In sports, Hublot had success with popular soccer teams in European leagues, FIFA World Cup soccer, UEFA EURO and Champions and Europa Leagues, Formula 1 racing, popular NBA basketball teams, the Cricket World Cup, golf and boxing. Hublot also developed a network of Friends of the Brand in gastronomy, art and music. Within its partnership network, Hublot built a diverse portfolio of collaborations, where the brand’s timepiece has been offered as a canvas for the collaborator to paint with his or her creativity. Such collaborations complement Hublot’s philosophy of The Art of Fusion perfectly. It is not just simple artwork on the dial, but it is a complete redesign of the watch to fuse the artist’s and the brand’s DNA. At the time of going to print, Hublot announced its newest ambassador, world No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic who proclaimed he would work with the brand to design a watch he would wear on the court, a first for the winner of 20 grand slams.

Hublot and Music

DJ Snake

William Sami Étienne Grigahcine grew up in a suburban district outside of Paris, a place that he’s described as a ghetto and where he earned his moniker. The story goes that William spent much of his youth rapping, breakdancing and practicing graffiti art in the neighborhood. His ability to slip away from the police earned him the nickname “Snake”, and the name stuck with him as he transitioned into becoming a DJ.

His music began to get some real traction in 2011 when he was invited to produce original tracks for Lady Gaga’s album Born This Way. The work earned him a Grammy nomination and caught the attention of music industry titans like Diddy and T-Pain. Several of his original songs were released by the likes of Columbia Records and Diplo’s Mad Decent label in 2013.

The following years would see a meteoric rise in success and opportunity as DJ Snake collaborated with a laundry list of the industry’s who’s who. In 2013, his collaboration with Lil Jon, “Turn Down for What,” was released by Columbia Records. DJ Snake earned a second Grammy nomination, and the video for the song won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction.

In 2015, he worked with Major Lazer and MØ to create the track “Lean On,” which hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and was named by Time magazine as one of the “Best Songs of 2015.” The track surpassed half a billion plays on Spotify by November that year to make it one of the most streamed songs ever.

It was always a dream of William to be in a position to lift up others and shine a light on people he believed in. As such, his label will not be limited to any particular genre; rather, it will remain a flexible platform to showcase talent and give a stage to the different cultural influences that drove his own love of music.

“I was given a chance some time ago, and it changed my life forever. I want to be able to give the same chance to the next generation of artists. There’s a new wave coming, and we are going to be a part of it. No politics. Just dope shit,” he has said of his record label.

Big Bang DJ Snake

Hublot and DJ Snake began their partnership in 2018 when he presided over the decks at Hublot’s closing event during the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Three years later, the world is seeing the fruit of that collaboration in the form of a brand new Big Bang with a uniquely DJ Snake sense of style and panache.

The Big Bang DJ Snake has its echoes of the past, with the porthole shape and the exposed screws still front and center. But it’s here that the similarities end, as the DJ Snake boasts a very different aesthetic from the original Big Bang. The case is a technical marvel of titanium that has been colorized with a “Newton’s Rings” effect to create a finish that shifts color in different light conditions and at different angles. The final effect of the process is an iridescence that is both beautiful and technically challenging.

The porthole shape of the bezel has seen another revolution in shape with six cut-out notches designed by DJ Snake that add a touch of instantly identifiable personality to the iconic Big Bang profile. The upper dial features a globe depicted in the same colorway as the titanium bezel and represents the global presence of DJ Snake’s music and travels. The lower section is skeletonized and treated to create sections with a black fumé finish that reveal the HUB1242 Unico in-house automatic movement.

Each of the 100 limited edition pieces includes two straps — the first is a camouflage rubber strap in gray, purple and black; the second is a black rubber strap with a ribbed texture. These can be easily exchanged due to the patented Hublot One Click system. Both feature a titanium buckle with the same “Newton’s Rings” effect as the case.

“To be able to wear — and also offer my fans — a watch which reflects my personality is something that has been very important to me since the start of my partnership with Hublot. I am delighted to have been able to combine my inspiration with the expertise of the fantastic watchmakers and technicians at this Swiss brand,” DJ Snake said of the collaboration.

