As a sports fan, the summer months are normally dominated with stories that either celebrate the exploits of big name talents or rumours of deals looking to sign big name talents. One such name that sits in the middle of this Venn diagram is Hublot.
The Swiss watch brand has become well-known to sports fans in recent years, thanks largely to its partnerships with the FIFA World Cup and Ferrari Formula One team. Adding further kudos to its reputation this summer, more than one billion people will have been exposed to the brand thanks to its role as the official timekeeper of the current Cricket World Cup.
Under the guidance of chief executive Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot’s strategy has been to invest in sports that have a global footprint and little, if any, association with other Swiss watch brands. Not only has it become a partner with the cricket’s governing body (the International Cricketing Council) but earlier this year, the watchmaker announced the former England captain (and former Esquire Middle East cover star) Kevin Pietersen, as a new Friend of the Brand.
As part of the cricket deal, Hublot had announced a 100-piece limited-edition watch, a version of its Classic Fusion Chronograph.
The 45mm titanium piece is a celebration of cricket and features a number of clever touches pointing to the tournament. The grey and red detailing is inspired by the event’s logo. The hands of the twin counters for the chronograph minutes and small seconds are shaped like cricket bats. The design of the triple appliqué hour marker at 12 o’clock mirrors three stumps.
