downey Jr. wears his watches on his right wrist, while most wear it on the left wrist. This might mean that he is left handed, or has a particular preference for that wrist. You author (being left-handed), still wears his watches on his left wrist. The world does hate us lefties.

Oh, and for your car buffs, didn't you like seeing the various Audi autos in the movie? Obviously another sponsorship, I am just happy that it didn't come from GM. I would have died a little inside to see Tony Stark driving a Pontiac Solstice, or heaven forbid a Saturn Sky. Jon Favreau is NOT Michael Bay, and that is a wonderful thing. Tony Stark rides around in an Audi R8. A new silver Audi A5/S5 is shown a bit, and Iron Man saves a black Audi Q7 from being destroyed.

Hublot Watches Is Growing Up + Video

Jean-Claude Biver speaks like a proud father discussing his baby Hublot. He remarks on how the brand has acquired more space, and is only getting more in the future. Biver isn't on everyone's "I love this guy" list, but he is a really good watch company head, and he gets how to run a European luxury watch company. If LVMH is smart, they just leave him to do what he wants to do. Oh, and in the video, is it just me or does Biver look and sound genuinely annoyed at the questions and/or the interviewer?

I've said both good things and bad things in the past about Hublot. While I really most of their watches, they are on a long easy ride on the derivative train. Everything basically looks a like with color changes. "Hey, let's make this watch black and now... green! We will call it something that reminds people of other things they like! Like apples, or The Big Apple! Cause its the Big Bang - Genius!" And Swiss marketing legends are born... Still the Big Bang is a cool watch, and for all the crap that I can give to Hublot about beating that design until it eventually becomes the very definition of cliche, it is still nice. Hey, you never know, 50 years from now the Big Bang could reach Rolex Submariner design status. It could happen!

Hublot & The Future of Watches – Jean Claude Biver Interview Baselworld 2009

Hublot, and I should say Biver, makes no apologies for who they are and what they are about. To do that as a brand earns you more respect and loyalty. Because when you buy a watch - or a handbag - or a car - you are not just buying the item ... You are inviting the brand - and it's message - and its DNA - and with Hublot, the president's philosophies - into your life. And you will continue to represent the brand until you take the item off.

So, as critics spout off about watches and the next generations, I would advise other brands to look at what Biver and Hublot are doing. Don't copy - but see how you can incorporate this more modern approach into your designs - advertising - and brand message. Another great example is when Biver highlights the relationship with Manchester United, you honestly feel that he is talking about new friends - connecting with human beings. And by building upon those relationships and human emotions, Hublot becomes so much more than just a watch brand.

Now, I am not just a victim to great marketing here. Just check this image below... Hublot partnered with EURO 2008, the European Football Championship, and donated all of its billboard advertising space to the foundation Unite Against Racism. The boards, which obviously carry a high impact rate, are also quite costly. And yet Hublot did not brand the "No to Racism" billboards.

Biver gives us a few hints about the future of Hublot

In the video Biver gives us a few hints about the future of Hublot. Namely "manufacture." We know that Hublot is gonna get its own movements to go inside of its watches already with price points as though they already do have their own movements. So in maybe 3-5 years we will start to see something new from Hublot. All that bangin' Big Bang success has been able to fund some serious expansion and deserved ambition by Mr. Biver. He also talks about some of the peripheral things that they haven collaborated on. Like the Hublot bicycle or skis. I have a feeling that these products are only branded Hublot, without and of their design, which is probably good. Why then, is it fair for him to talk about them like they are Hublot products. What the hell Biver, you talk about them however you like, I still like the watches!

Biver also mentions the upcoming Hublot watch making school. How I hope Biver is gonna be one of the professors. I can see myself in class, so happy to be there. Enthusiastically raising my hand to ask what I think is a good question. Only to have Professor Biver give me an perturbed gaze with a response like, "what are you? A moron? This is a school not a social club. No questions!" Haha, that thought cracks me up. But seriously, keep up the expansion and show us that bigger bang real soon.

