la galeria del coleccionista hublot

The story of Jean-Claude Biver and how he has shaken up one sleepy Swiss watch company after another is a great one, but today I’m only going to focus a small part of it, and that will be how he revolutionized Hublot, a tiny company, with his Big Bang watch. Everyone who has met Mr Biver knows that he is a character who is far larger than life. So after leaving the Swatch Group where he had done various jobs including overhauling the Omega brand,? Mr Biver seemed to have gone to ground. When he emerged it was as a part-owner and manager of Hublot.Now Hublot was a relatively new Swiss watch producer. It was only formed in 1980. But it was one that had been incredibly creative and had innovated from the very beginning when Carlo Crocco , its founder, introduced rubber straps on expensive gold watches. The idea seemed mad to most people in the industry but it soon picked up a dedicated following. For one thing, people were attracted by the fact that the rubber didn’t cause allergic reactions to some people who struggle with traditional watch straps and materials. It is also not quite clear why, but the Spanish royal family soon took a liking to the early Hublot watches. That started a craze in Spain where the watch has been popular ever since.In 2004 when Mr Biver took charge of Hublot he thought that its line up had become a bit stale and he wanted to make a huge impression while still keeping with Hublot’s tradition of using innovation. His answer was the Big Bang, which took unusual materials such as gold and ceramic and fused them together with a bang. All sorts of strange materials are used. While titanium watches have become quite popular in recent years,Hublot takes things 10 steps further by combining materials such as Kevlar, red gold, magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre. Mr Biver describes it as a fusion of traditional Swiss Watch making with the Twenty-first century.These are big and bold watches that are designed to stand out on the arm, not to blend in. Hublot has also crafted a large number of special editions such as the million dollar watch which is covered in diamonds, or a bright red valentines day Big Bang (which would match nicely, I suppose with a pair of red earrings).Hublot has continued to expand and to innovate on the Big Bang. It recently opened in big new factory and has started making and designing its own mechanical movements, a move which sets it apart from quite a large number of other Swiss Watch companies that simply build the case and buy a movement to go in it.Some of those who watch the industry closely worry about whether Hublot is too focused on a single watch, even though it comes in many variations, but for now it is doing well. Mr Biver is a consummate marketing expert and keeps finding new ways to innovate and promote his watches. Among his recent moves were to sponsor Manchester United football club and to get involved in the Americas Cup yacht race. The man whom the Economist magazine called a “salesman of the irrational” seems likely to keep coming up with ideas and designs that should keep Hublot a trend-setting Swiss watch producer for years to come.A bright red watch to match the season

Follow AskMen Fashion on Twitter. Diego Maradona may be the best soccer player of the 20th century -- or at least Hublot thinks so. The former star-turned-Argentine head coach, on top of being a living futbol legend, is well-known for his penchant for shiny, fancy things. You can see him featured in recent Louis Vuitton ads, and he’s rarely without a golf-ball-sized diamond in each ear. Now you can add to the list his own personalized watch from Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot that both bears an image of him on the back and his signature on the dial. Hey, this is World Cup season, anything goes. 95 Uniqueness While there is nothing new about the Hublot Big Bang, nor a limited edition Big Bang (hell, if Bode Miller can get one, anyone can), the Hublot Maradona Big Bang is timed perfectly with the world’s most exciting sporting event. Also, Maradona is now frequently seen wearing both his own Big Bang and another Hublot watch on his other wrist, because, you know, you need two watches, three diamond studs and a gold chain to attract attention when you’re already one of the most famous athletes in the world. Hublot has invested millions into its World Cup presence and is actually FIFA’s sponsor for the event; you’ll see its name everywhere this season. However, the Maradona watch, complete with signature and Argentine number “10” on the dial, and image of his raised arms on the caseback, makes this a soccer nut’s dream watch. Read more 80 Durability The Hublot Maradona Big Bang isn’t going anywhere anytime soon -- that's for sure. It is the brand’s bread and butter, and it has invested millions into developing an in-house movement for these luxury chronographs. Will the Maradona ever grow to be a true collector’s item? Only time will tell, but we wouldn’t suggest buying this one on speculation that it might go up in value; only buy it if you are a true devotee of el Diego. The watch is built to standard Hublot specs: DLC with high-grade leather and matching deployant clasp, a sharp dial with applied Argentine blue markers and even blue stitching on the strap. This watch is available right now but in very limited quantities, so if you want to be like Diego Maradona this World Cup, you’d best contact your Hublot dealer soon -- and your diamond earring dealer, and your giant gold chain dealer, while you're at it.