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Tag: hublot

  • Malaysia’s Industronics to launch online pre-owned watch platform

    Malaysia’s Industronics to launch online pre-owned watch platform

    Industronics Bhd is tapping on the US$17 billion pre-owned luxury watch market through Ecgo International Ltd, its wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong.

    This follows the launch of Industronics’ luxury watch e-commerce platform, watch-exchanges.com.

    Executive director Datuk Chu Boon Tiong said based on data and overall market performance, the pre-owned luxury watch market showed promising growth prospects.

    “We are excited to capitalize on the growing trend with the launch of WatchExchange and aim to pave the way for a streamlined trading platform that will not only revolutionise the transactions of pre-owned luxury watches but drive further growth in this industry,” he said in a statement today.

    WatchExchange aims to be the first luxury watch e-commerce platform that issues authenticity certificates for pre-owned luxury watches in Malaysia and Asia Pacific.

    Some of the leading brands profiled are Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Patek Philippe, Tag Heuer, IWC, Omega, Jaeger LeCoultre, Panerai, Rolex and Breitling.

    Chu said pricing and demand for pre-owned luxury watches had been so strong over the last few years that even high-end watch brands were moving into the pre-owned market themselves.

    “However, the biggest challenge for the pre-owned luxury watch market lies in authenticating the watches.

    “Our role here is to ensure that the shoppers can safely purchase luxury watches on WatchExchange without having to worry about the security and authenticity of the pre-owned luxury watches,” he said.

    Industronics, with its team of professional and experienced watch appraisers, said it wanted to create a professional, safe trading environment that would elevate customers’ experience of purchasing pre-owned luxury watches to a new level.

    The company will set up offices in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Canada and Europe, where sellers worldwide could visit for physical appraisals of their watch collections.

    The success of WatchExchange will depend on excellence in several key areas namely stability, sustainability, search engine optimization (SEO) and new media marketing.

    This will also require extensive funding to carry out both online advertising and offline promotional activities.

    Chu believes the competitive advantage for WatchExchange lies in the company’s ability to build a “unicorn” ecosystem around the region.

    “We do not think that the strength of the platform lies solely in the certification and authentication guarantees.

    “We intend to replicate the business models globally via partnerships with a locally listed company in the respective countries.

    “Among the markets that we are looking into are Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and several emerging markets in Europe. Once our ecosystem matures, we will have so much more to offer to our customers, in terms of the variety of brands, models, and other services,” Chu said.

    According to a management consultancy firm Bain & Company, the global pre-owned luxury watch market was valued at US$17 billion in 2018.

    However, less than 20 per cent of that market is in the Asia Pacific region, while only 25 per cent of the total pre-owned luxury watch sales were online transactions.

    Euromonitor International, an independent strategic market research provider, estimates the value of retail sales of timepieces in Malaysia to grow by five per cent per annum between 2019 and 2022, to reach up to RM2.5 billion.

    Industronic is looking to set up a fund in Hong Kong to raise RM250 million from potential investors.

    Proceeds raised will be utilised to purchase different brands of luxury watches for resale on the company’s platform.

    Industronics aims to invest around RM25 million or 10 per cent of the total funding required, together with the Hong Kong Cyberport Fund, which will invest an equivalent amount or at a 1:1 ratio.

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  • Hublot opens its largest flagship in Tokyo

    Hublot opens its largest flagship in Tokyo

    LVMH-owned watchmaker Hublot has opened its largest flagship store yet in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district in Japan.

    Called “Hublot Tower”, the new flagship features a 56-meter-high artistic facade with glass panels scattered with mirrored tiles.

    Located on Chuo-dori Street, Hublot’s Ginza store occupies a 300sqm space, spanning three floors. The store’s design was inspired by the cosmopolitan city, using different materials such as mirrors, glass, marble and metal to create a contemporary style.

    “In only 40 years, Hublot has seen many firsts and many successes, and today is again another milestone for our Maison,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO at Hublot.

    “We have long had a presence on the most prestigious streets in the world’s metropolises and from today in Japan too, our number one market. Hublot Tower is a symbol of the fusion of modernity and tradition that we ardently pursue and uphold in all our actions.”

