Watches and Wonders 2023 | NEW Hublot Watches
Does anything say high-tech composition and unprecedented luxury like a Hublot timepiece? If you’re expecting Hublot to raise the bar for Swiss watchmaking even higher at Watches and Wonders 2023, you’re in for a treat. From breaking their own boundaries in Hublot firsts, to maintaining exceptional standards for in-house craftsmanship and incredible precision, Hublot’s new releases are nothing short of amazing this year.
Joining classic Hublot collections Big Bang, Classic Fusion, Square Bang Unico, and MP-13, are this year’s new and innovative models. Including collaborations with accredited artists, cases bejewelled with dazzling diamonds, and timepieces that are reminiscent to Hublot’s past designs, the brand’s variation this year is astounding. We can’t wait to dive into the collections and what makes them so special!
In Geneva at Watches and Wonders 2023, our team sat down with Omar Choudhary, the Brand Director for Hublot in the UK & Ireland, for his thoughts on Hublot and their new releases. “I think if I were to describe Hublot in 3 words it’d be first, different and unique.”
Hublot Big Bang Integrated Full Carbon
Limited to only 50 pieces, the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Full Carbon is a timepiece that attests to Hublot’s ground-breaking manufacture and use of state-of-the-art materials. This watch is crafted to embody a structurally robust piece of technology with the finest horological movement, whilst also being extremely light and manageable for the wearer.
Inside the carbon-fibre watch, you’ll find an automatic tourbillon movement, an example of Hublot’s efforts to create outstandingly accurate watches. A micro-rotor tourbillon is featured at the heart of this timepiece, with an openwork back plate, allowing the owner to see its intricate mechanism. This also allows light to pierce through the watch’s centre, making it the only one in the world with a monobloc component of this kind. The tourbillon is skeletonised and suspended, encased in spots of transparent sapphire bridges, to add to this effect, whilst including a three day power reserve.
“Fusing tradition and innovation, we created a tourbillon movement housed in a carbon fibre and Texalium case, offering incredible resistance yet weighing just 68 grams, with an ultra-comfortable integrated strap. We are redefining the rules of contemporary watchmaking by offering unique and innovative materials and designs.” Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO.
The 43mm carbon fibre case is covered with Texalium, which combines a fibreglass core with a thin top layer of aluminium, for a case that is 99% pure and scratch resistant. The case back and bracelet is black-plated titanium, which maintains that watch’s grey aesthetic. Key Big Bang attributes such as an integrated strap, two side lugs to protect the case, six iconic functional screws on the bezel, and double-side sapphire crystal are included to solidify the watch’s place in this collection.
It's clear to see that Hublot are masters in carbon, but experimenting with other materials in the future is something the brand continuously looks to do.
“A material I think I’d like to explore with is the Green Saxom. We’ve made some watches with this very unique material which is extremely difficult to work with, but the finish of this material is absolutely stunning so I would certainly like to explore what we could do more with Green Saxom in the other family groups and I’m sure there will be some in the future.” Omar Choudhary, Brand Director for Hublot UK & Ireland.
Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Orlinski
Collaborating with Richard Orlinski, the most-sold French contemporary artist in the world, comes two watches for lovers of art and extreme precision. Combining watchmaking and sculpture, Hublot has created two miniature works of art that feature angular motifs and sharp ridges.
“Hublot has always been driven by innovation and a bold sense of design which goes against the grain. There are many parallels between watchmaking and art, both of which require creativity, passion, determination and boldness. These values come together in this collaboration with Richard Orlinski to explore new and memorable designs. This fusion of high quality Haute Horology and Art allows us to move towards new creative horizons, as innovative as they are unique.” Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO.
The timepieces feature a shiny black dial to add a contemporary sleek aesthetic. The unique HUB1153 automatic chronograph movement means the watch has a power reserve of 42 hours. Contemporary and sleek, the timepieces feature a shiny black dial, however, they do hold a key difference in exterior. The Orlinski Titanium has a black rubber strap, whereas, the Orlinski Full Titanium features a titanium strap. The latter’s titanium strap transforms the case’s pattern into an enlarged visual effect, the sculptured edges continuing to run throughout the watch’s body.
Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami
Collaborating with the Japanese digital artist Takashi Murakami, Hublot have created thirteen new watches and NFTs, as their fourth artistic project together. The collection features watches with the design of the artist’s signature smiling flower, inspired by Japanese video games and TV from the 1970s, as well as their first joint project. The timepieces are only available to those who own NFTs from the previous collaboration between the luxury watch brand and the artist, making the timepieces even more exclusive.
The Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami: Black Ceramic Rainbow is the masterpiece of this collection. It is available to a single buyer who manages to obtain all twelve NFTs corresponding to the other watches in this collection. This standout piece includes a gradient of rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites and topaz, with the centre of the smiling flower on top of the sapphire glass for a 3D effect. With Hublot’s Unico calibre movement, the watch has a power reserve of 72 hours.
"When my collaboration with Hublot was announced, we made it known that we would be adopting new forms of artistic expression. After creating all the timepieces together, as well as the digital works of art, we are now imagining new ways of accessing contemporary art." Takashi Murakami.
The pieces, that bring together watchmaking and digital art, consist of a 45mmm back ceramic case, case back and bezel. Also contributing to the all-black, monochrome effect is the black rubber strap with a stainless steel buckle clasp. This monochrome feature is what makes the 103 coloured gemstones on the dial shine so brightly, that make up the twelve petals of the smiling flower. Twelve petals and twelve additional watches, to represent twelve hours on the dial.
