A Big Bang for Legendary Argentinian Footballer Diego Maradona….don’t miss the highlight reel

While recently I’ve been somewhat tough on Hublot – first criticizing it’s new website (which drew comments from JC Biver himself) and then it’s too many flavors of Big Bang (criticisms which were answered indirectly by JC Biver in a separate interview), I’ve always and still am a fan of the brand.   If there is one thing Hublot does supremely well, it would be its athlete ambassadors.  For example, I love the Red Devil Bang II (Manchester United) and the Bode Bang (skier Bode Miller).  And even though he is not an ambassador, our sports watch writer even spotted world super star sprinter Usain Bolt wearing a Hublot!  So when I heard that now Diego Maradona is Hublot’s newest ambassador, I simply said “Good call JC Biver, good call.”

So what to be said about this new Big Bang except that it looks sweet and I like it.  I love the color scheme that says Argentina all the way.  With only 250 to be made, I wonder how many will go to Argentina which will likely go NUTS to get their hands on the Big Bang that bears Maradona likeness on the back and his #10 from on the front.

If you have any doubt as to the legendary status of this footballer, well, the highlights could go on for days, but I dug up a very nicely produced and relatively short compilation that you might enjoy (there are actually quite a lot of them on YouTube if you are looking to kill some time)

One showing away from a record-setting 4 medals…

U.S. Alpine Skier Bode Miller won the men’s super-combined title for his first gold and third podium finish in as many races this past Sunday at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Miller is one podium away from becoming the first male skier to win four medals in a single Olympic Games, and with the slalom and giant slalom yet to come – 2 events in which Miller has a good track record in – his prospects are looking good right now.

The 32-year-old Miller has been an official brand ambassador for Hublot since February 2009.  In late 2009 Hublot announced the limited edition “Bode Bang” watch to commemorate the partnership between the athlete and the famous Swiss watch brand.

Congratulations to Jean-Claude Biver and everyone at Hublot!

Hodinkee and Horomundi Share Good Insights In Recent Interviews With Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver

In October 2009, I wrote an article “Beyond the Big Bang – What’s Next for Hublot?” in which (among other things) I stated the following:

…I do think that Hublot Big Bang has and continues to be a very desirous watch right now.  But…… I am concerned.  I am concerned that Hublot has now effectively become one watch, and one watch only – the Big Bang.   Not only that, but I also see that the appeal, the allure, the magic, of the Big Bang is at risk of fizzling due to the number of variations that Hublot continues to introduce.   Seemingly every month a new “limited” or “special” edition Big Bang is released, but in reality these are nothing more than Big Bang’s with a new color scheme or with a special logo on the dial….My point here is that it is too much – it is getting tiring – and I think it is starting to dilute the credential of the Big Bang.   Audemars Piguet found itself in a similar position several years ago with its Royal Oak Offshore watches – too many variations and one-off special editions – and some watch enthusiasts started to turn away.   Thankfully for AP, it was diversified – offering a much broader lineup of watches than just the Royal Oak.   Hublot is not in this position.

While my position hasn’t really changed – and in fact Jean-Claude Biver very recently acknowledged the validity of my position (which I’ll get to in a second) -  it is noteworthy that (anecdotally speaking) Hublot continues to defy the watch slump by being one of the better performing watch brands in the marketplace today.   I can believe this because Hublot makes very cool watches – watches that people want – and it creates a very special aura around owning a “Big Bang” through its often personal and hands-on marketing efforts from Jean-Claude Biver himself.

Fast forward to the present.  Earlier this week, watch enthusiasts were treated to two very interesting encounters with The Man himself.  I’ll excerpt a couple tidbits here, but I do highly recommend reading each one of them.  First Hodinkee.com, at a Hublot sponsored event at a swank New York  restaurant, gleaned some great insights as can be read in “A Glance At The New Hublot: Jean-Claude Talks Giving Back, BNB, & The Future of the Big Bang“.  Most notable for me was this exchange:

[Hodinkee asked] When will we see something from Hublot that’s NOT a Big Bang? Mr. Biver had this to say, “Asking me that question is like asking a Porsche engineer in 1990 when we will see something besides the 911. It is a benchmark for the brand and right now we are going to continue with it for many years to come. I say 1990 because years later Porsche released the Boxster (a less expensive sportscar), the Cayenne (an SUV), and now even the Panamera (a four-door), but in 1990, Porsche had only the 911. In ten years, I may have something else to say, but the Big Bang is our Porsche 911.”