    All of Hublot’s collections, including the brand’s latest limited-edition Big Bang GMT All Black Yohji Yamamoto watch, can be founded on the store’s first floor. The second-floor houses a VIP experience room, and the third-floor exhibition space.

  • Hublot India opens its first boutique in Mumbai

    Hublot India opens its first boutique in Mumbai

    Hublot India is launching a flagship boutique at the Palladium Mall in Mumbai, its first standalone store in the market.

    The Swiss watchmaker’s 45sqm boutique is designed to represent Hublot’s “the art of fusion” concept, with pop art paintings forming a backdrop to Hublot Big Bang, Classic Fusion, Spirit of Big Bang, and MP branded watches along with exclusive limited editions.

    “We are delighted and proud to open the first Hublot India Boutique in one of the most well-known luxury retail destinations in the country,” said Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe.

    “This opening demonstrates not only the success of the brand, which goes from strength to strength since the birth of the iconic Big Bang in 2005, but also Hublot’s willingness to constantly challenge fine watchmaking by fusing tradition with innovation while offering the highest level of service to its clients.”

  • Record results for LVMH in 2018

    Record results for LVMH in 2018

    The world’s largest luxury retailer LVMH shrugged off broader market pessimism overnight reporting record revenue of €46.8 billion last year, up 10 per cent over 2017. Excluding the closure of the unprofitable Hong Kong airport duty-free business in December 2017, the group’s organic growth was 12 per cent. Every business division delivered what the company described as “excellent performances”.

    Group profit rose a staggering 21 per cent to €10 billion with operating margin reaching 21.4 per cent, an increase of 1.9 percentage points.

    “LVMH had another record year, both in terms of revenue and results,” said chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault. “The desirability of our brands, the creativity and quality of our products, the unique experience offered to our customers, and the talent and the commitment of our teams are the group’s strengths and have once again made the difference.”

    Arnault said this year the company would continue to innovate and target investments combining tradition and modernity.

    “In an environment that remains uncertain, we can count on the appeal of our brands and the agility of our teams to strengthen, once again, our leadership in the universe of high-quality products.”

    The company’s flagship Louis Vuitton business was a standout for the group, contributing much of the 15 per cent organic sales growth of the fashion and leather goods business division where profit from recurring operations was up 21 per cent.

    “Christian Dior had an excellent first full year within LVMH thanks to the creativity of Maria Grazia Chiuri for the women’s collections and to the arrival of Kim Jones, the new artistic director of Dior Homme,” the company said in its earnings statement.

    “Fendi and Loro Piana continued to assert their know-how throughout their collections. Celine entered a new and ambitious stage of its development with the arrival of Hedi Slimane as artistic, creative and image director of the brand.”

    Givenchy, Loewe and Kenzo “progressed well” while the other brands, Berluti and Rimowa continued to gain momentum.

    Watches and jewellery profit soars

    LVMH’s watches and jewellery business recorded organic revenue growth of 12 per cent – and a stunning 37 per cent increase in profit from recurring operations.

    “Bulgari performed very well and gained market share. Its iconic jewellery and watchmaking lines Serpenti, Diva’s Dream, B.Zero1, Lvcea and Octo grew strongly.”

    Chaumet’s growth was driven by the success of the Liens and Joséphine collections, particularly in Asia.

    In the watchmaking sector, Tag Heuer continued to expand its range and Hublot enjoyed strong growth, partly due to high visibility as the FIFA World Cup official timekeeper.

    DFS returns to profit

    A return to profitability for the travel-retail business DFS after it exited its Hong Kong airport concessions at the end of 2017 was a highlight of LVMH’s ‘selective retailing’ business unit last year. The business group achieved a 12 per cent improvement in organic revenue growth (excluding the airport business from the 2017 base comparison) and a 29 per cent improvement in profit.

    “DFS progressed strongly thanks to a particularly good performance in Hong Kong and Macau. The recently opened Gallerias in Cambodia and Italy also grew rapidly,” said LVMH.

    Sephora enjoyed unspecified growth in sales and market share, with strong online sales growth in Asia and North America. About 100 new stores opened worldwide, including the new Nanjing Road store in Shanghai and the first Sephora-branded stores in Russia.

