Hublot Watch Brand History
Founded in 1980 in Geneva, Switzerland, Hublot started its luxury watchmaking journey with pungency, combining, for the first time in haute horlogerie, gold and rubber. The house drew inspiration for its watches from portholes, and from the very first moment was driven by the desire to excel, to innovate, to bring new, bold, and surprising concepts to watchmaking. The porthole-shaped cases of the Hublot watches, and their inimitable combination of polished and brushed gold with natural black rubber have certainly achieved the goal. After the successful birth of the Fusion concept, and the original Hublot diver's watch, the brand continued its progress towards modernism, and in 1986, the Hublot first-ever chronograph watch was released. Four years later, the Geneva-based Manufacture added a more minimalistic line to its collections, removing the screws on the bezel, and delivering the Elegant line. For the 20th anniversary of Hublot in 2000, a special collection, in collaboration with Master Engraver Gianfranco Pedersoli was launched, featuring several unique pieces; each using a hunter case with a different engraving. In May 2004, Jean-Claude Biver took on his responsibilities as CEO, member of the board of directors and minority shareholder of Hublot watches, bringing back the concept of The Art of Fusion. Consequently, HUblit released updated designs of its original chronographs in 2004, followed by the opening of its first own-brand boutique in Paris, on Rue Saint-Honoré. The second was inaugurated the following summer in Saint-Tropez in the Hotel Byblos.