With a strap made from the same gold leather as the shoes he wore for his world record setting sprint in 2008, the new Hublot Usain Bolt Watch is officially here.  Yes, the fastest man in the world now has a watch dedicated to him. While many of Hublot’s limited edition watches are tired rehashes with nothing more than a new color set, I find myself (a die-hard Hublot fan) impressed with this watch for a few reasons.  For starters, there is Bolt’s signature “lightning bolt” pose overlaid on the dial.  Then, the “gold” color scheme which not only matches Usain’s world record-holding racing shoes but is made from exactly the same gold-colored synthetic leather as his racing shoes (see photo below).  Lastly, the touch of green incorporated into the 6 o’clock chrono counter — a nod to Bolt’s home country, Jamaica.  All in, a super fly piece for Usain Bolt from Hublot.  Don’t be shocked to see a price north $20,000 US.

Hublot King Power Usain Bolt Watch

limited edition 250 pieces

48mm micro-blasted black ceramic case and bezel, automatic mechanical chrono movement, strap made from the same gold-coloured synthetic leather as Usain Bolt’s shoes

Though most of the world has been waiting for this watch since Hublot announced signed Usain Bolt as an official brand Ambassador (see my reportage of the announcement here), your humble correspondent has been waiting for this watch ever since spying a Hublot On a Lightning Bolt back in November 2009.  Here is Bolt wearing his new watch, looking good, after a training session:

the strap is made from exactly the same leather as the shoes he wore
when he broke the world records in Beijing in 2008

Usain Bolt, who turns 25 this year, recently opened his season in style by completing his first individual 100 metres in just 9.82 seconds at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, as he prepares to defend three titles in London this summer: the 100, 200 and 4X100 metres. “It’s a good start, I would say. It’s certainly better than last season (upon his return – ed.). I feel better
than last year, so I’m definitely happy with myself”, said Bolt, who began his 2011 season with a time of 9.91 seconds at a meeting in Rome on the 26th May.

note the Usain Bolt’s trademark “lightning bolt” pose on the chronograph counter at 9 o’clock above  — and the real thing, below (pictured with Hublot distributor Rui Alvim de Fari):

Three years ago Hublot announced itself as a sponsor of Team Alinghi in the 33rd America’s Cup — taking the torch from Audemars Piguet.  Today, Hublot announced that it will again sponsor Team Alinghi for the 2012 season, and to mark the occasion, Alinghi leader Ernesto Bertarelli and Jean-Claude Biver have unveiled the new Hublot Team Alinghi watch, limited to just 100 numbered pieces.  The watch is the King Power Alinghi 4000 dive watch.  It is made completely from carbon and water resistant to 4000 meters.  Yes, we’ve essentially seen this watch before — the Hublot Oceanographic 4000 carbon fiber, but there are subtle changes such as the Team Alinghi colors and logo.  I’ve said before that I like how the Oceanographic turned out — it is a great dive watch and something that Hublot can build off of, as we see here!  As an aside, I’m still wondering when we are going to get the *official* announcement of the Hublot 1000m dive watch.

More America’s Cup >>> Louis Vuitton Tambour Regatta America’s Cup Watch

Hublot King Power Alinghi 4000

Limited, numbered edition 100 pieces

48mm carbon fiber case and bezel, 4000 meter water resistance, automatic mechanical movement; fitted on black rubber+Nomex strap with black ceramic buckle

Unveiled at Baselworld 2012, Hublot has a new display case that will be seen at Hublot AD’s around the world later this year.  The “levitation” case appears to enable a watch and other components to mysteriously floats, suspended in mid-air — there is also a video/animation screen as the backgrop watch the video.  The effect is most impressive, but it’s difficult to know what is happening inside the display case.  Here is one thought:  the gas gravitation is merely subterfuge for the masterful magicians (Hublot and Dietlin SA and Flyvision).  What is really happening here is that the objects are affixed to Dietlin SA’s “no reflect glass” i.e. extra white glass with special treatment so that it does not show any perceptible amount of light reflection.  The video/animation in the background adds to the optical illusion that the objects are moving/floating in the case.  What do you think?