OK, good point JC Biver makes – overall, the Big Bang is working, so why not continue to drive that for all its worth. Even so, Porsche had to broaden its portfolio eventually!  There is another good picture and discussion with Hodinkee about Hublot’s new UNICO movement family and where the fit in the overall Hublot pyramid – so be sure to check out the full Hodinkee article here.

Next, Revolution Magazine’s Wei Koh penned “The Luxury Übermensch: An Interview with Jean-Claude Biver” – posted in its entirety for your enjoyment also at Horomundi.com. The interview is very good, very insightful and by no means coddling:

Have you made any mistakes or failed in anyway at Hublot? [Biver:] I would say that I have made mistakes but fortunately, none that have impacted me in a major way. I think I expanded the collection too fast. I think I have too many references, and I abused limited editions. So that is already quite a few mistakes, but they did not do any lasting damage and we had it corrected.

In what way did you go wrong with limited editions? [Biver:] The idea was correct but the quantities related to limited editions were wrong. The idea was correct because if you are a mono-product brand, you have to ask yourself how many of the same watch is a consumer willing to buy from you. He can buy one watch ultimately. If I make the same watch in three materials, in theory, he can buy three. But how can I get him to buy the fourth one? You see, when I have a customer with my watch on his wrist, I never want him to quit my brand. But if he is buying three or four watches per year, I want to remain in consideration. How do I achieve this? How do I get these people? I make a limited edition in memory of Ayrton Senna because it has a great emotional story or I make one related to Alinghi or Manchester United because this will strike a different emotional chord. So you see, limited editions are a necessity. But between the necessity of making a few and the evil of making too many, there is a fine balance! We lost this balance but have corrected it.

My point exactly (!) and I am heartened to hear JC Biver speak candidly on this.  Now these 2 questions were only a small part of the broader interview – there is a wealth of great insights throughout the rest, including more discussion of Hublot’s move towards being a manufacture, the importance and meaning of the “in house movement” moniker, the [possible] classic-ization of the Big Bang, and much more….if you are interested it is very much worth the read.

So what’s my point in all this?  Well, first it is Not hear to say “I told you so” – rather I am glad that Hublot realizes that while there may be lots of runway left for the Big Bang, it is a bit overextended in terms of references, limited editions and colors.  This is the best thing about a great leader and visionary like Jean-Claude Biver – he is not so hung up on his own accomplishments (of which there are many!) as to think that he can do no wrong.  He comes across as being constantly introsepctive and adaptive.  And this is why, even though I have not met him, I admire Biver and in my own actions try to emulate qualities such as these.  Still, while Hublot is now mostly focused now on its new UNICO movements and becoming a manufacture, as well as continuing to extend the success of the Big Bang, I still think that the top of the mountain has already been reached for the Big Bang and I hope that Hublot will be ready for the next ascent.

What watch does the fastest man in the world wear?  Before I answer that, let’s start by first setting the record straight (for those of you not aware) that the title of “fastest in the world” is currently held by 23-year old Jamaican Usain Bolt.  How fast is Usain Bolt?  He is the currently world record holder for both the 100 meter – 9.58 seconds – and the 200 meter – 19.19 seconds – earning him the nickname “Lightning Bolt”.  Bolt has been setting records since he was in the juniors, but he really didn’t hit the global spotlight until the ’08 Summer Olympics in Beijing.  The guy is amazing to watch as he smashes world records (often his own) seemingly without effort.

Back to the initial question – what kind of watch is fit for the wrist of the fastest man in the world?  An obvious guess (if you’ve ever seen a picture of Bolt) would be that he sticks with “Puma.”  The reason:  the guy is head to toe in Puma and has reportedly been sponsored by them since he was 16 years old (talk about spotting talent early).  And yes, Puma does have its own watch line….but you know a man with as much swagger as Usain Bolt is gonna be rocking something much bigger and better than Puma on his wrist, and when I saw the picture below, I could only guess it was a Hublot:

photo: Hublot.

Yep!  With a little further investigation and a confirmation directly from Hublot, my observation was proven correct – the watch you see above on the wrist of the fastest man in the world is the Hublot Big Bang Gold and Ceramic (44mm case in red gold with black ceramic bezel, rubber strap).  A perfect fit for the vivacious and bold sprinter! Incidentally, Bolt is joined above in giving his trademark “lightning bolt” pose by Rui Alvim de Faria, Hublot’s exclusive distributor in Angola and head of a high powered international public relations firm Alvim de Faria (he represents other big-time sports names such as footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Portuguese racecar driver Alvaro Parente).

