Founded by Carlo Crocco, scion of an old Lombardi family of watchmakers, the first-ever Hublot (meaning ‘porthole’ in French) was totally modern.
The art of fusion
It had a sturdy three-part yellow gold case, clean black dial and, in a first for a luxury watch, a black rubber strap scented with vanilla.
Hublot has a high-tech Manufacture in Nyon on the banks of Lake Geneva and is at the forefront of new advances in technology and fundamental research into new materials.Fusion is the name of the game at Hublot. Not just in fusing traditional watchmaking with an iconoclastic flair but also with its materials. It has created Magic Gold, which is an 18ct gold alloy that doesn’t scratch, and King Gold, which is a proprietary shade of rose gold. The brand managed to produce vivid coloured ceramics, found a way to colour sapphire crystal for its see-through cases, and even experimented with putting concrete in a case. It makes for an audacious, bold, brand whose new launches you can never quite predict. Its most iconic timepiece remains the multiple award-winning Big Bang, launched in 2005, the perfect illustration of the Fusion concept so dear to Hublot. The Big Bang, now the brand’s signature collection and a watchmaking icon, celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2020 and in recent times we have seen a plethora of different colours, concepts, and variations of this design.
We’ve enjoyed a successful partnership with Hublot for many years, from releasing collaborative Exclusives to amplifying the key message of Hublot as Official Timekeeper of the FIFA World Cup. We have also had the pleasure of interviewing key individuals from the brand across our podcast and social media channels, as well as taking clients for a dinner at Clare Smyth’s Michelin star restaurant.
2024 sees a very exciting step in our continued success, and we opened a new Hublot shop-in-shop within our Goldsmiths Trafford showroom, offering customers the opportunity to explore and experience the luxury Swiss brand in a dedicated space. Towards the end of the year, we will also be launching a special commemorative Exclusive celebrating Watches of Switzerland’s Centenary year.
Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph ‘Watches of Switzerland Group’ Special Edition
Released in 2022, the Classic Fusion created in collaboration with the Watches of Switzerland Group added to previous special editions created jointly by Hublot and the Watches of Switzerland Group since 2018. The Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph watch combined tradition and innovation, something that has been at the heart of Hublot watchmaking for decades. The Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph ‘Watches of Switzerland Group’ Special Edition 45mm blended a striking black ceramic case with a black skeleton dial featuring red details, which were also seen on the alligator and rubber strap. The timepiece carried a HUB1155 self-winding chronograph movement and had a 42-hour power reserve. Continuing the trend of releasing special pieces, 2024 see us collaborating once again on a special piece to commemorate Watches of Switzerland’s Centenary year.
