Different – yet recognisable, new – yet quickly gaining prestige, at the same time desirable, thoroughbred and certainly very interesting – these are only some of the epithets that the brand categorically deserves. Hublot was created with the aim of being different by Carlo Crocco – an enthusiast collector from Milan, who in all of the models incorporated this design, now a distinctive feature of the brand, inspired by ship portholes. The screws, bezels, crown and all other accents only emphasise the naval theme embedded in the design of this brand. The unique design of the watch case merges with the straps, which are also unique in design and execution, and this entire fusion is made possible thanks to the different solution for attaching the straps to the case and, not least, the brand’s interesting clasps.
Hublot is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious watch manufacturers, producing only the very best watches. For more than three decades, they have produced a range of technologically advanced watches – some ordinary in appearance, others based on entirely new concepts, but always high-quality and prestigious. Each piece is an example of ingenuity and unique capabilities in the field of haute horlogerie. With the arrival of Jean-Claude Biver from Blancpain and the subsequent launch of the fusion-based Big Bang line, the development and establishment of the brand gained new momentum. The Big Bang, with its DNA of high-tech materials and thanks to its contemporary design, won the Wristwatch of the Year award for 2005.
The watch presented to your attention is part of the brand’s Unico series, which brings together the models with Hublot in-house movements. Today’s model, however, is more special – with the newly created in-house movement with a 10-day power reserve, an 18-carat rose gold King Gold case and a rubber strap with titanium clasp and gold plate. It is precisely because of this movement that the model receives its name “Meca-10” and becomes the founder of a new separate line of models bearing this name. The model itself did not go unnoticed and, as a result, won the “Red Dot Best of the Best” design award in 2017.
The bezel is also gold, fixed and attached to the case with the brand’s 6 proverbial screws. The dial is skeletonised, with luminous semi-skeletonised gold hands and applied hour markers, again with luminescence, which makes reading the indications very easy even in the absence of light. The minute markers are positioned on the sub-bezel around the outer edge of the dial, while the power reserve indicator is at the “6 o’clock” position. Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating, screw-down crown, transparent caseback, 100 m water resistance. The case diameter is 45 mm without the crown, the thickness is 15 mm, and the strap width at the lugs is 26 mm.
Through the transparent caseback, we can enjoy the operation of the brand’s in-house Hublot Calibre HUB1201 movement – a manually wound mechanical movement with a power reserve of 240 hours!!!, operating at 21,600 vibrations and comprising 24 jewels, while in this case a large part of the movement is also made of 18-carat rose gold.
A mechanical listing of the facts. And what exactly does this watch possess that makes it deserve to be positioned in the high price segment where it stands? Yes, it does not have the long history and popularity that a Submariner or Seamaster can boast, nor the mythological stories of the Fifty Fathoms or Radiomir, but it possesses several very important characteristics that allow it to become one of the cult watches in its class.
First, the quality – starting with the materials used, passing through the finishing of every detail and ending with the overall composition and the impression this watch leaves when examined, this characteristic leaves not even the slightest doubt – this watch is not merely well made, it can confidently be placed among the best and most intelligently crafted watches in general.
Second, the different appearance – this is one of its great advantages. The overall impression it gives is that, when developing its design, the main task set before the designers was to try to place a circle inside a hexagon in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible and then round off the corners of the hexagon :-).
Third, but not least, is the technology – the watch seems to be assembled from four separate layers: the lowest one, to which the caseback is screwed, together with the upper one, are clamped by means of 6 screws with sleeves, while the bezel is attached to the upper cover. In order to make the contact between the bezel and the case tighter, a composite rubber gasket is used.
Truly, this is not a watch you would call delicate, elegant or refined, but no one is asking it to be that. It is an instrument, designed to be an instrument, made like an instrument and looking exactly like an instrument – massive, somewhat rugged, simple to handle and truly attracting the attention of those around it, while giving its owner pleasure through its presence.
