Baselworld 2017 was a big year for anniversaries – the Speedmaster turned 60, the Sea-Dweller hit 50 – but there was a big milestone from the automotive world that was celebrated too. Italian car marquee Ferrari turns 70 this year and to celebrate this landmark, Hublot launched a new line as part of its partnership with the car brand.
The futuristic looking Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph was designed by Flavio Manzoni, the head of design at Ferrari but produced by Hublot. The development process of this Ferrari was akin to the creation of a super car at Maranello. So the starting point for the designers was the “engine of the watch” around which they freely designed a “high performance chassis”. In plain speak, this is a case that has been heavily skeletonized to represent a car chassis.
The watch has an unusual layout of the crown and monopusher chronograph. The eye is instantly drawn to the ‘Ferrari Red’ anodized aluminum lever that functions as the chronograph’s monopusher button at 3 o’ clock. The crown now sits at 4 o’ clock and is raised by a black PVD Titanium insert decorated with the Prancing Horse symbol.
The lattice-like case has a modular construction —skeleton middle, container, and back cover. Hublot offers a choice of three materials here - King Gold, titanium, and PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) Carbon. The strap is interchangeable in a fun way: it unbuckles like the releasing of a seat belt when the ‘Ferrari Red’ buttons at each side of the lugs are pressed. The back cover of the case is engraved in black with "Limited Edition, No. XX/70", and the sapphire back has "Ferrari 70 Years” etched on it.
The watch is powered by the new hand-cranked HUB6311 tourbillon chronograph movement. Composed of 253 components, this movement has a five days of power reserve. Treated with ruthenium anthracite, it uses a tourbillon with a sapphire crystal upper bridge that gives it the illusion of a flying tourbillon.
This being Hublot, the dial is understandably busy. The Ferrari logo is visible at the 9 o'clock whilst the Hublot logo is at 5 o'clock. The sapphire dial offers glimpses of the movement and has an external raised section holds the timer. A matt black block designed by Ferrari, affixed to the sapphire holds a race-inspired twin half-second counter at 3 o'clock, the minutes counter at 11 o'clock and the column wheel is visible at 1 o'clock.
The black rubber strap is fitted with a folding clasp with a cover in PVD titanium with a plate decorated with King Gold, PEEK carbon or titanium, with the Hublot logo. This watch is offered in a limited edition of 70 pieces in each case material. It is priced at $127,000 in titanium, $158,000 for King Gold and $137,000 for the PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) carbon version.