Tech Specs: Hublot Big Bang DJ Snake

Hublot and Art

Partnership with Sang Bleu

Maxime Plescia-Buchi is a Swiss-born artist and entrepreneur and a bit of a renaissance man. He’s the founder and director of a design studio called Sang Bleu — meaning “Blue Blood” in French — that has created a bit of a cultural whirlwind in its wake. The studio’s contributions to art, publishing and fashion have spanned the globe.

Plescia-Buchi is also a talented tattoo artist who started a tattoo shop called Sang Bleu in London’s East End in 2013. There are now franchises in Zurich and L.A. and Plescia-Buchi’s work has gained the attention of celebrities like Kanye West, Sophie Turner, and Adam Lambert.

From magazines to tattoos to fonts to fashion collaborations, Plescia-Buchi has made a lasting impression on the world of art and design with his wide range of interests and boundless energy. Hublot and Plescia-Buchi have collaborated several times over the years to create a line of Big Bang Sang Bleu models with all his flair for modern art and controversy.

“For me, the coming together of Sang Bleu and Hublot is a ‘match made in heaven’ insofar as the two projects, in their respective domains, represent the highest level of technical and creative innovation without ever compromising the quality of their aesthetics,” Plescia-Buchi said of the collaboration. “A feature of Sang Bleu and Hublot is the principle of ‘fusion,’ in their manner of building bridges between materials, techniques and cultures. As a watch lover, I have always dreamed of such a collaboration, and I cannot imagine a greater opportunity to further develop my creative scope and the reach of Sang Bleu.”

Big Bang Sang Bleu II Ceramic

Hublot’s collaborations with Sang Bleu since 2016 have been both an artistic and a commercial success. Last year Sang Bleu II All Black was received with great accolades. This year Sang Bleu design studio has pulled out all the stops with release of colorful ceramic trio. Big Bang Sang Bleu II Ceramic is now available in blue, grey and white colorways – each timepiece showcasing a unique personality.

While each watch may offer something unique, the common theme remains – a multidimensional case with Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu II Ceramic in blue, white and grey colorways sharp angles and with facets cut in the shape of a diamond. The skeletonized dial itself requires closer inspection to appreciate the complex geometrical patterns woven in layers above the visible movement.

All three watches are fitted with Hublot’s in-house HUB1240.MXM Unico automatic flyback column-wheel chronograph movement, and boasts power reserve of 72 hours. The case size of 45mm gives the watch a sense of powerful presence. The accompanying rubber strap also offers matching geometric patterns as the watch, and features the One Click system which enables it to be swapped out for another strap without any tools. Each Big Bang Sang Bleu II Ceramic colorway is available as a limited edition of 200 pieces.

Tech Specs: Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu II

Partnership with Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary artist known for his street art, activism, illustrations and design work. His iconic series of posters for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential candidacy, including the iconic “HOPE” portrait, are some of his most well-known, and oft-imitated, works.

Fairey is also a Type 1 diabetic and often contributes to non-profit organizations that assist in medical research as, for me, this evokes the connection between the inner self and the outer world. A powerful concept to consider when looking at a watch and thinking about time.”

Hublot and Fairey have collaborated on two watch designs. With the Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey, he created an elaborate mandala style titanium sculpture in miniature for a beautiful and unusual timepiece.

Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey

The dial is a piece of art. The inspiration was a mandala made three-dimensional, a symbol found in several cultures and representing harmony and the cycle of life. The pattern is worked in monochromatic titanium and black brushed detail that cannot help but grip the attention at first sight. At the center of the dial is the “Star Gear,” Fairey’s signature mark.

The 45mm case continues the design to the outside of the sapphire for a cohesive timepiece that is both beautiful and gritty at the same time, like most street art.

Tech Specs: Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey

Partnership with Orlinksi

Richard Orlinski is the best-selling French contemporary artist in the world, but he’s been well known to display his work for free to make it accessible to the greatest number. He chooses to exhibit his work in unusual venues in order to expose the maximum number of people to modern art in the hopes that he can influence passionate new fans.

Those edges and facets made their appearance when Hublot and Orlinski first collaborated in 2017 on the Classic Fusion Orlinski 40mm. According to Orlinski, “The fusion of our two universes — that of Hublot who takes precious materials to create exceptional products, and my own bright world of color inspired by pop art — came about quite spontaneously, almost naturally.”