Hublot Depeche Mode Album Cover Watches

This pretty awesome collection is going to make a lot of Depeche Mode fans angry. Not because they are bad homages to the band, but because there will only be one set of them made, which will be auctioned off for charity. Each of the 12 piece unique watches will be auctioned off separately (February 8 - 24, 2010) , but that isn't to say that one super rich, super fan is going to buy them all up. There is one watch for each of the 12 Depeche Mode albums. You can see that in the center of the otherwise black toned Big Bang model watches is the album cover art, with a unique image on the sapphire crystal caseback as well for each album. In order to give room to the Depeche Mode album cover art on the dial, Hublot removed the subsidiary seconds dial. A good way to add space without removing too much functionality. If someone really want to measure seconds they can use the chronograph. Hublot designers have even matches the stitching of the watch strap to match one of the prominent colors on the album cover art. Overall the collection is pretty cool, and an interesting addition to the Depeche Mode universe of collectibles.

Interested? Well you can bid on the watches easily and quickly online between February 8 - 24, 2010 (sorry if you are reading this after the auction ended). No going to some far off auction house. These be modern times! Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. To bid, just visit Depeche Mode's website or the auction page during the auction period. There you can get a good view of each of the 12 sets and you can bid on them. The auction is being operated by Liveauctioneers.com in combo with the auction house Patrizzi & Company. No telling how high the price is going to get for each of them. I wonder what album's watch will go for the most.

Hublot takes the core Big Bang look and simplifies

Classic Fusion works. Hublot takes the core Big Bang look and simplifies it. Think of it as a stripped down Big Bang King - the non-chronograph diver version of the Big Bang. The Classic Fusion has a much thinner profile and simplified dial. What you have is the classic porthole design of the case, and the strong hands and hour markers that made the Big Bang so famous. The cases come in either steel or red gold, and the bezel is in ceramic with a brushed tip and polished sides on the carbon fiber dial version, while the matte dial versions have matching gold or steel bezels. Rubber straps with thin vertical lines remind us of the first Big Bang watches that came out just a few years ago - but seems ages old given the plethora of Big Bang models to precede it.

The Classic Fusion comes in two sizes. I believe the cases are 44mm and 42mm. In the images above, the matte dials versions are larger in the steel case, and a bit smaller in the gold case. In addition to the plainer matte dials, Hublot also offers a sportier carbon fiber dial option. I anticipate many more versions to come in the future. Perhaps even with classic complications for such thinner pieces such as calendars and moon phase indicators - all with the Hublot twist.

Being quite thin, the watches are very comfortable - and easy to adjust. High-end watches with rubber straps these days have a system where the excess rubber strap tuck in where your wrist is, rather than flops around on the outside. I didn't get pricing information or specific availability, but expect the Classic Fusion watches out soon. Oh, and if you are wondering about the "Fusion" part of the name - well Mr. Biver considers the original Big Bang watches to be a "fusion" of materials. That for him is the point of the collection. So here, the idea is to return to the classic feeling of this "Fusion" feeling.

Hublot Classic Fusion Watches

How do you create a classic? The statement in and of itself shouldn't make sense as classic things develop over long periods of time. Such "instant classics" are merely good designs that appeal to many people. What I am talking about is literally making a bona fide classic in the time it takes most people to simply develop a product. I can't say I fully understand how, but Jean-Claude Biver at Hublot has turned the Big Bang watch line into a classic over the period of just a few years - but he did.

In 2004 almost nobody had heard of Hublot. Suddenly a short time later we see the birth of a phenomenon. Literally the 'big bang' of the Big Bang. Now, about 5 years later after the product launched, you couldn't count how many Big Bang models there have on the fingers of all the people at a crowded party. What each new watch had in common was a certain pure sense of connection to each other. They each had the same distinct DNA, and the brand forced the core design in the realm of being a classic.

At the 2010 Baselworld show, Hublot unveils the Hublot Classic Fusion. A classic looking watch based upon the Big Bang design that itself is a modern looking watch. The only way that was possible, was by making the Hublot Big Bang itself a classic. Again, the irony is that the Big Bang watch itself is modern and aggressive. Anything but a classic. So Hublot was able to make a classic from a non-classic.

