The Hublot brand started its journey back in 1980 when it launched its first watch at the spring Baselworld. The watch was peculiar in many ways. For starters, no one expected a gold watch to be paired with rubber.
When it comes to Hublot, there is hardly anything that is out of bounds. Unlike most traditional watchmakers, Hublot has established an image that screams avant-garde. Since the very beginning, the Swiss watchmaker has been known for its knack for downright out-of-the-box and borderline ridiculous designs. In Hublot's defence, it was high time that the industry had a breeze of freshness. The brand started its journey back in 1980 when it launched its first watch at the spring Baselworld. The watch was peculiar in many ways. For starters, no one expected a gold watch to be paired with rubber.
For conventional watch enthusiasts, this was nothing short of a hate crime. Yet, Hublot did not hesitate in its pursuit for the different. The rubber used in the watch was the result of four-year-long research and development. It did not produce a foul odour and did not lose colour due to exposure to the sun. Despite a rather initial cold reception, the watch became quite a phenomenon in the international markets. However, this did not last as long as Hublot expected. By the end of 2003, the horologist was losing money. This is where Jean-Claude Biver entered the picture.
Biver was already a giant in the industry and by the time he entered Hubot's management, he was a nothing short of a rockstar. Biver quickly delivered the Hublot Big Bang and rest is history. The watch was a revolution in the Haute Horlogerie world with its never before seen design and bold aesthetics. The Big Bang became Hublot's chance at redemption. Another reason why this comeback was impressive is that when compared to other watchmakers, Hublot had a great disadvantage in terms of experience. The brand simply did not have much ground to hold on to in the first place. Nonetheless, in time it proved its value and worth.
A few years later, the brand launched the Hublot Classic Fusion, a much more refined and fine-tuned cousin of the Big Bang. The watch featured a curvey design, a smooth outlook, and a level of finesse that was not seen before in Hublot. Today, there are various other models such as King Power, Spirit of Big Bang, and Unico that make this watchmaker a true star.
Over the years, Hublot has helped redefine the boundaries of the luxury watchmaking market. Be it Avant-garde designs, bold marketing moves, or simply the brand's attitude towards taking risks, Hublot is changing the game altogether.