TWO KINDS OF EXPERTISE COMBINED
Partners since 2012, the watchmaker Hublot and the cigar manufacturer Arturo Fuente confirm their links with three special editions designed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a legendary cigar, the Fuente Fuente Opus X.
Hublot is without doubt the king of partnerships, whether in terms of products or joint projects. The watchmakers from Nyon have indeed made a speciality of producing sometimes surprising combinations. No partnership is beyond the pale, whether in sport (football or skiing) or in arts and crafts (embroidery or stained-glass windows). In 2012, Hublot decided to join up with the cigar manufacturer Arturo Fuente, and now, five years later, they have launched a trio of special watches in homage to the legendary Fuente Fuente Opus X: the Classic Fusion Fuente 20th Anniversary Special Edition. Each model is made from a different material (black ceramics, brushed titanium or King Gold, an alloy created by Hublot), and available in 20 pieces.
The mythical Fuente Fuente Opus X cigar is filled with unique aromas. It is made of nine tobacco leaves instead of five, like most top-of-the-range cigars, and takes about two years to mature, before ending its life in a humidified cellar belonging to the happy few, the fans of its undeniable qualities. The quest for excellence blended with skilled craftsmanship, painstaking care and patience are all points that the cigar manufacturer has in common with the watchmaker. The proof of the manufacturing skill can be found both in and on the case of the Classic Fusion Fuente 20th Anniversary Special Edition, particularly in the titanium and King Gold versions with their magnificent engravings. The engravings depict tobacco leaves, as well as an XX design, in homage to the 20th anniversary of Fuente Fuente Opus X.
The steel case is 45mm wide, 10.95mm thick and is water-resistant down to 50m. It features blue composite resin lugs, and the bezel around it is decorated with rose-gold screws (on the ceramic version) or titanium screws (on the other two versions). This imposing setting contains the calibre HUB1112, a self-winding movement driving the hour, minute and second displays on the dial while providing 42 hours of power reserve.
The dial on each piece of this exceptional trio features a delicate sfumato effect, with a matt-blue to Havana-brown colour, and reveals the XX pattern, like a watermark decorating the dial background. The dial also has a double bevelled and gilded XX on the right-hand side. The symbol can be seen once again at 12 o’clock, presiding over the hour rim made up of faceted applied indices. At the centre, two stick-shaped hands, gold or silver, depending on the model, show the hours and minutes, while the seconds are shown by a second hand tipped with red lacquer.
Price: 12,900 CHF (ceramic) – 13,900 CHF (titanium) – 28,900 CHF (King Gold)
By Sharmila Bertin