JCB grabs his soft briefcase from car and we walk in Hublot

I know start-ups. I live in San Francisco and have visited my share of them. Based on JCB’s management style, the loose arrangement of job titles and duties, and the quick decision making, Hublot doesn’t fall-outside of the term. Whether it is a start-up or not, it has the feeling of one. A highly profitable, widely know, and individual product start-up. The thought crosses my head that Hublot is the eBay of watch companies. Hublot has a good system for keeping interesting and sales high. The tough part for any CEO is maintaining that. Like a proud CEO, JCB spits out a few important selling points about his company. Profits that would make most watch brands this size red in the face and shamed at their performance comparatively, no debt, no loans, no leases, no liabilities, no BS. It is un-believe how easy this man makes it all seem, running and growing Hublot. He has in incredible talent for persuasively communicating a plan or an idea. He has the type of charisma that would make mowing a lawn or sitting in traffic sounds like the best way to spend an afternoon. He has used this talent to sell the idea of Hublot to the world, as much as the products themselves. JCB’s reputation is built on his ability to be a good business person in an industry notorious for not having the best business people. But at the same time, his rock-star status is built on how he goes about it.

Unless you know Jean-Claude, it might not occur to you that he is a good listener. Perhaps surprisingly he is, even humble in many ways. He is remarkably receptive to ideas and advice — at least when it comes to listening them. JCB likes to mention that he makes quick decisions doesn’t engage in the typical long and drawn out Swiss process of deciding how to do things. As Swiss as his cheese making is, JCB isn’t a typical Swiss manager. His thought process is much more cerebral than it is committee based.

It is the morning in Switzerland during the summer

The story of Hublot is really only as interesting as Jean-Claude Biver’s (JCB) contribution to the Swiss watch brand. In 2004 the well-known captain of horology took charge of the failing brand. JCB saw Hublot as a challenge. Something with potential, but potential that only had a limited lifespan before it needed to be saved. Hublot was dying. Suffering annual losses at the time JCB stepped in, something seemingly so far in the past given what Hublot is today. Prior to Hublot, JBC led Blancpain, and also put it on the map. Before that, Omega. JCB is a lifetime watch industry man. He has been in the watch world since the 1970s. While other watch brands clamor to find talent from outside industries, Biver gives good fuel to the argument that to have success in the watch industry you really need to know the watch industry.

If JCB has one talent, it is how to make watches that people want to buy. The Big Bang should proof enough of that. He isn’t a watch maker, nor does he pretend to be. He is brand maker though. He knows how to connect with what I will refer to as “desirable auras.” You might see Hublot being advertised all over the place, but it isn’t exactly simply advertising. JCB is of the school of thought that when your name is connected to something, your name gets a part of that media, event, person, etc…, like osmosis. When JCB chooses to sponsor an event or select an Hublot brand ambassador, it is with the utmost of intent. If that person or thing is widely-known, respected, and gets people excited, it just might be a winner. For me, some of Hublot’s biggest successes have been to connect with Formula One and the FIFA World Cup. Imagine for a moment what an immensely big deal it was for Hublot to solidify a deal as the official timekeeper of the World Cup. Almost no one other than JCB could likely have swung such a deal. In addition to the incredible new level of brand notoriety, the awareness of the brand has sky rocketed. I got to see the website stats for Hublot.com during the month of June while the World Cup was going on. We are talking a traffic spike that looks like Mount Everest.

It is the morning in Switzerland during the summer. Whatever you may say about Switzerland, you can’t claim it isn’t a beautiful place. I am sitting next to Mr. Biver on the way to the office. Two of his boys are in the back seat of the Porsche. No worries, it is the sedan. JCB is bringing them to work as well. It is the summer, and as school is out, they are bringing skateboards and hanging out at Hublot. JCB describes Hublot as a family and explains his managements style. He wants a close level of connection between his employees and the perception that everyone is their own boss. He moves his hand in straight line to explain that there isn’t a hierarchy at the brand. People all have different roles, and the only boss is himself. He doesn’t say it, but I have feeling his personal management style doesn’t involve micro managing. He simply sets expectations from people, and for the most part, gives them the freedom to produce as they see fit. “We are a start-up,” JCB declares about Hublot. While the brand isn’t new, its success is. It has had about 5 years of boom, and as far as JCB seems to be concerned, the brand’s life before him doesn’t count.

