A DRIVE TO SUCCEED
The prolific partnership between the legendary Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari and the luxury Swiss watchmaker HUBLOT, underscores not only the mutual admiration the two brands have for each other, but also their shared commitment to innovation and creative perfection
IN OUR UNPREDICTABLE modern world, where the only constant is change, companies that hope to stay relevant cannot afford to simply rest on their laurels. Innovation is the foundation of success these days, and for Hublot – makers of exquisite luxury timepieces – blazing new trails in terms of both design and manufacturing has always been the brand’s cornerstone.
Founded exactly 40 years ago by the Italian-born Carlo Crocco, and currently headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland, Hublot attracted attention early on in horology circles with their use of unusual materials and combinations; a creative signature the watchmaker refers to as the ‘Art of Fusion’.
Another building block that has helped secure Hublot’s place in the haute horological world has been its savvy partnerships with leading luxury brands in other segments. One of the most notable and fruitful of these pairings has been the one forged with the legendary Italian supercar manufacturer Ferrari, which over the past decade has produced several stunning limited-edition timepiece collections. At its core, the strength and longevity of this particular partnership has a lot to do with the common values the two companies share – constantly striving for new heights in luxury, innovation, and performance.
A perfect example of this mutually held ethos would be the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT series, unveiled to the world in the spring of 2019. The GT in the name refers to ‘Granturismo’, a highly specialised category of ultra-high-performance vehicles able to travel at top speeds for long distances in both comfort and style.this same combination of elegance and power is reflected
in the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT timepieces, with their captivating design and precision motorisation. Here, the sapphire crystal transparent dial reveals the watch’s intricate mechanics, including Hublot’s patented Unico self-winding flyback chronograph movement which gives the watch an impressive threeday power reserve. And while it’s a rarity for an integrated flyback chronograph to have a thickness of just 13.15mm, this is counterbalanced by the watch’s impressive diameter of 45mm.
Design details specifically connecting these dazzling timepieces to the Ferrari DNA include the famous prancing horse icon appearing at the 12 o’clock mark – directly above the watchmaker’s own logo – and a strap carefully crafted in black rubber and then dressed in Schedoni leather, giving a nod to the material used in the seats of Ferrari’s legendary Maranello racing cars.
Owning one of these watches also means belonging to an exclusive group of individuals, as each timepiece is part of an individually numbered limited edition set; the microblasted Ttitanium case (526. NX.0124.VR) having a production limit of just 1,000 pieces, while the 18K microblasted King Gold (526. OX.0124.VR) is part of a mere 500 piece collection.
Another Hublot timepiece design created in partnership with the Italian automaker is the Big Bang Ferrari Unico Carbon Red Ceramic (402.QF.0110.WR), a magnificently masculine, 45mm diameter watch with a self-winding chronograph flyback movement, a 72-hour power reserve, and a black rubber and alcantara (synthetic textile) strap. The watch’s dramatic red and black overall colour scheme is offset by the flash of yellow on the date indicator, thus completing the trinity of Ferrari’s corporate colours. The “open heart” sapphire dial fully reveals the 330 intricate components within, while the watchmaker’s logo sits comfortably at 12 o’clock and the automaker’s iconic prancing horse resides below at 6 o’clock. It’s a timepiece that also makes use of unidirectional carbon fibre in the casing, an ultra-tough almost entirely scratch-proof high-tech ceramic for certain bezels, and a base of zirconium sintered at very high temperatures.
However, when it comes to truly eye-popping design, perhaps the most memorable watch this prolific partnership has produced is the 20 piece, limited edition MP 05 Laferrari Gold (905.VX.0001.RX). At first glance it looks less like a watch and more like a futuristic sci-fi gadget, with its strange inner workings housed in an asymmetrical case inspired by the shape of the engine inside a Laferrari racecar. The exterior’s microblasted finish makes use of Hublot’s proprietary gold alloy, while the moving parts on the interior are fully visible via the sapphire dial side or display case backing; making it easy from either angle to admire the intricacy of the manual wound calibre with a suspended vertical tourbillon and 11 series-coupled barrels. All timekeeping functions are displayed on spinning cylinders to the left and right of the tourbillon, and the movement itself boasts the longest power reserve in the watch industry – an unbelievable 50 days! Although, winding and setting the time requires a set of special owner’s tools, including a small power drill and a handheld key ring with two different bits.
“The idea was to make something radical,” admitted Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s senior vice president of Design, who since 2011 has been instrumental in helping create many of Hublot’s most dynamic Ferrari watches, including last year’s Classic Fusion Ferrari GT. It’s a creative stance very much in line with Hublot’s own motto: “100% Different”.
This mutually beneficial partnership between Ferrari and Hublot, which includes the watchmaker’s branding visible on cars during prestigious Formula 1 and GT races, is representative of a real synergy between both companies; one that is based on true innovation and forward thinking.
It’s also a partnership which benefits Ferrari owners and Hublot VIPS, both of whom are eligible for exclusive access to invite-only events around the world, and unforgettable “money can’t buy” experiences, such as seats in the Grand Prix Paddocks – the prime viewing position for race fans, situated directly above the pit lane.
Hublot Boutique, Central Embassy, PMT The Hour Glass;tel: +66(0)2 160 5730