    Scents of success

    The perfumes and cosmetics business division achieved organic revenue growth of 14 per cent, driven by the performance of its flagship brands, with profit from recurring operations up 13 per cent.

    “Parfums Christian Dior experienced remarkable growth and increased its market share in all regions of the world. The launch of its new perfume Joy and the exceptional worldwide success of Sauvage and the other iconic perfumes J’adore and Miss Dior are behind the strong growth of the Maison,” said LVMH.

    “Makeup and skincare also grew rapidly. Guerlain progressed well, driven in particular by the success of Abeille Royale in skincare and Rouge G in makeup. Benefit strengthened its leading position in the eyebrow segment and Parfums Givenchy accelerated its performance, thanks in particular to makeup and its new perfume L’interdit. Fresh and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna continued their exceptional growth.”

    Strong spirits

    The wines and spirits business group achieved organic revenue growth of 5 per cent and profit from recurring operations also increased by 5 per cent.

    “The business group reaffirmed its leadership position by pursuing its value strategy and balanced geographic development.”

    The Hennessy business enjoyed “strong momentum” in Mainland China, LVMH said.

  • Stéphane Bianchi to head LVMH watchmaking division

    Stéphane Bianchi to head LVMH watchmaking division

    LVMH has tapped Stéphane Bianchi, the former CEO of the cosmetics firm Yves Rocher, to succeed Jean-Claude Biver as head of LVMH’s watch division.

    Biver, who recently turned 69, stepped down from his operational duties as president of the LVMH watch division and CEO of TAG Heuer for health reasons but will nevertheless remain as non-executive chairman of the division.

    After spending over 45 years in the industry, Biver said he wishes to focus more specifically on “advising and sharing” his experience.

    Bianchi will become CEO of TAG Heuer and oversee the operations of Hublot and Zenith, the other two brands in the watch division, effective 1st of November.

    Recently on the board of the Maus Group, a family business, Stéphane spent most of his career with the Yves Rocher Group where he was CEO from 1998 to 2015.

    LVMH has also promoted Frédéric Arnault to the position of director of strategy and digital director at TAG Heuer. Arnault, 23, was named TAG’s head of connected technology last year. He is the son of LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault.

    “I would like to applaud Jean-Claude Biver for the decisive leadership that he has shown in his role at the head of the watchmaking division,” Bernard Arnault said in a statement. “Since the integration of Hublot within LVMH, he has elevated our watchmaking division to a world class technical level of the highest order and has significantly accelerated its commercial growth. I am delighted that the Group will continue to benefit from Jean-Claude’s advice, and I am sure that his entrepreneurial spirit will bring many innovative new ideas to the world of watchmaking.”

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  • Hublot open his first boutique in Hanoi

    Hublot open his first boutique in Hanoi

    Luxury watchmaker Hublot Vietnam has opened a new boutique in Hanoi, the brand’s fourth store in Southeast Asia.

    Operated by retail partner and exclusive distributor in Vietnam The Hour Glass, the boutique has opened in Hanoi’s premium heritage hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole.

    Hublot’s CEO Ricardo Guadalupe said: “It gives me great joy to unveil a new addition to our network of Hublot boutiques around the world here in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a place that is rich in heritage, culture and history. It is indeed a fitting and strategic location to showcase Hublot’s vision – combining traditional craftsmanship whilst striving for innovation.”

    “Hublot is pleased to have been partners with The Hour Glass for over 39 years and this burgeoning partnership will continue to strengthen as we conquer the Southeast Asian region together.”

     

    The Hublot Vietnam boutique will serve as the launch pad for Boutique Exclusives, a selection of timepieces available only in the Hublot boutiques worldwide.

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  • LVMH hits up record revenue in 2017

    LVMH hits up record revenue in 2017

    It has been another record year for luxury products group LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

    Revenue increased by 13 per cent year on year to reach €42.6 billion (US$52.9 billion), while organic revenue growth was 12 per cent.

    All business groups recorded double-digit organic growth with the exception of wines and spirits, where second-half growth was hit by supply constraints.

    Profit from recurring operations reached €8.2 billion, up 18 per cent. Operating margin reached 19.5 per cent, while the group share of net profit was €5.1 billion, growth of 29 per cent.

