Hublot Appointed Official Watchmaker Of Formula 1

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03-17-2010 | 12:55 PM

Barrister

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Hublot Appointed Official Watchmaker Of Formula 1

Formula One is the most prestigious racing league for a reason. First, the manufacturers that are involved are some of the most acclaimed and revered automakers in the world, making brand association with these guys that much more lucrative. High-end brands jump at the opportunity to sponsor these guys because a big market segment that follows F1 – the societal elite, so to speak – are the kind of people that these companies are seeking out.

Whether it’s through team partnerships, race tie-ups, or even the growing trend of series sponsorships, you can bet that most of the brands that you see during an F1 race is of the high-brow persuasion.

The latest company to jump into the F1 sponsorship bandwagon is Swiss watchmaker Hublot, which recently signed a deal to become the sport’s official timekeeper.

As part of the deal with Formula One – you can see the imprints of Bernie Ecclestone all over this one – Hublot will be creating a series of special-edition timepieces catered solely to the F1 market. In fact, Hublot has already made one, which they’re calling the F1 King. And if you’re curious to know as to what it looks like, the watch comes in a matte black finish – classy choice – and is a limited run offspring of Hublot’s King Power model that features a few additions of its own, including that unmistakable F1 logo that’s decked in white gold.

Casual folks may not be all that familiar with the brand, but it goes without saying that Hublot has had a time-honored reputation for being masters at their craft and this partnership with Formula 1 is proof that these guys are held with great esteem from those who know what high-class is all about.

Besides, Formula One wouldn’t have it any other way.

PRESS RELEASE

HUBLOT APPOINTED OFFICIAL WATCHMAKER OF FORMULA 1™ AND ANNOUNCES THE HUBLOT F1™ KING, THE OFFICIAL WATCH OF FORMULA 1™

Saturday 13th March, 2010: Formula One Paddock, 2010 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX.

Luxury Swiss watch brand Hublot is proud to announce that it has been appointed the Official Watchmaker of Formula 1™ and as part of this multi-year agreement will produce a range of high tech, limited edition, luxury Formula 1™ watches and exploit the additional designation Hublot - The Official Watch of Formula 1™ on an exclusive and global basis.

Hublot is delighted to have elevated itself to an unassailable position in Formula One motor racing by securing an agreement with the iconic brand itself. Formula 1™ epitomises cutting-edge technology, high performance, precision and international sporting glamour and this globally revered brand will now inspire a new generation of fabulous Hublot timepieces.

Hublot is to initially mark its presence with the creation of a special watch in the form of the F1™ King, a restricted production run of a King Power model incorporating the famous F1™ logo in white gold, as well as a further Limited Edition Series in the colours and style of the most prestigious Grands Prix. A Hublot boutique will present its collections in the Formula One Paddock Club™ at several events and the company will run a guest hospitality programme throughout the F1™ season. The series of watches dedicated to Formula 1™ will be directly inspired by the world of F1™, combining the finest know-how and manufacturing processes at the cutting edge of research and high tech materials.

Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot SA is full of enthusiasm: "I have always had great admiration for the exceptional and unique achievements of Bernie Ecclestone. Without him there would be no Formula 1: he created this global phenomenon’. I have also had a great deal of admiration for the drivers who are able to control these ultra-sophisticated racing machines down to the slightest movement, all at incredible speed. Nor should we forget the cradle of high technology that F1 represents. It’s such a delight to be here with Hublot today, so close to Bernie, the racing, the drivers, the cars, the high technology and the F1 Grand Prix in general. This is the start of a very special relationship".

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of the Formula One group: "I have long had a keen interest in watches and the art of watchmaking and I am very pleased to be announcing this deal today. Hublot’s meteoric rise in the industry has been a very well managed achievement and I would like to congratulate Jean-Claude for this. There is an energy, creativity and dedication to perfection about Hublot which sits very well with us and I could not think of a better brand with which to begin a new chapter in Formula One’s enduring association with luxury watches".

About Hublot The exclusive story of Fusion.

In 2004, Jean-Claude Biver – one of those rare men who have genuinely left their mark on Swiss watchmaking – achieved a new tremendous success bringing revolution in watchmaking.

Working on its growth and future, he developed with the company the "Art of Fusion", the way of thinking and creation at Hublot : combining unexpected materials (ceramic, carbon, tantalum, tungsten, titanium, magnesium ...) with precious and conventional materials, employing the most cutting-edge technologies, while still remaining true to the watchmaking know-how of our ancestors.

For more information on Hublot visit Hublot.ch

About Formula One™ Formula One™, which began in 1950, is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition and is the world’s most popular annual sporting series. In 2009 it was watched by over 520 million unique television viewers from 188 territories.The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship™ runs from March to November and spans 19 races in 18 countries across five continents.

Formula One Administration Limited, a subsidiary of the Formula One group, was founded by CEO Bernie Ecclestone and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.

For more information on Formula One™ visit Formula1.com.

Technical details Case "King Power", diameter 48 mm in microblasted black ceramic Bezel Microblasted black ceramic with moulded black rubber, with 6 relief black PVD H-shaped titanium screws Crystal Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective treatment Bezel Lug Black composite resin Lateral Inserts Black composite resin Case-back Microblasted black ceramic Crown Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert Push-pieces Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert Screws Black PVD titanium Water resistance 100 m or 10 ATM Dial Sapphire with anti-reflective treatment, multilayered, additional matt black counters, index with black nickel, black SuperLuminova™, F1 logo at 9 o’clock Hands Satin-finished microblasted black nickel with black SuperLuminova™ Movement Mechanical skeleton chronograph with automatic winding, carbon bridges, calibre Hublot HUB4214 No. of Components 252 Jewels 27 Bridges Microblasted black chrome Screws Black PVD Oscillating Weight Tungsten carbide with black PVD treated dimpled surface Main plate Microblasted black chrome Barrel With reinforced spring Escapement Glucydur hairspring Power Reserve 42 hours Wristlet Adjustable articulated black rubber Clasp Microblasted black ceramic and black PVD steel Edition limited to 500 pieces numbered from 01/500 to 500/500.

Swiss timepiece Hublot becomes official watch of Formula One - Top Speed

Last edited by Barrister; 03-17-2010 at 12:57 PM.