As an aside, the more I learn about Usain Bolt off the track the bigger fan I become of him.  Just recently, Bolt adopted a baby cheetah cub named Lightning Bolt, and unlike someone like Mike Tyson owning a tiger for whatever odd reason, Bolt is actually sponsoring this young cheetah in a conservation effort for Kenyan wildlife and in support of the Kenya Wildlife Service (although I guess it is similar in the fact that the animal represents the person ). And when Lightning Bolt the cheetah is fully grown?  He will be able to outrun the world’s fastest man by about 3 full seconds in the 100 meters!  Not even close!

Photo:  Puma Running.

A huge treasure trove of items formerly owned by now disgraced $50 billion-or-so Ponzi scheme ringleader and provacateur Bernie Madoff will be up for auction this weekend in New York.  Sure there will be all the furs, diamonds, and sports memorabilia you can handle (and even a few vintage duck decoys) – but my interest in this one-of-kind auction is, of course, the watches.  Now, being a man of means – that is, a man of means with OPM (other people’s money) – ole’ Bernie managed to assemble himself quite the watch collection.  In fact, The Wall Street Journal reports today that:  “A collection of more than 40 watches, including some women’s watches, 17 Rolexes and several Audemars Piguets, Franck Mullers and Jaeger-LeCoultres, will be auctioned off. ”  The Journal actually singles out one of the more notable big ticket watches, “an 18-karat yellow gold, black-faced vintage men’s Rolex, the Monoblocco, valued between $75,000 and $87,500…” and went on to quote Antiquorum Auctioneers SA Watch Director and Expert Julien Schaerer as saying “It’s a pretty rare watch and it’s pretty desirable” suggesting that an all original timepiece could fetch as much as $75,000 to $100,000.  Not bad for a Ponzi-scheme’s work, eh?

After just a few minutes reviewing the lineup one will see that Madoff had an incredible collection of vintage Rolex watches (I wonder what my vintage Rolex-wearing friends at Hodinkee think?), but he also had quite a few other nice modern and vintage watches as well – Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Hublot, Frank Muller, IWC, JLC….the list goes on and on.  As for all these, I can make not attestations to their authenticity (do you really want to take Madoff at his word?), nor what kinds of prices they may fetch (but don’t expect to steal any of them at bargain prices)…and so while online bids will be allowed, I would highly recommend you preview these watches in person before making a purchase.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the lots that look interesting, shall we?

LOT 237- ROLEX:

Gents 18ky vintage Rolex O.P. “Monoblocco” chronograph wristwatch; aka “Prisoner Watch”; domed plastic crystal; black dial w/ rose tri-sticks &; Arabic numerals; gold hands; polished bezel; 35mm round case; dk brown alligator strap (tang); Model 3525; 17 jewel Rolex mechanical winding mvmt; Serial 380223 (1945).

The meaning of the moniker “Prisoner Watch” – Rolex offered similar timepieces to prisoners of war in Germany during World War II, including those involved in “The Great Escape.”

LOT 235- ROLEX:

Gents 18ky vintage Rolex Oyster chronograph wristwatch; Monochrome motif; gold dial w/ luminous sticks &; Arabics, 3 gold sub-dials; 35.1mm round case; Brown stitched Alligator strap (tang); 17 jewel Rolex Geneve mechanical winding mvmt; Case 4048; Serial 58105 (1935). Note: Professionally restored.

LOT 255 Audemars Piguet

Gents st.steel Audemars Piguet chronograph wristwatch; silver dial w/ 2 sub-dials (at 3 &; 9 positions); 38.81mm round case; brown alligator strap w/ AP deployant buckle; Automatic mvmt; Serial D99198.

LOT 253- Patek Philippe

Gents 18kw Patek Philippe Annual Calendar wristwatch; black dial w/ silver Roman numerals; date at 6 position; 3 black sub-dials; syn saph crystal front &; back; 36.95mm round case; black alligator band w/ 18kw deployant buckle; Model 5035G; 35 jewel Patek Philippe automatic mvmt, Cal. 315/198, Serial 3059777.

LOT 254- Audemars Piguet

Gents 18ky Audemars Piguet Huitieme chronograph wristwatch; crème colored dial &; sub-dials (3); date at 3 position; gold hands; 40.4mm round case; dkBrown alligator strap w/ 18ky AP double deployant clasp; Automatic mvmt; Serial C54966.

LOT 265- Jaeger-LeCoultre

Gents st.steel Jaeger-LeCoultre wristwatch; Master Control Collection, Master Geographic model (discontinued); 38mm round case; silver dial, day at 3/24 hour GMT at 6/power reserve at 10; polished bezel; brown crocodile band w/ deployant buckle; automatic mvmt; Case 142.8.92; Serial No 1401

All pictures and lot information from Gaston and Sheehan.  I would also note that the auction is being conducted by Gaston & Sheehan Auctioneers on behalf of the U.S. Marshal’s service (not Antiquorum), and I could not yet confirm if all the watches listed are Madoff’s or if other lots are also included (will let you know if not the case).

