Hublot '' Big Bang '' Series

Switzerland has been a breeding ground for many an artist and craftsman for a long time. Whether it is theatre or music, painting or architecture, the Swiss have been known for expert craftsmanship and intricate designs. Even in the watch making industry, making big names can be quoted from Europe. One such name is Hublot. Carlo Crocco in Italy founded Hublot, in 1980 (although his company was known as MDM Geneve, back then). Born into a watchmaker family, from a very young age, Crocco had strong ideas about beauty and its incorporation in the art of watch making. In 1967, Crocco created his first watch, thus, placing his foot firmly in the world of watchmakers. In 1980, after his company was launched, Crocco went against the trend and created the world’s first watch in solid gold, with a black strap, made from natural rubber. This watch remain a pioneering design for most watches worn today as well as an on-going trend for watches to be designed in the future. Hublot believes in one rule, the rule of simplicity. Crocco was always determined to create watches that featured pure lines and also one that would have respect for the raw materials used in its manufacture. Above all, though, Hublot believes that watch making is an art form that should be useful to the common man, and hence, the watches should find use in both formal as well as informal occasions. The ingenious rubber strap idea was an instant hit, when Crocco displayed his Hublot watch at the Basel Fair in 1980. One of the most talked-about Hublot watch collections is the Big Bang collection, launched in the autumn of 2005. This Big Bang collection consists of watches that are larger in size, chunkier and mostly for men. The wide variety of watches that are available, include watches that merge different materials such as gold, ceramics, Kelvar and red gold, and of course, natural rubber, with intricate and classic Swiss watch making technique. All these materials are layered together and the 44.5 mm diameter casing is made of 18K gold or steel. The end product is a beautiful fusion of art form and simplicity. Apart from that, Hublot boasts of other definitive collections to feast your eyes on. Being one of the last independent family owned businesses in the world today, Hublot has gained recognition for having a unique selling point, that is, the incorporation of natural rubber in most of its designs. Its unique individuality, in terms of style and elegance, has allowed it to expand itself and create three new design lines, including the Classic, Sport and Elegant. Also, Hublot boasts of a limited series Art Collection, that is a must for any collector. The engraved or enameled dials exhibit the talent and craftsmanship of the watchmakers of Hublot. These rare personalized pieces add a sense of richness to the entire Hublot collection and it is must-have for any collector.

The History of Hublot Geneve

Hublot is constantly praised as an incredibly innovative watchmaker. In 1980 Carlo Crocco created the Hublot watch featuring a gold case and natural rubber strap. For the first time in the history of watchmaking, a precious material – gold – was combined with rubber. It became an inspiration to many manufacturers worldwide. Up to now, major Swiss companies and other renowned watchmakers around the world are still manufacturing the design.

In the mid-90s, rubber became the focus of interest of the leading watchmaking brands, thus validating the choices that led to the creation of Hublot watches. As far as the brand is concerned, rubber is not a fashion phenomenon, but rather the embodiment of its philosophy and brand image from the beginning. Thus, in May 2004, Jean-Claude Biver took up his position as CEO, becoming board member and minority shareholder in Hublot watches. He had many ideas for developing the brand.

Under the leadership of its new CEO, Hublot revisited its founding principles: Jean-Claude Biver relaunched the “The Art of Fusion” concept - this meant the fusion of unusual materials such as gold and ceramic, tantalum and red gold, or even magnesium and titanium. This also applied to the fusion between the Swiss Watchmaking Tradition and 21st century Watchmaking Art.

The Hublot Big Bang and Beyond

As time moved on, various models of the Big Bang have been developed, presenting watchmaking complications: Tourbillon, Big Date, Power Reserve Indicator and Split Seconds. The Fusion concept has been pushed to the limit in the quest for unusual materials and alloys. The model comes in a choice of two sizes: 41 or 44 mm in diameter. In 2007 a new "diver" Big Bang was launched — this was the third version in terms of its size: the Big Bang King was given an oversized case measuring 48 mm, but which adapts remarkably well to slender and large wrists alike!

For Hublot, October 2007 was a time of innovation. The watchmaker launched its first watch entirely manufactured in-house. The Mag Bang was designed and developed in a new light alloy made mainly of aluminum and magnesium (Ag5 alloy). This material was used to manufacture the movement and case of this new model.

Since then Hublot has continued to innovate in the areas of construction and materials but also in marketing. CEO Jean-Claude Biver has been quite a force in promoting Hublot, as he defines it, with "concentration in diversity". In other words, going where potential clients can be found. He invests a lot of energy in sponsoring and partnership activities in various fields. These include sailing and the nautical world, golf, polo, skiing, motor racing, tennis, track and field, basketball and football (or soccer to Americans).

