Jean Claude Biver Resigns as Hublot CEO

Jean Claude Biver and Ricardo Guadalupe

Jean Claude Biver, one of the most influential persons in the Swiss watch industry, is stepping down as CEO of Hublot. 

He is being replaced as CEO by Ricardo Guadalupe, former Hublot managing director and personal friend of Biver with whom he has been working with for nearly 20 years. The change became effective January 1.

The company in a statement said the move was planned “a long time ago in consideration of Mr. Guadalupe’s significant and instrumental achievements together with Mr. Jean Claude Biver since joining Hublot in 2005.”

Biver, who is credited with turning Hublot into one of the world’s most successful Swiss luxury watch brands will continue to serve as Hublot’s board chairman, and will continue to provide input into the company’s business strategy and product development. As the official spokesperson of Hublot, Biver will also coordinate communications activities.

In a brief statement, Biver said: “There is a time for learning, a time for doing, a time for handing over, and a time for moving on. I’ve happily made it safe and sound to the hand-over stage. With the gratification of being able to hand over to a friend and colleague of more than twenty years. And happiness at the prospect of remaining part of the team on matters relating to strategy, products and corporate relations.”

Biver along with the late Nicolas Hayek, co-founder, CEO and board chairman of Swatch, are credited with saving the Swiss watch industry from the quartz movement. Biver joined Hublot as CEO and board member in 2004.  Following a fivefold increase in sales from 2004 to 2007, the brand was purchased by LMVH in 2008 . Even in the late-2000s recession, Hublot was considered to be successful, with sales down 15 percent up to November 2009 compared with 30 percent for the entire Swiss luxury watch business. Biver on Friday told Reuters that sales at Hublot  grew around 30 percent in 2011--above the industry average--with Swiss watch exports up around 22-24 percent, but the year ahead will be more challenging.

Biver retained the brand's exclusivity through methods such as restricting supply in the face of large demand, citing that "people want exclusivity, so you must always keep the customer hungry and frustrated," he said in a 2009 interview with the Economist.

Prior to Hublot, Biver had very successful stints leading watch brands Blancpain and Omega.

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Former Hublot Exec to Lead U.S. Expansion for Girard-Perregaux

Michael Margolis

 Updated, 12:04 p.m.

Luxury Swiss watch brand, Girard-Perregaux, named Michael Margolis president of America for Sowind (which owns Girard-Perregaux and watch brand JeanRichard), effective March 1.

Margolis will join Michele Sofisti, CEO of Sowind and Stefano Macaluso, Girard-Perregaux managing director, to oversee the U.S. expansion strategy for the watch brand.

Born in the U.S., Margolis graduated with a double major in Latin American Studies and Foreign Languages from the University of Connecticut. Proficient in English, Spanish, Portuguese and German, he began a sales career at Crest Reprographics and later moved to Nikon. His passion for luxury timepieces began when he served as TimeZone.com moderator from 1996 till 2007. It was during this time that Hublot CEO, Jean-Claude Biver, hired him as U.S. sales director.

“Mike is a remarkable individual, with true passion for the craft,” Sofisti said. “We are very glad to have him on board to lead the U.S. team into this new phase of the brand.”

“I am very excited and honored to join an iconic brand like Girard-Perregaux”, Margolis said. “I have admired the brand and its heritage from afar for many years and greatly look forward to being a part of the team.”

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Hublot Unveils Its Big Bang Ferrari in Japan

Big Bang Ferrari

Luxury Swiss watch brand, Hublot, the official timekeeper of the Ferrari Challenge, unveiled the Big Bang Ferrari in Japan during the Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2012, held in Suzuka City, March 16 - 18.

Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2012 is one of largest events in the world for the Italian car manufacturer. One of its highlights was the Concorso d’Eleganza supported by Hublot, which brought together 18 classic cars from the 1950s and ‘60s.

Hublot’s Chairman, Jean-Claude Biver, attended the event—which included a charity auction in support of Ishinomaki City, affected by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Hublot donated a Big Bang Ferrari Magic Gold, for auction. The winning bid was 4.1 million Japanese yen ($49,100). Biver personally topped topped the bid with an additional $4,800.

