Hublot

Hublot was founded in Nyon, Switzerland, in 1980 by Carl Crocco. A keen sailor, Crocco yearned for a durable luxury watch that could be worn during his nautical endeavors. He introduced the world’s first gold watch on a rubber strap, with a bezel embellished with exposed screws. The inaugural design was based on a ship’s porthole – and so, the name Hublot, which means “porthole” in French.

In 2004, Jean Claude Biver joined Hublot and revamped its product strategy with material innovation and aggressive marketing. Some of the first releases under Biver’s direction were the Big Bang Chronographs, which earned many prizes and awards in 2005, including the Design Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. These recognitions boosted Hublot’s sales massively, and in 2007, the brand opened their first boutique in Paris.

Hublot’s heavy focus on research and development encompasses experimentation with precious metal alloys, improving on their performance and aesthetics. True to its motto, “the Art of Fusion,” Hublot is known for combining unconventional materials to generate new composites such as “Magic Gold” – a scratchproof yellow gold and ceramic alloy. Some timepieces also feature carbon, sapphire, titanium, or even concrete.

Despite Hublot’s penchant for modern aesthetics, its savoir-faire continues to pay homage to traditional craftsmanship. According to Biver, the company ethos was defined as “the fusion of tradition and future.”

MP-05 “LaFerrari,” Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow, Big Bang Sang Bleu II