    Describing the performance as “excellent”, LVMH chairman/CEO Bernard Arnault says the record year was partly because of a buoyant environment but above all a result of the creative strength of the group’s brands “and their ability to constantly reinvent themselves”.

    Key highlights of last year listed by the group include:

    ● Record revenue and profit from recurring operations.

    ● Growth in Asia, Europe and the US.

    ● The success of both iconic and new products at Louis Vuitton, “whose profitability remains at an exceptional level”.

    ● The acquisition of Christian Dior Couture.

    ● Growth at Fendi and Loro Piana.

    ● The first year of integration of Rimowa luggage.

    ● Strong momentum at Parfums Christian Dior, driven by product innovation.

    ● An excellent year for Bulgari and good progress at Hublot and Tag Heuer.

    ● Growth at Sephora.

    ● Free cashflow of €4.7 billion, up 20 per cent.

    “Significant” growth in China helped Hennessy cognac volumes grow by 8 per cent, with 7.5 million cases shipped despite the second-half supply constraints.

    In fashion and leather goods, key events of the year were products arising from collaborations with artist Jeff Koons as well as the Supreme brand, the launch of the brand’s first smartwatch and the inauguration of the Maison Louis Vuitton Vendome in Paris.

    There was rapid growth in Asia for the perfumes and cosmetics segment, and growth was particularly strong in Asia for Bulgari. Asia again shone in the selective retailing group with Sephora continuing to gain market share.

    LVMH says the year was a positive turning point for DFS, with new stores in Cambodia and Italy continuing to grow sales.

    Despite unfavourable currencies and geopolitical uncertainties, LVMH says it is well equipped to continue its growth momentum across all business groups this year.

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  • Hublot Vietnam makes debut with pop-up store

    Hublot Vietnam makes debut with pop-up store

    Hublot Vietnam is making its debut with a pop-up store in Hanoi Sofitel Metropole Hotel this month.

    This was announced by the luxury Swiss watch brand CEO Ricardo Guadalupe while introducing the limited-edition Classic Fusion Fuente 45mm in Ho Chi Minh City.

    Hublot is distributed in Vietnam by THG S&S, a JV with Hublot’s long-term partner The Hour Glass and Vietnamese company S&S, which also distributes other watch brands such as Richard Mille and SevenFriday.

    After long research, Hublot has recognised Vietnam as a potential market as its citizens have been buying the brand in other countries like Singapore and Thailand, says Hublot Vietnam brand manager Hoai Anh. “All our collections, including limited editions, are available here.”

    The brand also offers lower prices for the Vietnam market.

  • Hublot opens Kyoto store

    Hublot opens Kyoto store

    Swiss watch brand Hublot has opened a boutique in Kyoto on 26 August 2017, taking up residence in the former space occupied by Hermès.

    Located in an old machiya-style townhouse in Kyoto’s famous Gion district, the shop features custom Japanese ‘washi’ paper and wickerwork reiterating the watchmaker’s logo.

    Shopping the latest timepieces and watch accessories from the Swiss luxury horologist, customers will also receive Japanese-style folding fans as gifts with each purchase. The Kyoto shop will primarily carry timepieces priced at around 1 million yen to 2 million yen ($9,081 to $18,162).

    The 212-square-metre boutique forms part of Kyoto’s Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store. In 2016, the mall retailer spent 100 million yen refurbishing the two-story wooden former teahouse. It fronts onto Hanamikoji-dori Street, which is Gion’s main street.

    French luxury brand Hermes was chosen as the first tenant, opening up a pop-up shop for a limited time from November 2016 through to July 2017.

    The history of the machiya is unknown, with records of extensions being added in 1938, according to Japan Property Central. In 2001, the overhead power lines along this street were buried underground and the road was refinished with stone paving.

    Hublot, founded in 1980 in Switzerland, targets mainly men in their late 30s and early 40s.

    The shop is the company’s third directly operated outlet in Japan after one in Tokyo’s Ginza district and another in Osaka.

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  • Hublot Japan launches Kyoto townhouse outlet

    Hublot Japan launches Kyoto townhouse outlet

    Hublot Japan has opened a shop in Kyoto’s Gion district, its third directly run outlet.

