Watch Blog

TIME²'s Peter Lobendham reviews four new watches from luxury watch brands Hublot, IWC, Chopard and Bell & Ross at TIME²'s fine watch store in Westfield, White City, London.

Visit TIME² at Westfield to browse more styles and brands.

Metal and rubber have been combined to positive effect in the automotive industry for well over a decade, but these two materials weren’t brought together in watchmaking until Hublot’s inception in 1980.

To celebrate the Polo Gold Cup Gstaad 2011 – which took place at the end of August - Hublot unveiled its new limited edition Chukker Bang watch, which takes inspiration from the world of Polo and is due to launch at TIME² in October.

As anyone who has witnessed Sir Alex Ferguson frantically tapping his wrist in the dying minutes of a game will know, watches are integral to the beautiful game. How appropriate, therefore, that luxury Swiss watchmakers Hublot have carved a niche in the beautiful game. Since they struck a sponsorship deal with Manchester Utd in 2008, Sir Alex has had several custom versions of Hublot’s Big Bang to keep an eye on during matches – the ‘Red Devil Bang’ is now in its third iteration.

Since Jean Claude Biver took over in 2004, he has transformed Hublot into a cult watch brand, having earlier revived the fortunes of Omega and Blancpain. When Hublot began in 1980, a Swiss watch that teamed gold with rubber was hugely original, and a myriad of imitations would follow. Hublot takes its name from the French word for porthole – the round look-out windows on boats – which explains the screws which pass through the cases of Hublot watches.

Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has used a violent mugging to his advantage, after thieves stole a Hublot watch and £200,000 worth of jewellery from him and his girlfriend outside London offices a few days ago.

It is, says Hublot, “one of the most important contracts in its history”, and certainly the ability to call yourself “officialwatchmaker to the World Cup” did nothing but good for the likes of Seiko and Casio.