SpotlightHublot’s Best New Releases From The 2021 LVMH Watch Week
The ever-innovating luxury brand Hublot released a number of interesting timepieces at the LVMH Group's digital event this week. Their showcase included advanced material innovation, along with a new in-house calibre. Here are our favourites
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The LVMH Watch Week took place this year in a digital medium amid concerns about the new coronavirus strain that seems to be more contagious. That was expected. What was not expected was Hublot’s dazzling display of colourful timepieces, proving to us that global crisis or not, Hublot is always going to keep innovating. Here are some of our favourites.
Orange Sapphire Crystal And A New Movement
We start off with the most critically- and technically-impressive piece from among the event’s releases—the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Orange Sapphire. This is an achievement for Hublot in two parts. First, its 45mm case machined from orange-tinted translucent sapphire crystal. This is a world first and was constructed by incorporating titanium and chromium in the mix. Second, the watch comes with a ground-breaking movement, the calibre MHUB6035. This is the brand’s first self-winding tourbillon calibre and boasts a massive 72-hour power reserve. The micro-rotor is balanced with the tourbillon escapement by its position at noon. The sapphire construction, including that of the bridges of the calibre, allows for the movement to be on full display from every angle.
The Smiling Flower
Moving on to my favourite piece from the event, the Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black. This is the first time the famed Japanese contemporary artist’s work has made it onto a Swiss watch. Hublot says that a visit to the Hublot manufacture in February 2020 enabled Takashi Murakami to familiarise himself with the brand, which triggered a creative process that resulted in the timepiece inspired by Murakami’s iconic work of art, ‘Smiling Flowers’. Studded with 563 black diamonds, the flower is composed of 12 petals that spin around the centre using a clever ball-bearing system devised by Hublot’s engineers. The smiling centre of the flower is placed outside the glass, further enhancing the three-dimensional interpretation of the artwork. The 45mm timepiece is limited to a mere 200 units. And if you know anything about the art world and Murakami’s legacy, you already know this is going to be a collector’s dream.
Ceramic’s Many Hues
Ceramic was a word that was continually thrown around during Hublot’s presentation. But for good reason. This is a material that’s scratch-resistant, durable and has hypoallergenic properties, making it an ideal match for watchmaking. Hublot has perfected the craft and delivered a slew of collections that incorporate the material—most notably in the Big Bang Integral Ceramic. First launched at last year’s LVMH Watch Week in Dubai, the Integral series presented the iconic Big Bang on a new integrated bracelet. And this time, the chiselled integrated silhouette has been realised in ceramic, in three stunning hues—white, navy blue and grey.
The material also made its presence known with the Classic Fusion Orlinski 40mm. Richard Orlinski’s now emblematic edges, facets and bevels have been artistically sculpting Hublot watches since 2018. This year, the collaboration comes in two monochrome editions entirely clad in ceramic, with the exception of the strap and the crown. This is quite a challenging work of art, as not only the case but also the gorgeous faceted dial is crafted from the material.
For The Dynamic Dames
Next up we have something for the ladies. The ceramic trend has newly entered this space and we’re predicting the silky-smooth material is going to stay on the wrist of women for a long time. The Spirit of Big Bang Ceramic Beige fuses a ceramic case with the layers of an alligator strap on white rubber, a sand-coloured sunray dial, and a bezel either in King Gold or polished titanium set with 50 diamonds.
But that’s not where the fun ends for ladies. Hublot introduced a burst of colours with the Big Bang One Click 33mm. The watches—among the smallest Big Bangs ever—are available in stainless steel or in King Gold with interchangeable straps. Its case has been refined to wrap itself around slender wrists. By offering a wide palette of different coloured straps, the watch’s character can easily and swiftly be matched to any outfit or mood.
The Alchemist
The MP-11 manufacture calibre makes its way into two new cases—in Magic Gold (one of Hublot’s proprietary alloys) and a high-tech blue sapphire crystal case. Magic gold is a material patented by Hublot and is made by what I could only describe as alchemy. It combines ceramic with 18-karat gold through a complex process, and what you end up with a scratch-resistant gold alloy. The resulting Big Bang MP-11 watch is an instrument with a spectacular aesthetic. The open dial reveals its seven in-line barrels, which guarantee an unrivalled power reserve of 14 days.