Biver & Me: Exclusive Inside Look At The Hublot Watch Manufacture

The myth of Jean-Claude Biver is as much a man, as the man himself. While many people wouldn’t necessarily consider the CEO of a watch brand a celebrity or an icon; to watch lovers and people working in the industry, few people have the level of respect and close to attention that Mr. Biver enjoys. And enjoy it he does. The prize for the man’s calculated efforts is a sense of pride and a pat-on-the-back attitude that comes naturally. Bright faced and wide-eyed, Jean-Claude Biver (JCB) often has the enthusiasm of a teenager. Nevertheless, Jean-Claude prefers the simple joys in life, and is approachable in a way that can’t be said for most men at the helm of high profile brands. Aside from his deeds as a watch maker, Biver is amusingly known second best for his famous cheese making — a true Swiss, he does not disappoint.

I had a rare opportunity to spend time with Mr. Biver on what I can only describe as a “bring your journalist to work day.” I fly to Switzerland, and travel to the Hublot headquarters outside of Geneva in Nyon. This is where the magic happens, and where so many watch industry eyes are permanently focused.

If Hublot is loved by watch consumers, JCB is loved by watch industry people. My lifestyle involves participating in conversations with people from many watch brands. Few times does a name come up more often than Biver — even more so than Mr. Hayek of the Swatch Group. There is an almost universal sense of respect and awe aimed at JCB and what he has done with Hublot. It also makes employees of his competitors want his watches — which most of the time they simply aren’t able to do without upsetting their boss.

The strap is a cool material and matched to one of Hublot

The mostly red and black dial with the white trim really talks to me. It is very tough to go from a three dimensional Hublot dial back to most other watches. The majority of other dials start to look really flat after seeing the style of King Power dials. Despite the complexity, the large hour markers have a very high contrast, and have applied SuperLumiNova. Those, mixed with the minute indicators on the flange ring, make for a very easy to read timepieces. The hands are of course super bold and sport. Here painted (microblasted) in a bright red, they have a softer look that some other Hublot hands due to the paint, but have an incredible ability to pop out visually. Part of the dial look like they are floating around due to the fact that there is another AR coated sapphire crystal in the case that the hour markers (for example) are mounted on.

Aside from the time, the watch has a 12 hour chronograph and the date. You can see the date wheel around the dial, and you read the date where the transparent disc has the white marker behind it, located at about 4 o'clock. The showiness of the dial is balanced by the matte finished case. In matte black ceramic, the case is 48mm wide, with composite resin in the middle, and the caseback is a titanium plate. The screws are all black titanium. The bezel, crown, and pushers are each molded with rubber. The case materials make it feel good to the touch. Hublot often has highly tactile products that are intended to offer a variety of textures, finished, and colors. That rule is no different here.

Which leads me to the point of the watch - being another timepiece as part of Hublot's partnership to be the official watchmaker of Formula 1. First there was the basic Hublot Formula 1 watch, which will be followed by a number of specifically themed watches such as this Formula 1 Monza watch - dedicated to the famous race track in Italy. The high tech looks of Hublot watches certainly do match with the high-tech looks of Formula 1 race cars - a fact that is hard to deny. The Hublot King Power Formula 1 Monza watch will be limited to 200 pieces and have a price of 26,900 Swiss Francs. Quite pricey, but given the demand for a watch like this, Hublot won't have any trouble selling out.

Hublot King Power Formula 1 Monza Limited Edition Watch

Hublot really did something special with this watch, and it looks just great. Totally epitomizing what fresh Hublot designs can feel like. In addition to the great King Power model based design, this watch has two special innovations that you will really like. First, is a world's first developed by Hublot - a red sapphire crystal. A few years ago Rolex developed a green colored sapphire crystal for their Milgauss watches. Hublot has done the same but with red. How cool does that look? Of course the crystal is just slightly red, so as to still be transparent.

You have to understand that this isn't merely a red tinted or colored sapphire crystal, the actual crystal itself has that red color to it. On the edges of the crystal you can see the rich red tone, and the dial itself is hued in red a bit as a result of the red lens. Of course, the hands and hour markers that are already red have enhanced colors due to the red sapphire crystal.

The second technical feature that is new is an in-house skeletonized Valjoux 7750 movement. Those watches that utilize 7750s are already modified by Hublot, but here Hublot has actually skeletonized the movement. One image here is of light penetrating though the movement, showing that you can see right through to the other side in parts of it. The combo of the black titanium screws, carbon fiber bridges, sapphire plate under the dial, custom tungsten carbide rotor, and skeletonization makes this feel like so much more than your average 7750 automatic chronograph movement. To make room for the F1 logo on the dial, Hublot removed the subsidiary seconds dial. If you want to measure seconds, you can use the chronograph.