Classic Fusion Orlinski

Hublot chose to represent Orlinski’s design for the Classic Fusion watch in ceramic for its smooth finish and color possibilities that aligned well with the artist’s faceted style. The dial and case are perfect examples of Neo-Pop with clean, polished surfaces molded to the bevels and edges like fine origami. The effect is startling in its simplicity. The hands and applied indexes pair well with the exposed screws as a touch of contrast to the monochromatic black or blue ceramic and matching rubber strap.

The bright blue and glossy black colors are reminiscent of the color codes used in Orlinski’s XXL bestiary. Orlinski states, “I’m delighted to unveil two new versions of the Classic Fusion Orlinski. These two monochrome editions are perfectly in line with the DNA of the fusion of our two worlds, that of the House of Hublot, which shapes precious materials and dreams up extraordinary products, and like Give to Cure. He created the first Give to Cure sticker mine, a world of pop and color.”

Tech Specs: Hublot Classic Fusion Orlinski

Partnership with Murakami

Takashi Murakami is a Japanese artist and sculpture who has branched out successfully to fashion, merchandise and animation. His work is best known for its ability to cross the boundary between sophisticated, highbrow art and the “low art” of popular culture. His theory named “Superflat” posits that the “low” arts like manga and anime have deep roots in ancient two-dimensional imagery from Japan’s long history of art.

He’s worked in fashion with the likes of Louis Vuitton and Virgil Abloh, contributing his artwork for use in commercial ventures. He’s also worked with musicians like Kanye West and Pharrell Williams for cover designs and collaborative sculpture. His work in animation garnered him partnerships with artists like Billie Eilish and McG, showcasing his unique vision as a collaborative art for music.

A visit to the Hublot manufacture in 2020 sparked a creative process that resulted in the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami, which featured a design inspired by his icon, the smiling flower.

Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black

The dial of the Classic Fusion designed by Takashi Murakami perfectly exemplifies his design philosophy of high art meeting low art. At first glance, the design is modern and simple, a flower shaped in black ceramic, petals radiating from a smiling face. It’s joyful with an urban treatment in all black.

Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, talks about the artist’s far-reaching appeal, “Takashi Murakami is an international star, not only in contemporary art circles but also with the general public. He shakes up the borders between art and pop culture. It is a real privilege to see him join our team of ambassadors. We are delighted with the launch of this watch-work of art!”

Tech Specs: Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black

Hublot and Sports

Dina Asher-Smith

From an early age, Dina was dreaming of one good day at the Olympics. “I wanted to go to the Olympics after I watched Kelly Holmes win in Athens,” she has said of the 2004 Games in which Holmes secured two gold medals. “I knew that I wanted to go to the Olympics before I knew that I wanted to be a sprinter.”

Asher-Smith was born and raised in Greater London and is no stranger to athletic success. She was breaking records from a young age and was named “the fastest woman in the world in 2018” after winning three gold medals at the European Championships in Berlin.

In 2019, she ran the 100 meters in 10.83 seconds at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, and secured the record for fastest British woman in recorded history as well as taking the gold for the 200m sprint.

The career of an athlete is an interesting rollercoaster with wins and losses, hardship and victory, and it takes a strategy to earn enough income to continue training. One of the best ways to secure financial independence as an athlete is through sponsorships from brands that believe in you.

Hublot has long been a supporter of athletic careers through Ambassador and Friend of the Brand programs. It’s a win-win collaboration between a personality that represents the ideals of the brand and a person who admires a watch brand enough to commit to an official relationship.

These sponsorships make it possible for someone to dedicate the incredible number of hours in training and preparation to compete for awards and rise to the top of their field. For a very few, like Dina Asher-Smith, it can mean achieving the kind of performances that goes on to win Olympic medals.

Big Bang One Click 33MM

At a petite 5 feet, 5 inches, Asher-Smith looks for a watch that will not overwhelm her wrist size. The Big Bang One Click, available in a modest diameter of 33mm in stainless steel or King Gold, is the perfect fit. The matte black or white dial provides a striking contrast against the polished and satin-finished steel or 18K King Gold case, both with 36 diamonds set inside the composite resin bezel. The model is an elegant take on the porthole shape, with gleaming exposed screws around the bezel and multi-faceted hands and indexes.

The versatile and patented “One Click” fastening system allows the timepiece to take on an alternative appearance in a single click with the change of the rubber strap. Hublot provides several color options in pink or sky blue, red, royal blue, green or orange, all available to express your individuality and complement your style.

Tech Specs: Hublot Big Bang One Click