    The Swiss luxury watchmaker has a store in Tokyo’s Ginza district and another in Osaka. The latest location is in Kyoto’s second Daimaru department store, which has just opened in a traditional Kyoto-style townhouse.

    Hublot Boutique Kyoto is on the ground floor of the two-storey townhouse store in Gion’s main street. A Japanese tearoom on the upper floor can be used for hosting events.

    Founded in Switzerland in 1980, Hublot mainly targets men in their late 30s and early 40s. The Kyoto shop will primarily carry timepieces priced at around ¥1 million (US$9080) to ¥2 million. The shop is a mixture of traditional Japan and 1970s US. A noren (traditional Japanese curtain) printed with the shop’s logo hangs at the entrance; inside, the walls are decorated with American pop art. The sofa is made from Nishijin-ori (a traditional Kyoto textile) while take-zaiku (bamboo crafts) and washi (Japanese paper) are also used in the shop.

    The shop carries some limited-edition items such as the Spirit of Big Bang All Black model.

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  • How to grow for Luxury brands

    How to grow for Luxury brands

    Luxury brands need to use new technologies and offer experiences for their customers, the second Luxury Society keynote event in Shanghai has been told.

    UCO Cosmetics CEO Arthur Zhang told the event that the early-stage eCommerce model of simply providing a platform for selling products online is dead.

    He said key technologies being experimented and improved upon in China include augmented reality, virtual reality and live-streaming.

    “The millennial generation in China, which already numbers about 300 million people, seeks experiences and emotional connection – they are not just bystanders,” DLG China partner/MD Pablo Mauron told the audience of more than 150 luxury-industry brand executives. “As a result, live-streaming has become a medium for them to express themselves.”

    He told how brands such as Maybelline, Montblanc and Swarovski are taking advantage of these new opportunities.

    Underlining the key message of the event that eCommerce is changing, CEO Thibault Villet of luxury fashion eCommerce platform Mei.com told how a live-streamed show in collaboration with TMall resulted in 65 per cent of the products featured quickly selling out.

    Meaningful data

    Social customer-relationship management (CRM) makes highly targeted messaging and engagement possible, the event was told by Four Seasons Hotels Asia Pacific director of marketing communications John Hamilton. He said the luxury hotel chain has been gaining meaningful data about its customers, which in turn has driven growth. In the past year, through trial-and-error and optimisation, the group has defined a CRM-led content strategy on WeChat.

    Celebrity and key-opinion-leader partnerships can make a big impact in China, said East Entertainment commercial director Qing Dai, who spoke of her experience of partnering luxury brands with appropriate celebrities. One of Easy Entertainment’s most successful was in linking up Cartier with singer/actor Lu Han.

    Baidu GM for East China Wan (Grace) Zhang said Cartier was the most-searched luxury watch brand among the generation born between 1990 and 2000, linked to Cartier’s collaboration with Lu Han.

    Other speakers at the event included Four Seasons Hotel Pudong (Shanghai) GM Arthur Ho, writer Casey Hall of Women’s Wear Daily, Digital Luxury Group founder/CEO David Sadigh and MD for China Pablo Mauron, Baidu senior project manager Di Fu and Sephora China digital manager Vanessa Qian.

    Attendees included representatives of Alexandre de Paris, Baume & Mercier, Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Chaumet, Conde Nast, De Beers, Dior, Hublot, Loewe, LVMH, Marc Jacobs, Massimo Dutti, Michael Kors, Montblanc, Nars, Net-a-Porter, Nike, Sephora, Shiseido, Swarovski, TAG Heuer, Tiffany & Co and Vacheron Constantin.

    Luxury Society, published by Digital Luxury Group, is an online destination for luxury-brand executives covering digital and technology matters and with more than 40,000 members across 150 countries.

  • Kung Fu in Hublot store in Beijing

    Kung Fu in Hublot store in Beijing

    In a collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation, a special tribute exhibition for the Kung Fu superstar marks the launch of the Swiss watch brand Hublot’s store at the high-end Shin Kong Place (SKP) shopping centre in Beijing.

    Hublot new store Beijing at Shin Kong Place SKP 3

    On display until March 6, the Be Water, My Friend – Legend of Bruce Lee Memorial Exhibition features precious items the actor owned himself, as well as limited-edition Hublot timepieces.