Hublot Aero Bang & King Power Aero “Bal Harbor” Limited Edition Watches

Look more closely, the two watches in this article are different. Though seriously - while they are cool looking -you'd think that Hublot might have wanted to make them look just a tad bit more different. The major difference of course is the case. One is in a Big Bang case, and the other is in a King Power case - though you'll agree that at a cursory glance they look almost too much alike. One of the reasons for the similarities is the fact that they are both "Aero" watches. These are usually skeletonized chronographs. Thus, the names of theese watches are the Hublot Aero Hang Bal Harbour and the Hublot King Power Aero All Black Bal Harbour. Got that?

Each will be limited to just 25 pieces and will be available at Hublot's Bal Harbour boutique (not sure whether that is an exclusive or not). The boutique there is brand new. Bal Harbour is a high-end mall in Miami Beach that is seemingly filled with watch stores! Well not just watch stores, but the place certainly has a lot of watch stores. If you are a watch lover and live in or visiting Miami, you should wear your best clothes, and go check it out.

The color scheme of the watches remind me a lot of the Bell & Ross BR Heritage watches - that also features black cases and dial with tan straps. The "Bal Harbour" printed straps also remind me of those on the Bell & Ross BR01 Heritage model. Instead of going for a "aged look" these Hublot watches are attempting to recall the look of sand. Working with Bal Harbour in Miami Beach, the boutique is located just minutes from the shore, and Hublot hopes customers will feel a connection to the sand colored straps while shopping in the area. At least that is the idea. The khaki-esque color continues to the hands and hour markers on the dial, as well as elements in the case. You have to admit the watches have a retro military feel to them.

Inside the King Power Tourbillon Ayrton Senna is a tourbillon movement

The second of the two limited edition pieces is much more limited and has another interesting quality. Limited to just 10 pieces, the "Hublot King Power Tourbillon Ayrton Senna" has a different caseback for each piece. If you look at the image gallery here I show you the 10 casebacks. Each is an image from a different point in Senna's life from the early 1980s to 1993. The pictures are emotionally rich points in Senna's driving career and were chosen by members of his family specially for the timepieces. The individual images on the caseback crystal are a nice idea from Hublot, and certainly will add desirability to the piece for Senna and F1 collectors.

Inside the King Power Tourbillon Ayrton Senna is a tourbillon movement made entirely in-house at Hublot in its Confrerie Horlogere department (that is responsible for making Hublot's most complex haute horology movements). The HUB6300 movement has a flying tourbillon, column-wheel based monopusher chronograph, power reserve indicator, and time with subsidiary seconds dial. The flying tourbillon captures your attention in the lower part of the dial, with the subsidials being up top - once again you can see the exposed column wheel at the top of the dial in this instance. Like the split-second chrono model, there is a dot style power reserve indicator. The colors for the power reserve indicators are even applied in color SuperLumiNova. So with all the colors on the dial, these must look like spaceships glowing at night. The HUB6300 movement has a power reserve of up to 120 hours.

The Tourbillon Ayrton Senna is really quite a show stopper. I quite like the in-house made movement and the design. The yellow strap is also Nomex but here has green and blue stitching - clearly a signal to the Brazilian flag. As a testament to Ayrton Senna's life, regretful death, and continuing legacy - these two limited edition Hublot watches are well done, and the special casebacks on the tourbillon model feel meaningful. Hublot and F1 collectors will be hard pressed to pass these up.

Hublot King Power Ayrton Senna

The two limited edition Ayrton Senna watches from Hublot are quite interesting. Hublot here has been able to showcase a few new things. The first of which are all carbon-fiber versions of their King Power watch cases. Often times cases will have carbon fiber inserts, but theses 48mm wide cases are in all carbon fiber, though part of Hublot's typical sandwich construction. This in a sense is Hublot's answer to Audemars Piguet's forged carbon cases on some of their Royal Oak Offshore watches. While the cases are carbon fiber, the bezels are in matte ceramic and made to look like disc brakes. The screws and crown are PVD black titanium.