Hat Tip:  Horoforum

Hublot Levitation Display Case (VIDEO)

by Dietlin SA

I don’t usually dedicate posts, but in the spirit of humor and comraderie, I would like to dedicate this special photo of Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver with the two new Hublot King Power UEFA EURO 2012 watches  to longtime participant at Perpetuelle.com…well, on second thought I won’t name names…but enjoy the photo nonetheless.  Hey — Biver is just having some fun — shouldn’t we all be so carefree and high spirited?

Biver poses with the new Hublot King Power UEFA Euro 2012 watches ( ”Ukraine” and “Poland”)

First look…

Here is an *unofficial* first look at a new dive watch from Hublot, the Hublot Oceanographic 1000m diver.  This model was previewed by Hublot in Basel, Switzerland last month — but on the whole it was kept off radar.  But I am fairly confident it will be officially announced sometime soon.  Anyway…it is a more “mainstream” version of the impressive Oceanographic 4000m dive watch (additional 4000m looks HERE, and the “carbon fiber Oceanographic HERE)  that Hublot launched at Baselworld 2011 (March 2011).  Full specs are not yet released, but here’s what I know:  case is 48mm titanium, water resistance rating is (obviously) 1000 meters, and lastly you can see it is a chronograph — operable under water (not so obvious).  The fact that it is a chronograph explains why the crown for the inner rotating bezel is on the top-left of the watch — unlike the Oceanographic 4000 meter watches, which were not chronographs.  I like where Hublot is headed with the Oceanographic line — distinct look, impressive specs — I just hope that they don’t water it down with myriad one-off limited editions like they do with the Big Bang and King Power.

Hublot Oceanographic 1000m Dive Watch

48mm titanium case, 1000 meter/3300 feet water resistance, inner rotating bezel, chronograph

photo: thewatchobserver.fr

Last week in Mexico City it was announced that Hublot and the World Boxing Council will host a one-time event in Las Vegas this coming September that will unite some of the greatest boxing champions.  No, not to fight in the ring, but to raise money for charity.  For the occasion, Hublot has crafted 12 unique pieces; each of which commemorates one of the greatest boxers to grace the ring, including Lennox Lewis, Julio Cesar Chavez, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tommy Harns, Roberto Duran, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Jeff Fenech, and Larry Holmes.   Noticeably absent from the list is Muhammed Ali — but then again we know that he is an IWC man — the very cool looking IWC Big Pilot’s “Muhammad Ali” watch recently sold for $60,000 for charity.  The 12 unique “King Power World Boxing Council” pieces are modeled after the iconic championship belt awarded to the boxing legends. The auction winners will have the privilege of receiving their watch from the fighter themselves at the Las Vegas event — a great chance to meet one of boxing’s all time greats!  All proceeds from the sale of each watch will go to support the charitable initiatives of the World Boxing Council including the retired boxer’s pension and emergency funds in over 40 countries around the world.

Hublot King Power WBC (World Boxing Council) Watch

limited edition 12 pieces — to be auctioned in September 2012 –commemorating:

Lennox Lewis, Julio Cesar Chavez, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tommy Harns, Roberto Duran, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Jeff Fenech, and Larry Holmes

Boxing Legend Lennox Lewis, Unknown , Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver, and WBC CEO Jose Sulaimán Hanging Out, along with the new Hublot King Power WBC Watch

Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver, Boxing Legend Julio César Chávez and WBC CEO Jose Sulaimán Show off the new Hublot King Power WBC Watch

On another note — you may have noticed by now that there seems rarely to be a sport or team or special event that Hublot has not jumped into to sponsor with one of its limited edition watches.  While Hublot and the man who built it up (Jean-Claude Biver) are often ridiculed or groused about for this approach, i.e. making nothing but “limited edition” one-off watches, I think that this criticism is somewhat shortsighted.  Often lost in the grousing is that fact that Hublot usually pairs its sponsorships and limited edition pieces with charitable causes — which is more than many watch brands can say.  Still, it is an interesting and unusual strategy and I can not think of another brand that lives by so many “limited edition” watches (often nothing more than a dial or color change). But no denying that Hublot does have a winning formula on its hands.