    Lee’s daughter, foundation founder Shannon Lee, cut the ribbon of the new store along with Hublot Greater China GM Loic Biver.

    Hublot new store Beijing at Shin Kong Place SKP 4

    Hublot participated in the design of the Bruce Lee exhibition. “As an icon of the 20th century and the most iconic Kung Fu star in history, Bruce Lee embodies the real ‘art of fusion’ of East-West culture,” says Biver.

    Hublot also worked with the foundation on the Bruce Lee 75th Anniversary Memorial Exhibition in Hong Kong, and this time released a second limited-edition timepiece as a tribute to Lee.

    Hublot new store Beijing at Shin Kong Place SKP

     

    The actor’s personal items on display include a Tang-style Kung Fu jacket, a genuine copy of the Way of the Dragon script, a replica of the life mask of Kato in The Green Hornet, and the business card for the Bruce Lee Martial Arts Studio he founded.

    Exhibition guests can also experience the Bruce Lee Mirror, a cylindrical glass photo frame featuring Lee’s classic Kung Fu postures. Made of glass fragments, it uses 3D special effects integrating the Hublot Unico In-House chronograph movement.

    Hublot new store Beijing at Shin Kong Place SKP 2

     

    Inspired by the dragon pattern on Bruce Lee’s desk, Hublot has designed a limited-edition (100 pieces) watch, Spirit of Big Bang Bruce Lee Be Water. It features a tonneau case in all-black microblasted ceramic and is fitted with the HUB4700 skeletonised automatic winding movement. Echoing Lee’s philosophy of water, the strap is made of blue alligator leather sewn on natural rubber.

    Hublot new store Beijing at Shin Kong Place SKP 1

    The Hublot SKP Beijing boutique follows the brand-specific black, featuring dark grey carpet and black leather furniture combined with glass and metal counters. Subtle scientific and technological elements in the window display tell the story of the brand, connecting its past with the future with projections on a book. Big Bang, Classic Fusion, King Power are among the pieces and novelties on display.

  • Studio City retail tenants revealed

    Studio City retail tenants revealed

    Studio City and Taubman Asia, have revealed the lineup of fashion brands that will open inside The Boulevard at Studio City.

    A mix of fashion-forward labels and internationally-renowned luxury brands include Macau’s first Balmain, Macau’s first Belstaff, and Tom Ford’s largest store in Asia, amongst many others. The selection was assembled by Taubman Asia and Melco Crown Entertainment’s combined team of retail specialists to meet Chinese consumers’ increasing desire to express their individuality through high quality, expertly crafted clothing and accessories. Bespoke and personal services will be offered to ensure our shoppers take center stage.

    Taubman says The Boulevard at Studio City will bring “an unparalleled shopping experience” to Studio City.

    “Unlike any retail offering to be found in Asia, the unique 35,000 sqm ‘immersive’ retail entertainment environment brings shopping to life by ‘transporting’ visitors to high-energy street-scapes and entertaining them at every turn with featured streets and squares inspired by iconic shopping and entertainment locations, including New York’s Times Square and Hollywood’s Beverly Hills,” Taubman said in a statement.

    “At the futuristic Times Square Macau, inside The Boulevard at Studio City, a variety of entertainment from ‘virtual’ musicians to film stars will be shown through holographic projections.

    “Leveraging our global expertise increating extraordinary retail environments, and our exceptional relationships with the world’s leading brands, our talented team in Asia has brought together an exciting mix of brands for The Boulevard at Studio City,” said René Tremblay, president of Taubman Asia.

    “Our merchandising and management services are the industry standard for performance and excellence. We are thrilled to welcome these brands to our latest project and are committed to supporting them for the long term.”

