It seems quite some time since I last wrote an article about luxury watch brand Hublot. Over the last six months they have developed some absolutely wonderful timepieces. Back in late August my editorial showcased their phenomenal ‘Only Watch’ contribution. This incredible timepiece is the world’s first watch to incorporate red ceramic into the design. Impressively it raised $100,000 for a very worthy charitable cause. I also wrote another article for Luxurious Magazine in July (http://www.luxuriousmagazine.com/2013/07/steve-huyton-takes-a-closer-look-at-the-hublot-mp-05-la-ferrari/) featuring the incredible MP-05 La Ferrari. In my opinion this watch is one of their finest creations to date.
In terms of productivity I can’t really think of another brand that releases as diverse a range of timepieces as Hublot. They are also one of the most proactive companies when it comes to marketing. Recently they have teamed up with several more brand ambassadors to create some interesting looking timepieces. In October they unveiled the Classic Fusion Shawn Carter, which is a collaboration with recording artist Jay Z.
A few weeks ago I got access to a limited edition piece they produced about a year ago. This piece is called the King Power Tourbillon and only 28 were ever made. On that basis I felt it would be a great subject for an in depth review. With a diameter measuring a whopping 48mm (excluding crown and pushers) this is definitely one of the company’s largest watches. Due to the size and price point the timepiece will only appeal to a niche market. Generally I found the timepiece very comfortable to wear and there was no friction from the lugs. Primarily this is down to the ergonomic design and choice of specialist materials in production. The case is constructed from black (Micro-blasted) ceramic with composite resin lugs. This not only makes the watch feel fairly lightweight but also gives it a sleek appearance.
Aesthetically the King Power Tourbillon looks pretty incredible. The façade is composed of multiple layers, which gives the watch a three dimensional appearance. I love elements like the retrograde date counter and GMT counter. The cool matt black skeletonised dial also exposes the intricate mechanics of the watch. Other striking details include the chunky bezel (with 6 Black H-shaped PVD Titanium Screws) satin finished open worked hands and raised indexes. All these characteristics work well but in my opinion the real star of the show has to be the formidable tourbillon. This sensational feature is perfectly showcased through a large aperture located between 5 and 6 o’clock.
Beneath the robust exterior lies the highly accomplished Calibre HUB6121. This mechanical manual winding movement comprises 30 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz). Every watch has been flawlessly hand finished by some of the world’s finest craftsmen. Functionally the King Power Tourbillon features hours, minutes, 24 hour GMT display and retrograde date. The watch also has a staggering 120-hour power reserve and is water resistant to a depth of 100 metres.
The King Power Tourbillon I tried on was equipped with a customised black ceramic bracelet instead of the normal rubber strap. Priced for the serious collector at: $200,000. (Available to purchase at: http://www.jfarrenprice.com.au).
http://www.hublot.com