If you happen to go to the auction, would love to hear your thoughts.

Ever since Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver mentioned the word “Unico” in my post-Baselworld 2009 Interview with him, I and many others have been eagerly anticipating the first opportunity to get a look at Hublot’s new – and first in-house – movement.  At the recent inauguration of Hublot’s new manufacture in Nyon, Switzerland (near Geneva), UNICO was revealed.  UNICO is actually a term used to represent Hublot’s family of Calibers – what you will see below is the first of two movements slated for release in 2010.  The second, Unico 1110, a three-handed movement, is presumably not far behind (hat tip to the fine article by Beth Doerr in iW Magazine’s Oct’09 issue for this additional insight).

With 330 componenets combining to deliver a very respectable 70+ hours power reserve, Hublot’s UNICO caliber is a flyback chronograph movement developed entirely by Hublot’s R&D (Research & Development) team, and of course it will also be manufactured hby Hublot.  Currently it is considered a “functional prototype” but it will be ready go to in 2010.  UNICO is designated to be part of Hublot’s new “King Power” models which were introduced earlier this year.  In addition to basic timekeeping, the movement will show 60-second and 60-minute chronograph as well as the date (which you can easily see around the outer edge of the movement photo below).  Hublot says “The aim is to produce 2,000 UNICO movements in 2010, and close to 20,000 in the medium term.”

While I would like to get a watchmaker’s opinion of the technical sophistication and innovativeness of UNICO, there do appear to be at some unique attributes of the movement that can be appreciated by a non-technician such as myself. I will highlight just one today – the escapement.  Not only is it made of silicon, but it is what is what I would call a “modular” escapement.  That is, the escapement can be removed for easy service and repair.  Hublot also touts the escapement as being engravable upon request.

BSo what is the first reaction of First In Watches towards Hublot’s new UNICO movement?  We like it.

I know this will not go over well with many readers of this blog, but I think someone’s got to say it – Hublot’s new website is a disappointment.

It really does pain me to say this, because of all the watch brands out there, Hublot is probably in my Top 3 when it comes to Internet-savvy watch brands. Unlike some brands (Rolex, for one) Hublot does not fear the Internet – it embraces it.  Team Hublot uses the Internet to their great advantage.  They leverage it for all its worth.  Facebook page.  Twitter.  Their own web TV productions.  A CEO who is known to drop in on online discussion forums and say hi and maybe even extend the warranty of a few lucky Hublot owners (yes, we love you for this, Jean-Claude Biver).  When it comes to a digital media strategy and Internet-savvy, Hublot has been giving lessons that I wish other watch brands were taking notes on.

But now,  after several weeks of “teasing” the new site – building the hype – Hublot stumbles out of the gates with this:

The homepage has nothing to offer!  What is the message this homepage conveys except emptiness and confusion?  It certainly is not inviting.  And from here on in the experience is a struggle to maintain.  The navigation is poor and hard to follow.  The images are out of proportion (too big, mostly).  Flash-laden pages load slow.  The whole experience is quite unfriendly, really.  And the “watches on sticks” concept just does not work for me (I guess they are supposed to be watch hands):

And to think that I now miss the prior Hublot website!  It was actually quite good – very engaging, inviting and exciting – right from the homepage!  And very press/media friendly, too.  I know its not easy, and sure all websites have their shortcomings.  But then again, if anyone has the resources to create a phenomenal website, surely it is Hublot!  Perhaps Hublot aimed to high.  Perhaps my own expectations were too high.  Whatever the case, the aim did not hit the target on this one.

According to Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver in the site’s inaugural Newsletter, Hublot’s website gets 300,000 to 500,000 visitors per month, with an average visit of 9 minutes.  Pretty good engagement!  I certainly don’t see the new site helping those numbers, though.  But as always in this world…time will tell.  Do you see it differently?  If so, I’d love to know – leave a comment below, or catch up with us on Twitter or Facebook.

I’ve been thinking about this for some time now, but I am now officially opening this up for discussion.  Since coming on to the scene in the 2005, Hublot’s Big Bang watches have ushered in a new and awesome era of FUSION.  Knowing a winner when he sees one, Hublot President Jean-Claude Biver (to his credit) has ridden the Big Bang all the way to the top of the mountain.  But I ask you – what direction can one who is at the top of a mountain go except down?  I think it is time for Hublot to find a new – and bigger – mountain to climb.

