How Hublot helped change our perception of luxury watchmaking by melding the past and the future, tradition and innovation
Hublot Focus
It’s almost inconceivable today, but not so long ago, to be considered truly ‘luxurious’, a watch had to be made from one of a handful of traditional ‘luxury’ materials. The case needed to be platinum or gold (whether rose, yellow or white). If affixed to a bracelet, again, those precious metals were required to be used in its construction. If borne on a strap, that simply had to be crafted from fine leather—preferably something exotic like ostrich, crocodile or alligator.
Times have changed, however, and so have timepieces. Our perception of what makes a luxury watch worthy of that appellation was forever altered by the iconoclastic work of a few key players in the 1970s and 80s. Hublot was among the most important. The company, which takes its name from the French word for ‘porthole’ (a motif reflected in the distinctive Hublot screw-down bezel), launched in 1980 with a philosophy centred on fusion.
This was embodied in the brand’s debut timepiece, the first gold wristwatch in history to be carried on a natural rubber strap. ‘Fusing’ a gold case with this non-traditional strap material was a revelation—and sparked a revolution.
See also: Hublot Loves Art: 5 Of The Watchmaker's Most Stunning Artistic Collaborations
