I was invited by the Hublot boutique of the Place Vendome in Paris to
discover the full range of the novelties (except the Techframe) which
were unveiled during the Geneva week at the beginning of the year. And
since with Hublot, things are not the same than with the other brands, I
could see and handle 39 pieces!!!
Obviously, if you
consider any brand, you may think that 39 novelties since the beginning
of the year for a brand which exhibits at Basel... and before
the Fair... are way too many! And you would be right. But we are in the
Hublot context for which the strategy is not to build a catalogue of a
permanent collection. Of course, some of these pieces will join it. But
in the end, most of them are limited editions to be able to target
specific clients.
These clients are not always the
same. They can be contemporary art lovers (Orlinski), golf players
(Unico Golf), elegant people (Italia Independent)... it is in the end
quite difficult to not find your most suitable Hublot watch if you like
the concept around the brand.
Once Jean-Claude Biver
said: Being an owner of a Hublot watch is a state of mind. You buy a
Hublot watch because you are happy and I can understand this statement.
The brand provokes high emotions: you love some pieces or you hate
others. I feel the same. I can find several watches very appealing with
the big desire to add them into my collection and at the same time I'm
very reluctant to see some others...
Let's discover
now the watches I put on my wrist during my visit. It was a true
privilege to see this collection of novelties because it didn't stay
very long in Paris and already moved to another Hublot boutique in
Europe.
The Hublot window on the Place
Vendôme:
Ready
to celebrate the Year of the Dog even if Hublot doesn't have a
dedicated timepiece to this event (at least to my knowledge). The
boutique organized a nice finger food lunch with some Swiss specialities
but the cheese was not Jean-Claude Biver's one!
The
Berluti set is a good reminder that we are on the Place Vendôme, one of
the most luxurious squares in the world:
Laurent
Meritet, the boutique manager welcomed the guests with his
team:
I
was introduced by Usain Bolt himself:
But
very quickly, I had to put a watch on my wrist. And I couldn't resist
to test my fav piece of the collection, the Unico Sang Bleu Titanium
Blue:
Let's
start with the Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Orlinski Blue
Ceramic 45mm. I like a lot this watch because it is so Hublot and so
Orlinski at the same time. I tend to prefer the Blue Ceramic version
because I think that the case shapes are better highlighted. The problem
of the Titanium version is that I find it too bright and luminous.
Moreover, the blue color is very consistent with the creations of the
artist.
Anyway,
the titanium version is also very appealing! Both versions are very
successful and I think they are already sold
out.
Let's
enter a different universe. Lapo Elkann and Hublot offer us a new way
to wear fabrics!
What is your fav
one?
The Pinstripe (with Ceramic
case)?
The
Pieds de Poule (with a titanium case)?
Or
the Prince de Galles (with a king gold case)?
I have
to confess that I like the three watches because each one defines its
own atmosphere. I have a soft spot for the pinstripe since it offers a
perfect example of casual elegance.
Let's
take off the suit and put on a driving outfit! Here are the new Big
Bang Ferrari.
The most eye-catching is the version
with the red ceramic bezel. I'm not a fan of this watch. I find the
contrast between the case and the bezel too high. But it offers a very
energetic design.
I much prefer the Magic Gold version.
There is something I like in the redesign of the Big Bang Ferrari chronographs: it is the way the crown is integrated into the case. It enhances the originality of the case and it gives a very fluid touch. I really have the feeling that the watch underwent a wind-tunnel test!
We keep the 45mm diameter with the Big Bang Unico GMT King Gold.
The watch is large and quite bulky (I find the Ferrari more convincing on this point) but the mix of blue and gold details works well. You will notice the day/night ring on the center of the dial.
Hublot introduced in January two new versions of the Meca-10:
The King Gold blue:
And the Ceramic Blue.
Both are well made and I'm happy to find again the very technical rendering of the Meca-10 dial.
My fav piece is the Ceramic Blue version because the main color gives to the watch the feeling that it is built like a meccano object... and I like this idea!
I don't like the Big Bang Unico World Poker Tour even if it gathers some nice design ideas like the bezel. But it is not for me a very refined watch and the poker world is absolutely not my cup of tea.
The Classic Fusion Ceramic Bracelet is much quieter and elegant. The black and blue atmosphere works well and I appreciate the shape and design of the bracelet. A full range of watches are available with this configuration.
The nicest surprise was for me the ability to test the Big Bang Sang Bleu Titanium Blue.
What a watch!
It is for me the best example of the Art of Fusion. Both worlds (Hublot and Maxime Buchi) collide to create this original and in a way disturbing piece. The specific time display raises its interest and the case finishes offer an alternative style to the usual Hublot design. This Titanium Blue version is for sure a hit and my fav Hublot!
The Titanium White is also nice but I didn't feel the same charm. I'm not sure this color is the best friend of the time display and moreover, the legibility is not its best asset!
Let's come back to a more classic style with the Classic Fusion Green. Hublot introduced a full range of watches featuring this gorgeous green dial. If you hesitate between a titanium or a king gold version, I give you my advice: the king gold & green dial combo is amazing!
I told you at the beginning of the article that Hublot is a minset. Look at how happy the guests were during the event! And you can see that I was able to pose with the Hublot attitude with energy and smile!
My brother (who was on the right side of the previous picture) and I left the boutique with a cricket ball... and more importantly with the pleasure to have spent a nice Sunday afternoon!
Thanks a lot to the staff of the Hublot boutique for the warm welcome and the organization of the event.
Fx