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Designed by a Child in Support of Other Children

Hublot was created in 1980 and its first watch design was inspired by a boat’s porthole. Sobriety, comfort and the characteristic shape of Hublot watches soon made them highly sought-after pieces, especially by royalty.

It was the first time in watchmaking that natural rubber had been combined with gold. For Hublot, rubber was not a fashion phenomenon, but a manifestation of its philosophy. At this time, Hublot was one of the last remaining independent family watchmaking businesses with a single-product concept and as a consequence, its complete creative liberty enabled it to preserve its personality and expand its range by offering complications or limited series.

In 2004, when Jean-Claude Biver took up the role of Hublot CEO, the “Art of Fusion” became the way of thinking and of creation at Hublot: combining unexpected materials (such as ceramic, carbon, tantalum, tungsten, titanium, magnesium) with precious and conventional materials, employing the cutting-edge technologies, while still remaining true to traditional watchmaking know-how.

The collection launched in 2005 was called “Big Bang”. A perfect illustration of the art of Fusion! The bezel and case had sharper corners, screws passing right through the case and the rubber strap – retained the look of the first Hublots. Within a year, the Big Bang won numerous prizes and was released in various sizes with assorted complications such as tourbillon, large date, power reserve indicator and split seconds.

“The initial design was created by my son, Pierre,” says Jean-Claude Biver, CEO Hublot, “created by a child in support of other children. He put the red on the black and, at first, we thought it would be impossible to use but then we decided to make one unique piece for Only Watch from this design.”

Pierre originally designed the watch in two other color options but evidently for Monaco red was the only option… “I find the watch interesting because we have tried to keep the character and spirit of the design in our Only Watch piece,” says Biver. “We will include the original design in the presentation box of the piece along with the watch’s instructions for use.”

Hublot’s Only Watch 09 continues the very Hublot look. It is a unique piece in their new King Power line – a chronograph with split time counter with indications to one eighth of a second. The watch has a special Only Watch dial and carries an Only Watch transfer. “Whoever buys this piece will be the first to wear a watch in this collection because it has not yet been commercialized,” confirms Marco Tedeschi, Product Director.

The movement is a Split Second and Foudroyante. The fly back hand allows you to measure time to an impressive eighth of a second and the split second hand can be used to record an intermediate time by means of the two chronograph seconds hands. When recording a time, the first so-called “Split-Second” hand is stopped while the second continues to move. This mechanism makes it possible to observe the lapsed period. Then, by pressing the push-piece a second time, the hand is made to catch up with and remain superposed on the seconds hand. This function can be used to calculate the intermediate time of one runner, or the times of two runners.

The case is in sandblasted black ceramic and the screws are typical “H” screws flush fitted. The crowns and push pieces are in PDV-treated black titanium.

The watch strap is in rubber – continuing the now traditional Hublot concept of the fusion of materials. The inserts in the push pieces and the crown are also in rubber.

The dial is very technical and complicated because the dial consists of five pieces plus the indexes and it has a base plate which has been specially made for Only Watch with circular satin finish – reminiscent of the colors of Monaco. The two counters have red SuperLumiNova markers so you can read the chronograph even in the dark. The minute indications are also in red SuperLumiNova. The difficulty to fix the 3D indexes was very unusual in that they fit onto the base plate but are “clipped” into the seconds’ ring.

The hands are also complex because they are in relief, made of several layers folded back on themselves – continuing the very distinctive Hublot look. The dial is marked “Only Watch Unique Piece”. The two faces of the sapphire crystal are double anti-reflection treated.

“The movement was developed with La Joux-Perret who made it especially for us,” says Tedeschi. “The bridges are rhodium-plated and the other elements of the movement satin finished. The oscillating mass in this special Only Watch piece is quite special because it has King Power in red to reflect the color of the special dial.”

The engraving on the back of the King Power would normally be in black on black, tone on tone, but for this special piece “Only Watch 09” watch they have done the engraving in red on black – again, reminiscent of the dial of the watch.

The shape of this special unique version of the Hublot King Power watch is instantly recognizable as Hublot with its fusion of materials and elements, and bezel with inset screws. “It is very futuristic as all Hublot watches made since 1980,” concludes Tedeschi.

 

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For more information contact:
Ita McCobb
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers SA
Tel +41 22 318 28 38
e-mail i.mccobb@patrizziauction.com

Audrey Baylac
Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies / Monaco Yacht Show
Tel +377 93 10 41 70
e-mail audrey@monacoyachtshow.mc