Hublot Chairman, Jean-Claude Biver

The Big Bang Ferrari (top picture), a collaboration with the Italian car manufacturer, underwent its first update since it was launched in 2005. The design was done in collaboration with Ferrari. A larger case (45.5 mm in diameter), more power and more mechanical features, a cylindrical bezel that offers added depth, the movement which can be seen through the sapphire dial, an indexed crown (with the H logo which is automatically positioned to remain in line), elongated push buttons fixed along a rotating axis like the pedals in a car, carbon inserts on the case profile, two interchangeable straps, and the same tone-on-tone stitching used on Ferrari upholstery. The Ferrari Prancing Horse logo is featured discreetly in relief at 9 o'clock. A minute counter is positioned at 3 o'clock (completed by a yellow date window), and the hand and the style of the indexes are inspired by the counters in a Ferrari.

Finally, the Ferrari-endorsed pieces are made with Hublot’s Magic Gold, a scratch-resistant 18k gold the watch manufacturer introduced three months ago.

The timepiece was first unveiled approximately a week earlier at Baselworld 2012 in Switzerland.

In November 2011, Hublot became the watchmaking partner of Ferrari. It is a comprehensive agreement covering all the activities of Ferrari and Hublot, both in terms of brand image and the commercial activities of both companies.

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Hublot Creates Watch For Usain Bolt

Usain “Lightning” Bolt, the world's fastest man, has a Swiss watch named in honor of him and featuring his image. Hublot, for whom he is an ambassador, has developed a model in close consultation with the three-time Olympic champion. The timepiece is aptly named the King Power Usain Bolt.

“It's perfectly natural to be associated with the fastest man, not just on the planet, but the fastest since the Big Bang,” said Jean-Claude Biver, Hublot chairman.

The 25-year-old Jamaican sprinter prepares to defend his titles and world records in the 100, 200 and 4-x-100 meter races at the London Olympics (July 27 - August 12). 

Bolt’s silhouette pose in an anthracite grey on a black background is located at 9 o'clock in the center of the movement's small seconds counter. The chronograph movement features a central 60-second hand and a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock. A 12-hour chronograph counter sits at 6 o'clock and is decorated with a touch of green in a nod to the colors on the Jamaican flag. A date window at 4:30 completes the design.

The 48 mm-diameter watch, in micro-blasted ceramic, is predominantly black, with gold—Bolt's personal color and that of his lucky running shoes. The strap is made from exactly the same gold-colored synthetic leather as his shoes. This is stitched onto Hublot’s signature black rubber strap.

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Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade Gifts Teammates with Hublot Big Bang Watches

Hublot White Big Band,  designed for the Miami Heat.

During the Miami Heat’s celebration of its 2012 NBA Championship, Hublot brand ambassador, Dwyane Wade, honored his teammates and leaders in the organization with a specially designed White Hot Hublot Big Bang at AmericanAirlines Arena, its home court.

Special engraving on back of watch to commemorate NBA Championship.

The Miami Heat celebrated its championship Monday with a victory parade followed by a rally at the arena.

The watches, which reportedly cost at least $10,000 each, are engraved with a special team championship logo on the back of the case. Rick de La Croix, president of Hublot Latin America, attended the presentation and festivities. Hublot is the Official Watch and Timekeeper of the Miami Heat. 

Dwyane Wade (left) and Udonis Haslem wearing the Hublot White Big Bang while holding the NBA Championship Trophy.

The Heat won the championship on June 21 with a 121 to 106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning the best-of-seven series four games to one.

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Hublot Celebrates America's Independence with US Liberty Bang

Hublot US Liberty Bang

Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot has teamed up with the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for the second consecutive year to serve as the “Official Watch and Timepiece” of the Liberty Medal award.

To celebrate this partnership, Hublot created a limited edition US Liberty Bang 44mm timepiece to honor the recipients of the Liberty Medal. Set with a black ceramic case, the black dial features an American flag inscribed with text and citations from the American Constitution on a black rubber and gummy alligator strap.

Established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, the Liberty Medal is awarded annually to men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. The medal was first administered by the National Constitution Center in 2006 to presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Other past Liberty Medal recipients include Nelson Mandela, Shimon Peres, Kofi Annan, Sandra Day O’Connor, Bono and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates was the recipient of 2011 award.

This year’s award will be presented in September. The recipient has yet to be named.

The National Constitution Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution devoted to the U.S. Constitution and its legacy of freedom. It is located two blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia

The Hublot US Liberty Bang limited edition costs $11,900 and is available at the Hublot Boutique, 692 Madison Avenue, New York.

