Hublot Photofest: visit new factory, new (and old) watches and new movement

While the official inauguration of the new Hublot factory is not scheduled until the latter half of the year, a group of select journalists (and myself) were invited today for an early preview. And while not everything is finished, I can say that both the new factory and Hublot as a brand are looking very good and are very well positioned for the future.

It was a beautiful sunny day, which only made the new factory's position overlooking farmland on the edge of Nyon (20kms from Geneva) all the more alluring.

We were treated to hearing not only from Jean-Caude Biver, who was, as always, entertaining, informative and frank, but also the very well respected Parisian retailer Laurent Picciotto, who is the owner of Chronopassion and the Hublot boutique in Paris.

The new Hublot factory is expected to be producing 5-6,000 movements in 2010 and has the capacity to produce up to 20,000/year. It will incorporate an independently run creche (opening soon) and from next year, a training center for apprentices.

Mr.BIiver revealed that Hublot was fortunate not to be suffering unduly from the economic crisis - words backed up by figures, but not for publication - and suggested that he thought that some brands might be exaggerating the downturn in comparing the drop in sales with 2008 which was an exceptional year after many excellent years. Comparisons with 2007 might be more realistic: Hublot is strongly up in 2009 compared to 2007.

But enough talk, please join me on the tour.














The new UNICO movement which is in its testing and improvement phase.


Laurent Picciotto




A pair of high-tech Hublot skis outside the conference room. There was also another very high-tech cabon-fibre 'toy' there as well, but that's still a 'secret'.


Then down to the production floor
















































































A technical drawing of the new calibre 1240 in-house movement, and then . . .


A sneak peek at the new calibre 1240 UNICO in-house Hublot column wheel chronograph movement.
Also in an advanced stage of development is the calibre 1110 three-hand movement










In the reception was a very special Hublot table: a handmade present from a very talented fan of the brand.








And it's time to say au revoir

Ian Skellern
Greubel Forsey forum and URWERK forum moderator
www.facebook.com/underthedial
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2009 01:22AM by IanS.

Thanks so much for the trip report Ian.
Congrats to Hublot and good to hear they are coming up with new movements using their state of the art machines in the factory.
We are all looking forward to exciting development from Hublot

Zach T
Prime Time Forum Moderator
Hublot Forum Moderator

Thanks for sharing this with us Ian. I have read more stories that companies not suffering very hard from the economic crisis. Lets hope that this year will be as strong as 2007.

very nice, ur pictures tell stories

Wow, great post, thanks!!!

Good pics! Thanks Ian.

thanks for the detailed series of pictures.
I love the Hublot table: very impressive.

the new calibre seems quite interesting too.

Although I am not a fan of the big bang and its 100s of variations, I like the acheivement in promoting a coherent design and a perfect finish of these watches.

. . .cal. 1110 and cal. 1240. Movement architecture looks quite interesting and this is the first I've heard that Hublot has not one but two new movements under development. If there are any more technical details available I'd love to hear more.

Jack

Jack, I have some more technical details: 30 mm diameter, 7.9 mm height (chronograph), 28,800 vph, 28 jewels. New materials like silicon are being used, made by Sigatec.