Now don’t get me wrong – I am a HUGE fan of Hublot and Jean-Claude Biver, as you might have guessed from the significant attention they get here on First In Watches.  And to be fair,  I do think that Hublot Big Bang has and continues to be a very desirous watch right now.  But…… I am concerned.  I am concerned that Hublot has now effectively become one watch, and one watch only – the Big Bang.   Not only that, but I also see that the appeal, the allure, the magic, of the Big Bang is at risk of fizzling due to the number of variations that Hublot continues to introduce.   Seemingly every month a new “limited” or “special” edition Big Bang is released, but in reality these are nothing more than Big Bang’s with a new color scheme or with a special logo on the dial.

For example – over the past few years we’ve seen limited editions such as the Valentine’s Day Big Bang, the Bat Bang, the Solo Bang, Big Bang Wally, Big Bang Tuiga, the Smiling Children Big Bang, Big Bang Red Devil I and II, and the Aero Bang Morgan, and even the Bigger Bang!  And what about Big Bangs in color schemes such as Big Purple Carat, Orange Carat, Cappuccino, Cappuccino Chocolate, All White, All Black Blue, Black Lemon, Earl Gray, Apple, Black Apple, and Tutti Frutti Hazlenut?  If you thought these were Flavors of the Month at Baskin Robbins Ice Cream, I would forgive you.

Hublot Big Bang Cappucino Chocolate

My point here is that it is too much – it is getting tiring – and I think it is starting to dilute the credential of the Big Bang.   Audemars Piguet found itself in a similar position several years ago with its Royal Oak Offshore watches – too many variations and one-off special editions – and some watch enthusiasts started to turn away.   Thankfully for AP, it was diversified – offering a much broader lineup of watches than just the Royal Oak.   Hublot is not in this position.

So, as noted, the Big Bang has proliferated and rightly so as JC Biver has taken a winner and maximized its value.  But now I think the question is – What’s Next for Hublot? My sense right now is that at Baselworld 2010 most of the talk emanating from the Hublot stand will be all about Hublot’s first in-house movements (JC Biver has been discussing Hublot’s new Unico Calibers for many many months now, including in my post-Baselworld 2009 interview with him).  This will of course be exciting news, but how about taking us beyond the Big Bang altogether, Mr. Biver?

 In the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United players, Jean-Claude Biver recently unveiled the largest clock ever built by the company. It was specially created for the reigning English champions, and, at a height of 10 metres, designed to take pride of place in front of the legendary stadium. Check out this up-beat video (matching the personality of JC Biver, of course) that Hublot produced to share the event with us:

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When Alinghi won the 31st America’s Cup in 2003 it made history returning the trophy to Europe for the first time since its conception in 1851.  In July 2007, Alinghi won a second consecutive America’s Cup 5-2 against Emirates Team New Zealand in what was widely claimed as the greatest America’s Cup of all time.  For last year’s 32nd America’s Cup, Alinghi was sponsored by Audemars Piguet.  But for the 33rd America’s Cup, it is Hublot who will be the Alinghi team sponsor and join in the quest for another victory!

Hublot and Alinghi in HD Video

Alinghi president Ernesto Bertarelli and Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver held a joint presentation at the Alinghi base in Genoa, Italy, to announce the partnership.  Said Mr. Bertarelli on the alliance:

I am often asked ‘what is more important the technology or the people?’ and I always say that there is no technology without people and the partnership that we are announcing today symbolises exactly this sentiment. Welcoming Hublot – and more importantly Jean-Claude [Biver] – to the team as a Sponsor is a tribute to the fact that technology is about the people; those that understand what it means. I welcome them into the Alinghi family and onboard for the 33rd America’s Cup,”

Of course, Mr. Biver was equally ebullient:

We had the chance to admire the yacht as it left the yard, and when it first took to the water on Lake Geneva. It is a magnificent boat and it represents the essence of Swiss expertise, with nearly 200 Swiss companies having worked on it. The “Swiss Made” label has never been more appropriate! The Swiss people – myself included – have shown no hesitation in displaying their admiration for Team Alinghi, and I am even more proud that we are the first brand to become one of the main sponsors of this incredible adventure. I am delighted to be able to help Switzerland win the Cup once more, this time against the USA.

Alinghi is currently training in Genoa, Italy, before transferring the team to Ras al-Khaimah, UAE, in the autumn to continue preparations towards the 33rd America’s Cup which starts on the 8 February 2010.

My only question at this point is, what will the Hublot Alinghi Limited Edition Look Like?