Hublot is joining in with Ferrari’s 70th anniversary celebrations in Maranello by producing a special limited edition of its Techframe Tourbillon Chronograph to be sold at auction.
2017 looks set to be well and truly the year of the prancing horse, as Ferrari’s extraordinary story enters its seventh decade. The company’s history has been marked by its outstanding achievements in competition, together with the unparalleled range of sports cars it has created over the years. Hublot watches have been linked with this motoring legend for five years now, and in fact the partnership has just been extended. It’s a meeting of minds between two brands in search of absolute excellence: a perfect union between the two worlds of motoring and watchmaking. On 9 September, Ferrari will celebrate its 70th anniversary with a special gala evening in Maranello, during which there will be an auction featuring exceptional cars and accessories emblazoned with the prancing horse logo. The Swiss watchmaking brand has developed a limited edition watch for the occasion – a unique design based on the Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph.
“Ferrari represents the very pinnacle of automotive art, something that we at Hublot are proud to be associated with. The unique Hublot Techframe watch is the result of a team effort – this is a timepiece that combines our expertise in a process that started at Ferrari HQ in Maranello and ended with Hublot in Nyon. It’s our way of wishing the Cavallino Rampante a happy anniversary.” – Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot
Unveiled at this year’s Baselworld show, this collection is the result of an intensive collaboration between car designers and high-end watchmakers. It’s also the first non-automotive object that has been designed by Ferrari’s in-house team, Centro Stile, led by Flavio Manzoni. Taking the movement of the Hublot Tourbillon Chronograph (the “engine”) as a starting point, the Italian designers developed the watch following the same creative processes as those used for sports car chassis, to achieve minimal weight combined with a solid frame. The Swiss watchmakers then inserted a high-performance “engine” into this structure: the HUB6311 calibre hand-wound manufacture movement, containing a total of 253 components and with a 5-day power reserve. This one-of-a-kind mechanism is fitted with a tourbillon with exclusive operation, and also has a chronograph feature.
Upcoming celebration
Following this design, the unique model to be offered at auction is set apart by its skeleton case middle – the chassis – which is made from uni-directional carbon, PEEK (polyether), a multi-layer hypoallergenic material, and the case – the engine cover – made from King Gold, the celebrated gold/ceramic alloy developed by Hublot. The dial, which features both the Hublot and Ferrari logos, takes inspiration from the counters on Ferrari’s instrument panels. The open design leaves the movement visible, and allows a glimpse of the beautiful ruthenium anthracite finish. This exclusive watch will go under the hammer at the upcoming evening celebration on 9 September. The auction, organised by RM Sotheby’s, will be open to all guests attending the event, and it will also be possible to participate online via the link https://www.rmsothebys.com/ff17/ferrari–leggenda-e-passione.
Technical specifications
Model: Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph • Reference: 408.OQ.0123.RX.SCF17 – Unique piece • Case: Skeleton in Unidirectional PEEK Carbon • Diameter: 45 mm • Thickness: 14.80 mm • Case-Back: Black PVD Titanium, micro-blasted “UNIQUE PIECE” engraving in glossy black lacquer • Crystal: Sapphire crystal with internal and external anti-reflective treatment • Case-Back crystal: Sapphire with internal anti-reflective treatment, adorned with “Ferrari 70 Years” • Water resistance: 30 metres or 3 ATM • Dial: Sapphire, highlight in matt black varnish • Hands: Satin finished, 5N Gold treatment and white SuperLuminova® • Screws: 5N Gold H-screws, polished head, micro-blasted cavity and notches • Crown: King Gold, glossy micro-blasted • Insert in black PVD titanium with engraving of the Ferrari logo (Cavallino Rampante), indexed, double sealing system • Push-button: Lever in Black PVD Titanium micro-blasted • Switch in black PVD Titanium, micro-blasted, polished head • Movement HUB6311 – Manual winding Tourbillon Chronograph, developed and manufactured by Hublot • Number of components: 253 • Frequency: 3 Hz (21’600 Al/h) • Power reserve: 115 hours • Strap: Smooth black rubber (interchangeable) • Folding clasp in Black PVD Titanium • Hublot logo filled with glossy black lacquer
