A Fleet of Ferraris: 6 Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Watches

Hublot released the first Big Bang Ferrari Replica Watches For UK Sale, products of a collaboration with the famed Italian automaker, in 2012. Since then, the brand has expanded the Hublot Ferrari collection with six new models, all equipped with Hublot’s in-house Unico movement.

In early 2013, the brand released three new models headlined by the Hublot Big Bang “Red Magic Carbon.” Its Unico movement incorporates a flyback chronograph mechanism that uses two push-buttons and can be reset at any time. Unlike many other chronograph movements, it has a column wheel visible on the dial side, an hour counter driven directly by the barrel, and no jumper in the chronograph mechanism. Its pallet fork and escapement wheel are made of ultra-light silicon and affixed to a removable platform. First released in 2009 (and, according to Hublot, continually adjusted ever since), the movement has 330 parts, a high frequency of 28,800 vph, and a power reserve of 72 hours.

Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Ceramic

The case, which is also designed and manufactured in-house at Hublot’s facility in Nyon, Switzerland, is made of carbon fiber that has been constructed in a “multi-layer” process, which involves stacking up to 12 sheets of the material before pressing it into molds and then baking it in polymerization ovens. With this method, there is no bubbling, thus providing the finished product with better homogeneity and higher mechanical strength. The in-house machining, by a team of specialists in this production method that only recently joined Hublot’s in-house UK Replica Watches for Men team, is done on a special machine with five spindles.

Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Red Magic Carbon

The red-tinted sapphire crystal gets its hue from the addition of chemical components directly to the material during its development, which makes the color unalterable. The Big Bang Ferrari “Red Magic Carbon” — as do both other models — comes with two straps, in black and red schedoni leather stitches onto black rubber; it is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, priced at $32,100.

The “King Gold Carbon” model is limited to 500 pieces (price: $43,600) and has a carbon fiber bezel with six H-shaped black-PVD titanium screws. Like the “Red Magic Carbon” model, its hands are coated with White Super-LumiNova. The crown and pushers, like the 45-mm case, are in Hublot’s proprietary “King Gold.”

Hublot Big Bang Ferrari King Gold Carbon

The Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Ceramic (below) has a black ceramic case and bezel; the bezel has a brushed finish, a rarity in ceramic Offical Replica Watches UK cases, most of which have polished finishes. Its hands are coated with black Super-LumiNova. Like the King Gold, its titanium bezel screws are coated in black PVD; those of the Red Magic are in polished titanium. This model is limited to 1,000 pieces, at $29,800.

IWC returns to its favourite Portofino

The Italian fishing village of Portofino is the symbol of la dolce vita. It is also the name of one of IWC‘s collections, a flagship of the brand since 1984 and now home to a new range of women’s watches, previewed at Watches&Wonders in Hong Kong.

Given the number of times IWC has descended on Portofino – for each launch in its eponymous collection – the brand should soon be entitled to its commemorative plaque on a wall of this tiny village, situated along the coast from Genoa, on the Italian Riviera. It could read something along the lines of “To our Best Swiss Replica Watches friends IWC, in grateful recognition.” A homage indeed, considering the brand was established in 1868 by Florentine Ariosto Jones, an American from Boston. And that it now belongs to the Richemont group whose main shareholder is South African. But after all, Portofino is long accustomed to welcoming the most cosmopolitan visitors. The symbol of Italian easy living, since the 1950s it has been a magnet to celebrities from all over the world, among them Maria Callas, Ingrid Bergman and Clark Gable. It’s said that Jackie Kennedy, as well as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, felt especially at home in this picturesque resort, on the Gulf of Tigullio.

This must be true for IWC too. After taking up residence there in 2010, under the photographic eye of Peter Lindbergh, the brand returned this year for a prolonged stay, during which it prepared the promotional campaign for its New Rolex Replica Watches, orchestrated by a certain… Peter Lindbergh. Four years ago, the objective was to breathe new life into this classically elegant range, first launched in 1984 and reimagined with new models – not least the Portofino Hand-Wound 8 Days – driven by the 59000 family of calibres. At the 2011 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, the brand even recreated the atmosphere of an Italian piazzetta, Portofino style, complete with Vespas and movie stars, so aficionados might soak up the sweet Italian life.

A modern interpretation of luxury

IWC didn’t bring quite so much Italian flavour to Watches&Wonders, Fine Watchmaking’s rendezvous with Asia, held late September in Hong Kong. But the spirit of Italy was very much present, particularly as IWC chose the event for a launch of no small significance: that of its Latest Breitling Replica Watches for women which fit comfortably into what else but the Portofino collection. The Portofino Midsize collection comprises three models – Automatic (hours, minutes, date), Automatic Moon Phase, and Automatic Day & Night (24-hour display, second time zone) – with seventeen versions in all. Each has a 37mm case and most are set with diamonds on the case and/or on the bezel. Fans of the brand who attended the unveiling were told how this new Portofino Midsize is “a modern interpretation of luxury.”

And were anyone in any doubt that luxury is never more appreciable than with a healthy dose of farniente thrown in, IWC’s promotional film immerses viewers in the atmosphere of Portofino, this time in the company of Carte Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Christoph Waltz and Zhou Xun. The arrival in a Mercedes convertible is irresistible, the speedboat ride thrilling, the aroma of coffee drunk alfresco so pungent as to fill the screening room, and the five stars’ tuxedos suitably impeccable to match their Portofino Midsize. All to the sound of a suavely sung canzonetta, driving home the message that the Portofino brings Italy to the wrist… the Italy of the classical Renaissance canons that are revived in the pure, scintillating line of a Portofino watch. Let the village council take note, that commemorative plaque is long overdue!