D Wade, Jay Z & Kanye Shine Light On Hublot Luxury Watch Brand

There are certain celebrities whose influence can send a brand’s popularity into the stratosphere. Dwyane Wade, Jay-Z, and Kanye West fit that mold. They are influencers. Influencers from the worlds of sports or Hip Hop coupled with a luxury brand create a formula rarely misses. In February, Dwyane Wade became a brand ambassador for Hublot Geneve, a swiss luxury watch company. Wednesday, Jay-Z and Kanye West released “Otis” the first single from Watch The Throne, their soon to be released and much anticipated collaboration. On “Otis,” at about the :54 mark, Jay-Z yells “new watch alert, Hublots!” It doesn’t get much better than that. Listen to “Otis”…. Welcome to the map, Hublot Geneve. Dwyane Wade/Hublot Geneve gallery…. By the way, it’s pronounced “Hew-blow. 

Audemars Piguet Millenary Chalcedony Tourbillon

Audemars Piguet Millenary Tourbillion watch

Material: 18k Rose Gold

Movement: Cal.2861 hand-winding movement

Functions: Hours and Minutes

Diameter: 45mm

Crystal: Sapphire crystal glass, transparent case back

Water resistant: 20m

 

The sapphire crystal transparent dial is decorated by two rose gold diamond rings. The silvered Arabic numerals on the dial fully present the eccentric aesthetics of Millenary collection. The 4 rose gold diamond rings overlap each other to create a three dimensional effect. The decorative jewelry that travels between mechanical wheels controls the gears of hour and minute. The decorative jewelry and the large, small wheels are able to create a nice pattern of Arab-style swing. On top of that, it is a difficult job to build a tourbillon on a skeleton chalcedony board. And it is elegant that the shiny polished tourbillon bridge matches rose gold diamond rings surrounding the dial.     

Audemars Piguet watches’ inexhaustible source of inspiration roots in the Millenary Collection. Inspired by its elliptic watchcase, Audemars Piguet, again, schemed out a gorgeous pierced wristwatch. Its hollow – out board uses the innovative powder – blue chalcedony as raw material with a delicate tourbillon embedded in the board. All sizes of gears of its precise mechanisms, against the chalcedony board, dance trippingly on the stage – like transparent dial, enhancing each other’s beauty along with the ornamental ring encrusted with diamonds. Not only utilizing world – class watchmaking craft but also arousing the sensation and sympathetic response from abyss of people’s mind, the Millenary Chalcedony Tourbillon, as it were, is an unprecedented masterpiece that combines intellectual beauty with sensitive beauty.

In 2001 Audemars Piguet released a colored crystal tourbillon wristwatch which pertains to the Edward Piguet Collection. Its board is made of divergent crystal which contains a small number of golden red crystals, and the board itself serves as the dial as well. In 2005 another homologous tourbillon wristwatch emerged while its board is made of natural translucent moss agate mineral. And today, with technology that has reached a high degree of excellence, Audemars Piguet created the powder – blue chalcedony board. The watchmaker, above all, chooses the firmest and most perfect part of a natural chalcedony ore as the raw material; then, with particular techniques, he cuts the piece into the rudiment of the board. By right of rich experience of the utilization of the natural ore, Audemard Piguet employs the unprecedented ultrasonic machining technique to the process of the quartzose chalcedony. The cutting precision, with the help of the Audemard Piguet’s original device, can be achieved 0. 01mm. However, this is just the preliminary work; what’s more, the watchmaker still needs to construct a movement and to take the risk that the board parts or is scratched up. Therefore, the assembly process requires skillful hands, or the translucent lace – like chalcedony board can never be accomplished faultlessly in the end.

The unique movement design which is imbued with poetry combines jewelery craft with mechanical technology, without parallel in history. The rim of the transparent sapphire crystal dial is decorated with two rose gold rings that is encrusted with diamonds, and other sparkling watches can never compare with it for it has already surpassed the definition of luxury. The silvery Arabic numerals engraved on the dial has continued one of the Millenary Collection’s trait, namely the eccentric aesthetics style. In addition, four ornamental rose gold rings that is encrusted with diamonds cross over the board, forming a three – dimensional effect. Moreover, people will forget themselves and even the time when seeing the beautiful picture formed by the use of sky blue, pearl white, and rose golden. The 45mm rose gold watchcase with diamonds is just like a gorgeous frame while the fashionable brown sharkskin watchband connected across it is perfect.

Of course, such a delicate gem ought to collocate with the wistful tourbillon, a result of the distinctive watchmaking geniuses’ challenge to the gravity. This precise device can help the two subtlest parts of the movement – escapement device and hairspring balance wheel get rid of the interference of the gravity. To make the tourbillon run well in the movement, without doubt, requires precise techniques and years of experience while to reach the goal on the hollow – out ore board is doubly difficult. At last, Audemars Piguet still gave heed to a design detail that the polished tourbillon with high gross surface dovetails nicely with the rose gold diamond ring around the watch dial, taking the harmonious and elegant style to the extreme. Thus it can be seen that this wristwatch hasn’t, though, undergone the world’s roughest and most complicated processing, it has gathered not a few world – class watchmakers’ immortal techniques and intelligence of infinity. And this wristwatch will make a figure in and be tested by the endless flow of time. During this period of time it may pass into silence; however, a few years later when you meet it unexpectedly, you will find that nothing can change it, including the time. And this is the charm that it always has.