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Hublot Raises $1 Million At Charity Boxing Auction

Champion boxers participate in WBC fundraiser. AFP PHOTO/Sandy Huffaker/Hublot

Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot created 12 unique timepieces dedicated and signed by 12 legendary boxers in support of the inauguration of the World Boxing Council Charities. The 12 watches were then auctioned off Saturday during the gala dinner at the at the Bellagio hotel raising $1 million for the fund.

The boxing champions who participated in the auction included Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Jeff Fenech, Larry Holmes, Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran, Azumah Nelson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya and George Foreman. 

Boxing legend Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is seen with the Hublot King Power timepiece. AFP PHOTO/David McNew/Hublot/Handout

The all-day event included a press conference with Hublot CEO, Ricardo Guadalupe, and the 12 legendary boxers. Each champion spoke about the partnership between Hublot and the WBC and presented their individual Hublot King Power WBC timepiece.

More than 300 persons then attended the evening gala where top boxing announcer, Michael Buffer, led the live auction on a staged ring with international auctioneers, Bonhams. The 12 winning bidders received their watch from each fighter.

All of the funds raised will support the charitable initiative of the WBC, including the retired boxer’s pension and emergency fund in over 40 countries around the world.

The World Boxing Council is the world's largest sports sanctioning body with operations in 164 countries and 10 federations. It is the owner of the “Green Belt,” the highest form of recognition a champion boxer can receive.

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Hublot Names Jacky Bracamontes van Hoorde as its New Brand Ambassador

Jacky Bracamontes van Hoorde participates in photo shoot for Hublot's International Women's Day campaign.

Originally a socialist political event, a capitalist venture has now joined in the celebration of International Women’s Day, which will be held March 8.

Hublot said Wednesday that it will launch an advertising campaign dedicated to women on Friday. In addition, the Swiss luxury watch brand has named Jacky Bracamontes van Hoorde as its new ambassador for women’s watches, saying that the former Miss Mexico, actress, model, sports journalist and TV presenter “symbolizes the modern 21st century woman.”

“Jacky is today’s modern woman. She successfully juggles her career, her role as a wife, and soon that of a mother,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO. “She is the perfect icon and an obvious choice for us.”

She is already Hublot’s brand ambassador in Latin America.

For the new Hublot advertising campaign dedicated to women, Bracamontes van Hoorde took part in a shoot in January in Mexico. The ad campaign will appear Friday on International Women’s Day in the Financial Times and International Herald Tribune.

A significant part of the world celebrates International Women’s Day, primarily former and current Communist or Socialist countries, which honors women and their achievements.

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Hublot Names Kobe Bryant Its Newest Ambassador

Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO, with Kobe Bryant.

Swiss luxury watch brand, Hublot, has named Los Angeles Lakers’ star shooting guard, Kobe Bryant, is its newest ambassador. To commemorate the partnership, Hublot released Kobe’s signature timepiece, the limited edition King Power Black Mamba.

“Bryant was the perfect choice for Hublot—a brand known for its precision and excellence, traits that have characterized the basketball icon’s celebrated career,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot.

Hublot is enhancing its alliance with Bryant through its support of the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need by providing financial resources for like-minded organizations.

Kobe Bryant King Power Black Mamba

The announcement was made Wednesday on the rooftop of The London Hotel West Hollywood. Guadalupe presented Bryant with the Limited Edition King Power Black Mamba. This was followed by a shoot-off with two children from After-School All Stars Los Angeles, a charitable beneficiary of the Bryant Family Foundation. Taking shots from a makeshift basketball court constructed over the hotel’s rooftop pool, the contest raised $30,000 for the program.

A dinner afterward was attended by several celebrities, including Zac Efron, Jimmy Kimmel, and Mark Salling.

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New Watch Releases from Girard-Perregaux, Hublot, Tag Heuer, Seiko at Baselworld 2013

Girard-Perregaux Constant (Force) Escapement

These watchmakers have unveiled what they claim are new innovations in the Swiss watch industry. I can’t tell you how many times a watch brand has made a claim of creating something completely new or whether that function or design detail has any real value.

However, this elite group of brands can certainly back their claims and I believe they have succeed in doing that with products that are listed below.