    List of brands:

    Aeronautica Militare
    Balmain
    Bank of China
    Belstaff
    Boss
    Bottega Veneta
    Bulgari
    Cigar Emporium
    Coach
    Cosmos Food Station
    Din Tai Fung
    Dunhill
    Emporio Armani
    Fendi
    Girard-Perregaux
    Givenchy
    Glashutte Original
    Graff
    Gucci
    Hide Yamamoto
    Hublot
    ICBC
    Trattoria Il Mulino
    Image Digital
    IWC Schaffhausen
    Jaeger-LeCoultre
    Jaquet Droz
    kate spade new york
    Kenzo
    Longines
    McCafe
    McDonald’s
    MCM
    Michael Kors
    Montblanc
    Philipp Plein
    Piaget
    Prada
    Rainbow
    Rimowa
    Roberto Cavalli
    Saint Laurent Paris
    Shiki Hot Pot Restaurant
    Starbucks
    Tag Heuer
    T Galleria Beauty by DFS
    Tiffany & Co.
    Tom Ford
    UM
    Vacheron Constantin
    Valentino
    Van Cleef & Arpels
    Versace Collection
    Ermenegildo Zegna
    Zenith

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  • Hublot hosts its largest pop-up in the world in Singapore

    Hublot hosts its largest pop-up in the world in Singapore

    Swiss luxury timepiece-maker Hublot may be considered a “young” player in a market where its competitors have storied histories. But it has already made its mark.

    Founded in 1980 by Italian Carlo Crocco (who used to be part of the Binda Group, which makes Breil watches), one of the company’s early successes was a watch that had a natural rubber strap (a first in the history of watch-making back then). Despite a disappointing showing at the renowned timepiece fair in Basel, it soon sold in excess of US$2 million (S$2.79 million) in its first year. To date, Hublot has 50 boutiques all over the world.

    In 2005, Hublot’s then-CEO Jean-Claude Biver created a flagship collection called the Hublot Big Bang chronograph. It was an immediate success and orders increased threefold in one year. By the end of that year, the Big Bang chronograph received the 2005 Design Prize in the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, along with other international awards.

    Now, some 10 years later, Hublot is celebrating the Big Bang in a unique way in Singapore. It will be putting up its largest pop-up store in the heart of Orchard Road at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza — an idea that Ricardo Guadalupe, the current CEO of Hublot, credited to its long-time retail partner The Hour Glass.

    “With the help of our long-time partner and luxury watch retailer The Hour Glass, Hublot’s presence has stayed strong in Singapore and regionally for the last 30-over years,” he said in an email interview. “This pop-up store is an initiative fronted by The Hour Glass and we cannot be more supportive of this event. It is the largest Hublot pop-up store globally and … visitors can expect to see the world of Hublot on a panoramic scale — from haute horology to craftsmanship and lifestyle gears that Hublot has to offer.”

    “Some of Hublot’s latest collections such as the Big Bang Denim and Big Bang Broderie, showcase Hublot’s story of fusion,” said Wong Mei Ling, managing director of The Hour Glass Limited. “Hublot remains the first luxury watch brand to use real denim material in their timepieces, while the Big Bang Broderie is a nod to traditional artisanal lace craftsmanship while combining technical watchmaking — once again celebrating the story of fusion.”

    A key highlight of this store, said Guadalupe, is the two limited editions that have been specially created for Singapore. “The first is the Red Dot Bang, a timepiece created in two cases — Hublonium and Yellow Bang. It is a nod to not only the iconic Big Bang that made Hublot the success story it is today, it also showcases Hublot’s strength in material engineering,” he elaborated, adding that it was a limited run. There will be 50 pieces of the Hublonium variant in a tribute to Singapore’s 50th birthday and 10 pieces of the yellow-gold variant at the pop-up store.

    “Placing the red ‘10’ index on the dial also holds a dual meaning — it is an homage to Singapore’s national colour and the number (is) to celebrate Big Bang’s 10-year anniversary,” said Guadalupe.

    The other timepiece of note is the one-of-a-kind Hublot Manufacture MP-05 La Ferrari Golden Jubilee, which the company calls the “the super machine of all time machines”, adding that it was “a suitable model to develop … for Singapore”. This edition features a gleaming yellow-gold case set with 440 baguette-cut diamonds worth at least 13 carats.

    Not surprisingly, Guadalupe was effusive about the experience that visitors could take away from its pop-up event. “With every project that Hublot executes, we want our visitors to feel inspired, to draw from the brand’s dynamism and our bold spirit,” he said, adding: “It is a veritable playpen for all Hublot fans! One that truly showcases the spirit of Hublot. Hosting a pop-up store on such a scale is testament to Hublot’s strong presence in Singapore and the strong partnership that we share.”

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