As I said, there will be two Hublot Senna watches. The first is the "Hublot King Power Ayrton Senna." In almost all black, the watch is 48mm wide with a black Nomex (with yellow stitching) strap, and yellow elements in the hands and hour indicators. The skeletonized dials shows off part of the HUB4247 automatic movement - which is neat. For instance, the column wheel for the chronograph is right there on the dial. Despite the skeletonized interior of the dial, it is still easy to read given the large applied hour indicators. The movement has the time, split second 30 minute column-wheel based chronograph, and a power reserve indicator. This latter feature is particularly handsome as done in color dots. Hublot placed Senna's signature in yellow, right over the subsidiary seconds dial. The watch is extremely cool looking with 500 pieces available.

I really do look forward to checking out these all carbon fiber Hublot cases. I am curious as to just how light they are, as well as the tactile feel they have under the fingers. These pieces also seem to have very intricate pushers. For example the start and stop pusher for the chronograph has a Senna logo placed in it, while the Hublot logo is int the crown. The execution of the piece is very thorough, and somehow avoids feeling cheesy.

Hublot King Power Ayrton Senna Limited Edition Watches

In 1994 a terrible accident during an F1 race in Italy caused Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna to die. I believe that he was the last person to die during a Formula 1 race, and has been a testament to the needs of caution and safety in the work of super-fast racing circuits. Since his death, lots of new safety regulations and technology have been implemented to make the world of competitive racing safer.

Recently an event was held in his honor, to raise money for charity via the Instituto Ayrton Senna. Hublot, a long time partner with many drivers as well as the official timepiece maker of Formula One was there to offer two new limited edition timepieces. The event would have been Senna's 50th birthday, and at the event was a debut of a new documentary film about his life called "Senna." The film is being carried by Paramount Pictures, having been developed by Working Title and Universal together. Might be something we find in theaters soon.

Hublot’s Tactic With The Blackeyed Bernie Ecclestone Watch

The first thing that came to mind when I first saw this image in an e-mail from Hublot was "wait, what?" I didn't get it. What was this? At first I thought the image of Bernie Ecclestone was some type of painting. IÂ am not familiar with his face, but I do know of his work as the guy who runs Formula 1 racing. The British Billionaire's face was distorted with a painful looking black eye and other facial bruises. The 80 year old was recently violently mugged, and among other things, his Hublot King Power F1 watch was stolen.

None of this information was placed in the above image send out by Hublot. In fact, it is entirely cryptic in its messaging. The point of it is simple I think. A beaten up elderly man along with the statement of "See what people will do for a Hublot." Furthering the concept that the watches are so in demand, you'd punch your grandpa for one.

Since the release of this image a few days ago, the media has been all over it. Mostly admonishing Hublot for its audacity and lack of good taste. While this is happening, Hublot CEOÂ Jean-Claude Biver is likely reading such commentary from his desk in Switzerland with a big smile on his face. I am sure that he could not be more pleased.

He couldn't ask for a better response. The Swiss brand is known for its unconventional tactics for getting media attention - and this move secured a healthy volume of mentions from many forms of popular media that would never spend time discussing the luxury watch industry.

Mechanical chronograph with automatic winding

Though in reality the club has an interesting history, being a night spot for the world's entertainment and wealthy elite who now and in the past have visited the Gstaad Palace. According to Hublot, people who have visited the club include: Roger Moore, Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson (never missed boy's night), Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, David Niven, Peter Sellers, King Juan Carlos, George Soros, Jeanne Moreau, Julie Andrews (a spoon full of coke helps the alcohol go down), Margaret Thatcher (aka "super party freak"), Johnny Hallyday, Bernie Ecclestone (he didn't get beat up here), and more.

For the 40th anniversary of the night club, Hublot has produced a limited edition of 40 watches called the GreenGo Bang (Gringo Bang!). Using the colors of the club, Hublot uses a base Big Bang Black Magic watch with green colors on it. The watch is in steel, titanium and ceramic and 44.5mm wide. I just can't wait to "feel the rhythm of the watch's beats on my wrist" when I wear it.