Girard-Perregaux Constant (Force) Escapement (top photo)
It’s not often that one experiences a horological breakthrough but this may have been in the case at the Girard-Perregaux booth during Baselworld 2013. It is about as a complicated as a complication can be but in short the Swiss luxury watch brand has created a way to provide constant energy to the balance (regulator) wheel. The brand describes the solution to this problem as the “holy grail” of watchmaking.

What this means that there is no revving up or slowly down the rate of speed of a watch, which is typical in the operation of a mechanical watch. For example, when first winding a watch the movement sometimes works at a faster than normal rate of speed. As the watch loses power its speed diminishes until it slowly stops or is manually wound again. The solution created by Girard-Perregaux keeps the watch at constant and consistent regulated speed throughout this cycle.

This breakthrough (if indeed it is a breakthrough and time will tell) uses a 14 micron silicon buckled-blade, six times thinner than a human hair, which acts as a way to provide a repeated pulse to two escape wheels at a rate that is constant and consistent. This in turn provides the same consistent force of energy to the balance wheel. It beats at the frequency of 3 Hz or 21,600 vibrations per hour.

It is a bit more complicated than my explanation. There are detailed stories of how this process works at Hodinkee and Revolution that include Girard-Perregaux videos.

The operation of the escapement and its butterfly-shaped wing frame is clearly visible on the lower half of the dial. The hours and minutes occupy a sub-dial off-centered at 12 o’clock. This is flanked by two energy reservoirs in the shape of double barrels. The power reserve indicator is placed at 9 o’clock.

Tag Heuer Carrera MikroPendulumS
The Swiss luxury watch brand explains this as the first ever magnetic double tourbillion. Two magnetic pendulums replace hairsprings: one is for telling time and the other for timekeeping. The watch chain turns at 12Hz and its chronograph chain turns at 50Hz (60-minute power reserve). The chronograph tourbillon, the world’s fastest, says the watch brand, controls the 1/100th of a second, beats 360,000 an hour and rotates 12 times a minute.

The case is forged from a chrome and cobalt alloy used in aviation and surgery. It is biocompatible, harder than titanium, easier to shape and as luminous as white gold. The case design, with its stopwatch-like placement of the crown at 12 o’clock, is based on the 2012 Aiguille d’Or winner, the TAG Heuer Carrera Mikrogirder, and the Carrera 50 Year Anniversary Jack Heuer edition. The two tourbillon pendulums and their solid rose gold bridges (18K 5N) are visible through the fine-brushed anthracite dial. The hand applied “100” at 12 o’clock is in solid rose gold. The chronograph minutes counter is at 12 o’clock, chronograph seconds at 3, and the chronograph power reserve at 9. The 1/100th of a second scale appears on the silver flange.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Chrono
This is the first in a new line of products designed to house all future incarnations of the Unico movement. The iconic design of the Big Bang has evolved to contain the Unico, an in-house made column wheel chronograph movement with a dual horizontal coupling visible on the dial side. This marks the start of a new line of Hublot products designed to complete the Big Bang, Classic Fusion, King Power and Masterpieces ranges, the company said.

For the very first time since the creation of the Big Bang in 2005, the push-buttons are round. Each one is protected by a push-button guard integrated in the middle and finished like an engine piston. A skeleton dial reveals the movement. A minute counter is positioned at 3 o'clock and a small seconds counter at 9 o'clock. The date view is at 3 o'clock.

The HUB 1242 Unico manufacture movement is a flyback chronograph that can be reset at any time with two push-buttons. The hour counter is driven directly by the barrel, and there is no jumper in the chronograph mechanism. This simplification boosts reliability and robustness. Its silicon pallet fork and escapement wheel are fixed to a removable platform and are made from silicon. The movement has been trimmed to 330 components. It has a frequency of 4hz/28,800 vibrations per hour with a power reserve of about 72 hours.

Seiko Kinetic Direct Drive
Seiko made the world’s first kinetic watch 25 years ago that used the motion of the wearer to create the electrical energy to power a quartz movement. Using the mechanical energy of a traditional oscillating weight, the Kinetic rotor spins at up to 100,000 rpm, creating the electrical energy that drives the quartz movement without having to change the battery.

For the Kinetic Direct Drive caliber, not only does the rotor power the watch as one moves, but the wearer can also power it by turning the crown, just like a mechanical watch. In addition, when winding the crown, the power reserve changes function to become a real-time indicator of the energy that is imparted to the watch through the winding. 

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