[News Inside Companies] 'Wiblelo' Making the 'Wangdeul-ui Sigye' (Kings' Watches)

1980 Founded by Carlo Crocco from Italy
Famous as a gift from the King of Spain to the King of Greece
Acquired by LVMH, owned by Louis Vuitton, in 2008

At the HUBLOT store in Hyundai Department Store Trade Center branch, the 'Big Bang Unico Yellow Sapphire' and 'Big Bang Unico Yellow Magic' on display until the 16th will each be sold as a single piece in Korea. The Big Bang Unico series is a limited edition product with only 100 pieces per model sold worldwide, and the domestic selling price is said to be in the 100 million KRW range for the Sapphire and around 40 million KRW for the Magic.

HUBLOT, a luxury watch brand commanding prices in the hundreds of millions of won, is famous as the "Park Ji-sung watch" because former Manchester United (Man Utd) player Park Ji-sung wore it, benefiting from the convenience and activity afforded by its rubber material. SSG player Choo Shin-soo, a former Major League Baseball player, is also a well-known HUBLOT enthusiast.

HUBLOT was founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco, from a family of Italian watchmakers. Under the motto of "creating a sports watch that can be worn comfortably anytime and anywhere, elegant and timeless in design," he chose the brand name HUBLOT, which means "porthole" in French.

The first watch released combined a gold case with a rubber strap, causing a great sensation at the time. In the watchmaking industry back then, it was standard to pair a precious metal gold case with a high-quality leather strap.

Additionally, the cool bezel shape inspired by a ship's porthole and the unique case design expressed a strong personality distinct from other brands. It is said that interest among watch enthusiasts grew significantly when the King of Spain gifted a HUBLOT watch to the King of Greece.

At the 'Hublot' store on the 2nd floor of Hyundai Department Store Trade Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, an employee is introducing the watches 'Big Bang Unico Yellow Sapphire and Big Bang Unico Yellow Sapphire Magic,' each of which is the only one available in Korea. Photo by Hyundai Department Store

HUBLOT, nicknamed the "watch of kings," was favored by European royal families who enjoyed horseback riding and polo (a type of ball game played on horseback). In fact, many celebrities have worn it, from Prince Albert of Monaco to Elton John, Giorgio Armani, and Andy Warhol.

Known as a "fusion watch" for its unique design and combination of various materials to create new forms, HUBLOT experienced another growth phase when Jean-Claude Biver became CEO in 2004.

Swiss-born Jean-Claude Biver added "Art of Fusion" to HUBLOT's brand identity immediately upon taking office. The first result was the launch of the 'Big Bang' collection in 2005. By combining heterogeneous materials such as ceramic and tantalum, it created an appeal not found in previous high-end watches. Subsequently, HUBLOT achieved sales of approximately 300 million USD just three years after launching the Big Bang collection in 2008, marking more than a tenfold growth. It also became the first luxury watch brand to serve as the official timekeeper for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup. Partnering with Manchester United, where Park Ji-sung played, HUBLOT released a limited edition 'Red Devils' Big Bang for fans.

Hublot Ferrari Tourbillon Edition. Photo by Yonhap News

Having grown rapidly since its founding, HUBLOT was acquired by LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer, and Zenith, in 2008. HUBLOT also gained attention as the official partner of the first Formula One (F1) race held in Korea in October 2010. In 2012, it began a partnership with Ferrari, a top-tier sports car manufacturer, becoming the official timekeeper for the Scuderia Ferrari racing team and engaging in various Ferrari-related projects. Because of this, the nickname "watch of kings" was followed by the phrase "Ferrari on the wrist."

HUBLOT served as the official timekeeper for four consecutive FIFA World Cups, including the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and is also used as the official timekeeper for the Monaco Yacht Club and Spain's famous yacht races.

Since being acquired by LVMH, HUBLOT has put significant effort into developing special materials. Starting collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) from the first year after acquisition, it attracted attention in 2011 by developing 'Magic Gold,' a material that offsets the softness of gold.