Hublot GreenGo Bang Watch: To Celebrate Partying

Have you been to the Gstaad Palace? No? Well then I am sorry to say that you probably don't know about GreenGo - the popular club that is now celebrating its 40th anniversary. I don't think it has changed since it was created. According to their site (and images), the club remains in its 1970s era fittings. Looks like what would happen if you built a lounge in an underground pool that just happened to double as a dungeon. Though for this Californian, the name of the 'hot spot' is just "gringo." What is more funny is that the watch almost has the colors of the Mexican flag on it.

According to GreenGo's website. It is open only during the winter (what, no one visits Gstaad during the summer?), and is "THE place to be. It is a special place with a special environment." Doesn't get more specific than that right? The copy on their site is totally cheesy, which amuses the hell out of me. "[The DJ] plays the most popular and up-to-date songs for our illustrious clientele. Come and feel the rhythm of every song." Just say that out loud to yourself with a euro-trash accent.

Hublot Masterpiece Watch Hands-On Exclusive

Hublot goes tonneau. Fans of the brands have been asking for a non Big Bang or King Power inspired watch for a long time. Something is finally here, and this is just the first of more to come. This is the first Hublot Masterpiece collection (Ref. MP-01), and will be a range of higher-end Hublot timepieces with in-house movements that will be positioned between standard Hublot watches and the ultra high-end Confrerie Hublot timepieces. The Masterpiece MP-01 will be limited to just 100 pieces.

When I look at this watch I almost don't recognize it as being an Hublot. So typecast are they as being the Big Bang group that it is hard to get my mind around this, but it is finally here. I continue to say this, because the biggest concern have had for years over Hublot is when they will start to get new models. According to Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot, part of the wait had to do with their desire to focus on making more in-house movements and improving production quality and processes. As you know, Hublot has been steadily trying to make themselves much more of a true manufacture. While they won't be making all of their own movement, it looks like 2011 will see a number more in-house movements over 2010.

In terms of technical details and specifics on the watch

If you aren't familiar with the movement in the La Cle du Temps, let me explain it. It starts with a tourbillon based movement, where the tourbillon juts out of the bottom side of the watch. This is called a vertically mounted tourbillon. You can see it in the picture looking like some space age propeller. The watch dial, to tell the time, is on the upper right of the dial. The lower left of the dial is a power reserve indicator (looks like 5 days worth in the manually wound movement), and above it is the selector for speeding up for slowing down the time. This is where it gets interesting, and Hublot has clearly changed the format of the dial a bit from the previous watch. Using a crown on the left of the watch you can alter the time to run fast or run slow. A fun, but gimmicky way of "controlling time." The neat part is that the movement always retains knowledge of the correct time - so you can always switch it back to "normal" mode and the time isn't all screwed up.

When is a watch like this useful? Honestly, I am not sure it ever is above and beyond appreciating the complexity of it all. In a sense, it is a metaphor about controlling time. The name of the watch itself is the "key of time." If you can afford it, you can say that you hold the key to time - and what greater power is there than that?

little is known thus far. Hublot is keeping tight lipped on that until March 2011. What I do know is that there will be something special that helps the green parts of the watch glow. The rest of it will be in black, save for the polished base plate of the dial. Mathias Buttet designed the new La Cle du Temps himself as I understand it, and he is generally very clever in these things. I am quite excited to get this crazy creation on my wrist. It will no doubt be highly limited in production, and come with a rather high six figure price. Now start thinking about how you'd use this watch in your every day lives...

Hublot La Clé Du Temps Watch For Time Control Freaks

Pretty wild right? This is the new version of the La Clef du Temps watch. From "La Clef" to "La Clé," funny enough they both mean "the key of time." The original La Clef du Temps was never originally meant to be an Hublot watch. It was designed for the Confrerie Horlogere under BNB Concept before it went bankrupt. When Hublot bought up the Confrerie and Mathias Buttet, it got the La Clef du Temps with it. I wasn't really too enthused on that watch - writing about the La Clef du Temps here. I later learned that Mathias designed it with the Predator in mind, and the dial was meant to look like a brain.

Now the weird movement that is able to speed up and slow down time is back in a new watch called the La Cle du Temps - and it is part of the Hublot Confrerie (a division of exclusive, very high-end Hublot watches). It is in a brand new case to hold the movement (which is a reworked version of the one from a couple of years ago). The watch is now much more futuristic and feels more in line with the concept of the Hublot Confrerie.

