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SpotlightHublot Gears Up For The 2018 FIFA World Cup

After a long wait of four years, the mother of all football tournaments, the FIFA World Cup, is here and we are celebrating it with a recap on the game’s longstanding association with FIFA’s official timekeeping partner, Swiss watch manufacturer, Hublot

Ishani Sirohi June 14, 2018

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With over 3.5 billion fans, it is a religion for some and for others, a sporting passion, but the most beloved game of the world, football has an altogether different frenzy when it boils down to the highlight event of the game – the FIFA World Cup. Part of this frenzy is a very special association that the event shares with its trusted official timekeeper, Hublot.

‘Hublot Loves Football And All The Values That The Sport Conveys And Upholds’

Established in the 80s, Hublot is a fairly young brand, but even in a short span of time, they’ve become leaders in the watchmaking world by clubbing innovation with clever affiliations. Today, it’s right up there among the top brands, thanks to one guy – Jean-Claude Biver, former brand CEO, and current president of the LVMH Group’s watch division, which Hublot is a part of.

Hublot x FIFA: As each one of us anxiously awaits for June 14 to dawn, so that all the action on the turf can be lapped up, even the CEO of Hublot, Ricardo Guadalupe “can’t wait for the competition to begin!”

Hublot has earned the reputation of being the first luxury watch brand to be so heavily invested in football, making its love for the beautiful game evident. In one such grand gesture, before the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, it created the ‘Hublot loves football’ campaign. Brand ambassadors, friends of the brand, or anyone even remotely associated with the brand became a part of this campaign, which celebrates football legends and iconic clubs, by releasing a series of exceptional portraits in never-seen-before avatars.

**‘Hublot loves football’** is the slogan under which the brand started a larger-than-life campaign, which celebrates football legends and iconic clubs. A part of this campaign is a series of exceptional portraits in never-seen-before avatars like the portrait of the players of Juventus seen here.

Every image draws out the unique connection that the subject of the photograph shares with Hublot. From the ‘King Of Football’, Pele to ‘The Special One’, José Mourinho, all have been depicted in a striking setting. For instance, there is a shot of Mourinho in Hublot’s manufacturing unit in Switzerland, and a portrait of the players of Juventus on the field. The common depiction in all these images, apart from a shared passion for the game, is ‘a football painted and decorated by the renowned artist, Romero Britto’, while the spectacular portraits were captured by the notable Swiss photographer, Fred Merz.

Every captivating image from the Hublot love Football campaign draws out the unique connection that the subject of the photograph shares with Hublot set in a striking setting. For instance, this shot of Mourinho in Hublot’s manufacturing unit in Switzerland has the intense depth that reflects the legends gusto for the game.

The common depiction in all these images, apart from a shared passion for the game, is ‘a football painted and decorated by the renowned artist, Romero Britto’ (seen here), while the spectacular portraits were captured by the notable Swiss photographer, Fred Merz.

Hublot x FIFA

In a sport where time is so crucial that it can change the destiny of the game, only the most impeccable and faultless brand can be relied upon, and Hublot’s calibre in the past has proven that.

In a World Cup, the enthusiasm transcends clubs or communities; it encompasses a feeling of pride and glory that roots from representing a country. While the stands go ablaze with wavin’ flags, party horns and anthems, every second is accounted for even when the ball is not in play. Amidst all the banter, each time the referee stops the play, there is a mighty important board raised, ie the referee’s board, which counts the minutes to be added to the game at the end. And here is where you notice the mark of the prestigious Swiss luxury watch brand, Hublot.

Hublot recognises the importance of timing in a sport like football and is one of the few brands world over to have the technology and know-how required to match the fast-paced game. Hublot revolutionised the referee board which is crucial during the match to signal substitute players and keep a track of stoppage time left at the end of the two halves

2010: When Hublot Waka-Waka’d For The First Time

Hublot’s association with football was not a fresh leaf in the history of the game. The brand proved its mettle as a sponsor of the Swiss football team in 2006 and also as the official partner of Euro tournament in 2008. The über-cool brand also presided as the official timekeeper for Manchester United, before its fellow LVMH brand, TAG Heuer took on the role. But the most prestigious of all associations in Hublot’s football resume was the inclusion of the brand as the official timekeeper for not one but two World Cups, back to back, starting in 2010, in South Africa. Yes, the brand was roped in as the ‘official timekeeper’, which meant visibility on the referee’s board when they showed substitutions of players or the stoppage of time during the course of the game.

Jean-Claude Biver, former Hublot CEO, and current president of the LVMH Group’s watch division, which Hublot is a part of, marketed the brand to the current glory it enjoys, including which is its association with football. Hublot also presided as the official timekeeper for Manchester United, before its fellow LVMH brand, TAG Heuer took on the role.