OK, finally the Hublot Miami HEAT watch is official.  I’ve been expecting this watch since Hublot and the Miami HEAT started a relationship in December 2010 — where there is a Hublot relationship, there is a Hublot watch to follow!  Of course, Dwyane Wade got his own Hublot first, but now the whole franchise has one, so to speak.  The watch is in the Hublot King Power case, with the Miami HEAT logo and wording on both dial and caseback.  There is also a special 48 minute central counter simulating the four quarters of a basketball game, and the chrono pusher is inspired by the shape of the backboard.  This marks the first Swiss luxury brand to launch an “NBA” timepiece.  HEAT captains Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem will help to promote the watch — proceeds from the sales of the exclusive Miami HEAT limited edition timepiece will go directly to the Miami HEAT Charitable fund to benefit the South Florida Community.  Available exclusively in South Florida Hublot Boutiques and select Hublot Retailers.

Hublot Miami HEAT Watch

limited edition 200 pieces, presented a basketball-inspired Hublot box and accompanied by an authentic Miami HEAT autographed Jersey signed Udonis Haslem

48mm “King Gold” case (gold + 5% platinum alloy), automatic mechanical movement, rubber strap

Dwyane Wade, Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver, Udonis Haslem

Miami HEAT’s Dwyane Wade with Hublot Chairman Jean-Claude Biver

Gone in a Flash…

Swiss watch manufacturer Hublot has reportedly sold its $5 million diamond encrusted “Big Bang” to luxury watch retailer The Hour Glass of Singapore. The Hour Glass has 25 boutiques throughout the Asia Pacific but will display the watch at its flagship Marina Bay Sands store location in Singapore before “touring” it through its other stores. Created with long-standing Hublot partner Atelier Bunter in Geneva, the 5 Million Dollar Big Bang watch is adorned by 1282 diamonds, including 6 emerald-cut diamonds set on the bracelet; weighing over 3 carats each. All of course are of extremely high quality ( A VVS in clarity and G in color; ~140 carats total). So my question is, how much did The Hour Glass pay for the piece? Either way, the only adjective I can come up with to describe this watch: RIDICULOUS!

Hublot 5 Million Dollar Big Bang

Baselworld 2012:  After grabbing some spy shots of Hublot’s mysterious Antikythera device then under development in July 2011 (and two follow up stories (HERE and HERE), I finally have the actual Antikythera watch which has been presented by Hublot at Baselworld 2012. Fashioned in a minimalistic square-ish Titanium case, to keep all the focus the mechanism, the Antikythera watch has forged a link between Hublot and it’s futuristic vision and manufacturing techniques, with an epoch that predates modern technology.  The Antikythera’s mystery lies in the fact that according to traditional historians and archeologists, our ancestors believed that the earth was flat and was located in the center of the universe. The original Antikythera mechanism however demonstrates that our ancestors in fact had a vast knowledge of the cosmos, and knew that the Earth was round and orbited the sun, and that the moon orbited the earth in an elliptical orbit.  While the pieces will not be sold to the public, 4 examples will be made, 3 to be housed in different museums around the world, and one to be sold at a fundraising auction to be announced soon.   For more information on the workings of the watch, please revisit my aforementioned stories (above).

 Hublot Antikythera Mechanism

Baselworld 2012:   I think that Hublot’s decision to develop on its “classic” line starting several years ago was a good one, particularly for those with “Big Bang” fatigue.  Hublot continues developing the line this year with the Hublot Classic Fusion Skeleton Tourbillon.  I wrote about a simpler version of this same watch last month (the Classic Fusion extra-thin skelelton), and now in addition to the tourbillon it also appears that Hublot has tweaked the design a bit (for the better).  This is the first time that the “Classic Fusion” is fitted with a tourbillon movement, a logical progression of the line.  In fact, the Classic Fusion line started in 2008 with a simple 3-handed mode with a date window, then last year gorgeous Classic Fusion chronograph model, and now we get the tourbillon + skeleton.

Hublot Classic Fusion Skeleton Tourbillon

limited edition 50 pieces in each titanium and red gold

45mm satin-finished titanium or King Gold case, automatic mechanical manufacture tourbillon movement