Hublot Cathedral Minute Repeater Tourbillon And Column Wheel Chronograph Watch

The horological highlight from Hublot this year was the long-named "Cathedral" Minute Repeater Tourbillon and Column Wheel Chronograph watch. In a King Power style case, this watch boasts a case formed out of carbon fiber and a very complex movement that has (Yup, you guessed it!) the time, a tourbillon, a minute repeater, and a chronograph.

Presenting it was Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver on the first day of Baselworld 2011. In front of a group of us he activated the watch, put a microphone to it, and allowed us to hear the loud minute repeater. As I have stated before, when I mentioned this watch in my Baselworld top picks for 2011 article, the interesting side effect of having a carbon fiber case is that the minute repeater function isn't muffled by metal.

So when Hublot created a minute repeater watch out of carbon fiber - a light material that allows more air to reverberate inside the case - it ended up with a rather nice sounding minute repeater watch compared to something in gold or platinum. It does make me wonder about a titanium minute repeater, though. Hublot just bought a company that makes carbon fiber and have been on a big carbon fiber kick for a while so I doubt that the strength of the minute repeater was really considered much in advance. So, as previously stated, it is a positive side effect of the case being in carbon fiber. For Hublot, this just another "fusion" piece combining traditional complications with high-tech material.

King Power case is comfy and very wearable

As a limited edition of 50 pieces, this 48mm wide watch contains a new in-house movement that is the brain-child of Mathias Buttet. Aside from the time, it contains just two complications albeit done in a very satisfying manner. I can't help but feel as though the watch is staring at me with two eyes and a funny open mouth. The dial displays a large tourbillon as well as a 30 minute chronograph. The two subdials offer both the seconds and minutes for the chronograph while the tourbillon doubles as the subsidiary seconds for the time. This is one of the first times I have seen a watch opt for a subsidiary chrono seconds hand (they are usually centrally placed). For the geeks, you'll be interested to know that the chronograph is operated by the tourbillon carriage and the deep skeletonization on the dial allows you to see this working.

What I love so much about the watch is the movement. It is a testament to modern industrial techniques as applied to the watch industry. The gear teeth are bloody tiny and the wheels are as thin as can be. There is so much cut away here and so little metal it is hard to imagine it working. This movement is more about art than it is about sport, though it is in Hublot's F1 collection. Someone at Hublot has a serious hard-on for the F1. I think Biver and Bernie are pals because some of the most interesting watches Hublot has released as of late have F1 on the dial.

There is a friggin' city of mechanical parts arranged and designed in such a way that I haven't quite seen before. I am very impressed with how well you can see them right through the dial, Hublot really has kept true to their oath of mixing tradition and futurism. The gold mixed with black and hints of red make this one damn satisfying watch to look at.

Hublot King Power F1 Tourbillon Hands-On

I am not always sure what Jean-Claude Biver is thinking. The machine-gun minded Swiss CEO covers so many bases when deciding what new Hublot watches are made that it can be almost impossible to predict what will come next. However, I do know one thing: Mr. Biver is watch lover. It might sound ironic, or silly, but when a watch lover runs a watch brand, it is a good thing. And trust me, not all watch brand CEOs are watch lovers.

Mr. Biver is a major watch collector. He can't discuss it much, as he must stay partial to his own brand, but with wide (and high-end) interests his passion pushed his own brand to create some amazing things. I think this is one of the reasons he was so keen on having Hublot become a manufacturer of movements. One of the more recent high-end Hublot watches I got to play with is the King Power F1 Tourbillon. I discussed it in more detail here at Centurion. Why write about it again? For the pictures, of course - and, I suppose, to gush a bit more.

Among the things I wish I could afford, but never will, are sovereign islands, servants, and watches like this. Depending on the material (the watch comes in both zirconium and "king gold") it costs between $180,000 - $195,000. Yes, it isn't the most expensive watch I've written about, but it isn't something to wave your wallet at. Is it possible for people like me to still appreciate it? I think so because, for me, a lot of my appreciation for the watch comes from simply seeing it a few times and knowing things like this are being made. By the way, given Hublot's penchant to offer many different models (some with only minor detail changes), this watch should not be confused with a similar King Power watch released this year that has a carbon fiber bezel and also includes a minute repeater.