To commemorate the grand collaboration, the brand launched an official licensed watch of the FIFA World Cup. An exclusive Classic Fusion 45mm timepiece, limited to 100 pieces, this watch was covered in gold and featured an embossed motif of the coveted FIFA World Cup.

The very first official licensed watch of the FIFA World Cup in 2010 was a Classic Fusion 45mm timepiece, limited to 100 pieces. This watch was covered in gold and featured an embossed motif of the coveted FIFA World Cup.

2014: Back With A Bang For Brazil

Hublot had a head-start getting into the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with the aforementioned ‘Hublot loves football’ campaign. For its second time as the official timekeeper for the grand event, not only did the brand garner attention with the successful campaign but also revealed a fresh design for the referee’s board. The result was attractive and practical boards with an ergonomic design and superior technical specifications.

The official watch of 2014 World Cup: All the association with football clearly called for a special Big Bang watch, which Hublot did launch – the Big Bang Unico Chrono Bi-Retrograde, aptly named ‘Soccer Bang’ and the watch set new standards in the world of sport chronographs.

Hublot also launched a very special official watch for the 2014 World Cup – the Big Bang Unico Chrono Bi-Retrograde, aptly named ‘Soccer Bang’. The watch set new standards in the world of sports chronographs, by sealing a distinction of being the ‘only luxury mechanical watch made specifically for timing football matches’.

The watch is a one of a kind timepiece especially designed for football fanatics measuring the duration of a match and is bursting with energy not just in its design but also in movement. The watch also marked a first for Hublot, as the brand debuted the bi-retrograde function with this piece.

2018: A Grand Kick-Off In Russia

“We can’t wait for the competition to begin!” is the emotion running high on the mind of Ricardo Guadalupe, the CEO of Hublot. And it’s not a strange feeling, as each one of us anxiously awaits for June 14 to dawn, so that all the action on the turf can be lapped up. After an illustrious two seasons, for the third consecutive time, Hublot has been confirmed as the official timekeeper for the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Hublot proved it’s calibre and earned the reputation of being the first luxury watch brand to be so heavily invested in football, making its love for the beautiful game evident and earning them the key role as the official timekeeper for three straight FIFA World Cups (2010. 2014 and 2018). Seen here is the world sprinting champion Usain Bolt, who is a football lover and friend of the brand, joining its social initiatives.

This year, Hublot has taken a smart route, and we’re mighty impressed with the launch of their latest watch, the Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia edition. Unveiled at Baselworld 2018, the watch set the clock ticking for a countdown to the big event, and deliberately comes in a limited edition – 2,018 in number.

Hublot has created the Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia edition, ‘a smartwatch that will instantly connect you to every decisive second of the matches being played’. The smartwatch will work with Android as well as with iOS-driven devices.

Just so you’re plugged into every moment of the World Cup this year, Hublot has created ‘a smart watch that will instantly connect you to every decisive second of the matches being played’. The smartwatch will work with Android as well as with iOS-driven devices.

When The Goal Is A Good Cause

Hublot is not just a big, bold brand but also a socially conscious player in the world of watches, out to make a positive impact on society. Leading the pitch for a better tomorrow, as partners with UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and United Nations, Hublot organised a ‘match for solidarity’, with a primary goal to diminish inequality. Held at the La Praille Stadium in Geneva, the players and those present included football icons, Éric Abidal, Vitor Baia, Cafu, Ronal and Frank de Boer, Deco, Dida, Youri Djorkaeff, Edmilson, Alex Frei, Luis García, Nuno Gomes, Christian Karembeu, Robbie Keane, Patrick Kluivert, Henrik Larsson, Jari Litmanen, Gaizka Mendieta, Robert Pirès, Pirlo, Célia Šašić, Michel Salgado and Kelly Smith. The proceeds from the match – and from a special auction of shirts signed by the biggies of football, such as Ronaldo, Iniesta, James Rodriguez, Dybala, Aguero, Falcao, Cavani, Kane, Pogba – will be combined and invested to aid children. On the occasion, Hublot was seen on the wrists of the referees who wore the smartwatch specially devised for football.

The big, bold brand is out on a mission channelling its power to make a solid impact in the world. Hublot organised a ‘match for solidarity’ in Geneva, with a primary goal to diminish inequality. Those present included football icons, Éric Abidal, Vitor Baia, Cafu, Ronal and more.

After that testimony for a perfect partnership, it’ll be justified to pronounce that Hublot has football embedded in its DNA. It’s now time to wear the colours on your back, raise your flags and watch the show, June 14 onwards.