Hublot Square Bang Unico
After releasing their first square dial watch in ‘The Shaped Collection’ at Watches and Wonders 2022, Hublot is back with its statement Square Bang. This year, Hublot has released eleven new members of the Square Bang Unico collection, as a success that has transferred from the new dial shape. Split into two collections, Square Bang Unico Sapphire and Ceramic, and Square Bang Unico Diamonds, Hublot are exploring their newest case shape with imaginative designs and materials.
Staying true to Big Bang Unico features, the models carry a square-shaped case with a sandwich-like construction and six functional H-shaped screws. The high-tech components and intriguing design make the Big Bang Unico look so futuristic, as Hublot incorporates a combination of extraordinary materials. With a 72-hour power reserve, the Square Bang Unico features an automatic column-wheel flyback chronograph calibre, known as HUB1280.
Hublot Square Bang Sapphire and Ceramic
The timepieces feature an openwork dial, ensuring that intricate movements are visible on the dial surface.
The stripped-back aesthetic is incorporated into the Square Bang Sapphire with a see-through sapphire case and a transparent rubber strap. Limited to only 250 pieces, with a polished sapphire crystal case, bezel, and case back, the watch is truly unique to the Square Bang collection.
Displaying its mastery with ceramics, the Square Bange Unico Ceramic comes in either monochrome white or black with a ceramic 42mm dial, ceramic bezel, and ceramic/sapphire crystal case back. A white or black rubber strap features black-plated titanium buckle clasps.
“True to its motto—First, Unique, Different—Hublot has boldly and successfully ventured into the realm of square watch design with the Square Bang Unico. We view this model as a new arena to showcase our technical savoir-faire by embracing the challenge of developing new editions using state-of-the-art materials. The Art of Fusion!” Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO.
Hublot Square Bang Unico Diamonds
Releasing eight variations of the Hublot Square Bang Unico Diamonds, Hublot are focusing on titanium and King Gold models to spectacularly encapsulate its diamond watches. Each model is available in four different setting levels, which mark the number of diamonds and overall carat weight of each watch.
Starting from the first setting level, that features 44 diamonds, totalling 1.9 carats, to maximising at the fourth level, that features a total of 285 diamonds and a weight of almost 18 carats. Brilliantly bejewelled, the watches begin to portray themselves as not only timepieces, but pieces of jewellery too.
“Some will say it’s a sporty, chic, urban, contemporary watch, or give it some other label. In truth, that’s not the way we think. It's a Hublot, a pure Hublot. The case is exclusive, the movement is our Unico, it’s DNA is that of the Big Bang. Hublot has never been conventional when it comes to cases. These new Square Bang Unico prove this once again!”. Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO.
The King Gold is an 18-carat gold alloy with copper and platinum, giving it a red hue, and overall, a watch with a richer colour palate. King Gold represents ultimate splendour and luxury, and matched with rows of diamonds, makes a perfectly deluxe piece.
The titanium version of the Square Bang Unico is sleeker and more monochromatic. Whilst still set with breathtaking diamonds, the grey titanium makes for a more understated look, especially when paired with the black rubber strap. The titanium model is not available in the highest diamond setting, the Square Bang Unico High Jewellery, and instead, is replaced with a radiant white gold to achieve a similar colour scheme.
Hublot MP-13 Tourbillon
For those prepared to discover the watchmaking of tomorrow, the Hublot MP-13 celebrates the manufacture of the most ultimate complex elements. For the first time, Hublot brings together the tourbillon and the retrograde display in one watch. With a double-axis tourbillon, one axis that completes its rotation in one minute, and the other in 30 seconds, the MP-13’s movement is hypnotic. Manufactured entirely in-house, the MP-13 is a truly mechanically extravagant watch, both functionally and visually. Exclusively limited to only 50 pieces.
The timepiece also embodies Hublot’s first bi-retrograde movement for both hours and minutes. A minute had glides between markers, whilst the hour hand instantly jumps between them, allowing for utmost accuracy when reading the time.
“Fourteen years after inaugurating our Manufacture’s first building, we are now unveiling the 13th MP movement produced entirely in-house by Hublot. Creativity is nothing without the tools of the trade, and vice versa. That is what makes our integrated business model so strong.” Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO.
Establishing themselves yet again as a pinnacle brand of legendary watchmaking, Hublot’s craftsmanship is put on display with the skeletonised and suspended tourbillon. Anti-reflective sapphire crystal allows the mechanism to be seen, amongst a power reserve indicator, and bold minute and hour markers that decorate the dial. A 44mm case size, satin-finished titanium makes up the case, bezel, and case back. A black lined rubber strap holds a robust case that protects a ground-breaking 374 components.
On the back of Hublot’s success this year, we asked Omar what we should look out for in the near future. It’s clear that another exciting year is looming for Hublot, and we couldn’t be more excited.
“We have many more exciting releases planned for the rest of the year, we will explore our current partnerships, with new watches being released throughout this year.” Omar Choudhary, Brand Director for Hublot UK & Ireland.
Interested in the biggest and best luxury watches of the year? Our updates and highlights for Watches and Wonders 2023 have the news on new releases you’ll want to hear about. Keep an eye on our socials @beaverbrooksthejewellers for more Watches and Wonders content.
