Muscat – To mark the 10^th anniversary of Hublot and Mistal’s partnership in Oman, the renowned Swiss luxury watchmaker, has announced the launch of the new Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium Gradient Blue Oman – a special edition timepiece created exclusively to mark this milestone. “Hublot watches are widely regarded as a symbol of innovation,” David Tedeschi, regional director, Hublot, tells Hubert Vaz in an exclusive interview. Excerpts:

With the ever-changing needs of customers in the digital age, there has been an increasing desire for new features in luxury watches, too, as it is with watches in other segments – How are you coping with this demand while maintaining the esteemed profile of your watches and timepieces?

At Hublot, we prioritise innovation while preserving the tradition of our brand DNA, the Art of Fusion, while leveraging digital platforms to really speak to the growing audience, especially to the new generation of watch enthusiasts. We always ensure to integrate cutting-edge materials and savoir faire into our timepieces which cater to their requirements.

In parallel, we always find a way to align with our key markets by launching special editions – which is why I am excited to share the launch of the Classic Fusion Titanium Gradient Blue Oman timepiece from Hublot. This approach enables us to maintain our position as a leader in luxury watchmaking while delivering unique and pioneering experiences to our clientele.

To what extent are Hublot watches seen as a status symbol – does it have any decisive edge over your competitors?

Hublot watches are widely regarded as a symbol of innovation, with wide recognition alongside the various partnerships of Hublot. Of course, we hold a distinctive advantage in the industry for always being the first in developing our own materials and movements, such as the ceramic and sapphire, and movements like the MP-10 (seen in the latest MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium). Our brand’s fusion of innovative design, high-quality craftsmanship, and prestigious collaborations distinguishes us from competitors, providing a unique allure that resonates with those seeking distinction in their timepieces.

The ideology of Hublot currently revolves around the ‘Art of Fusion’, could you please elaborate how different (or similar) are Hublot watches these days from their inception in 1980?

The ideology and Hublot DNA has actually remained quite the same: to bring together the tradition and innovation of watchmaking. Hublot was the first watch brand to ever integrate gold and natural rubber into one timepiece. By pioneering such combinations in material, this sparked the creative concept of the ‘Art of Fusion’.

More than 40 years later, we are still the leaders in various combinations of materials and even our partnerships reflect this part of our DNA. The real difference is now with the new technology at the Hublot Manufacture, our R&D team is always leaders in the development of new materials to use in our watches.

You visited Oman in May 2018 (when a special collection of 25 pieces were created for buyers in Oman) and again in October 2020 to mark Oman’s 50^th National Day (with the release of the Classic Fusion Special Edition Oman Golden Jubilee) – Have these milestones built a bigger market for Hublot in Oman?

Definitely! We can really see the demand in the Omani market for Hublot watches increasing over the years and we are very pleased to continue building the Hublotistas community with our partner Mistal. This is why we also have chosen to celebrate the decade-long partnership with Mistal by launching the special edition Classic Fusion Titanium Gradient Blue Oman. It pays homage to the

Omani heritage and features the Khanjar calligraphy which reads ‘Sultanate of Oman’. To give it an even more Omani touch, the seconds hand has a special tip with the colours of white, red, and green, resembling the flag of Oman. From the launch of this special edition, we noticed that the demand is definitely there and we are doing our best to meet it.

How much of emphasis does Hublot give for Research and Development to cater to the needs of modern day buyers?

Research and Development at Hublot is strongly emphasised and a vital part to the pioneering production – it is a foundational aspect that we pride ourselves on, considering some of our core values are innovative materials and in-house movements. With such a strong focus on our manufacture, it has led to the creations of advanced watchmaking seen in all our newest novelties.

We think outside of the box on how to enhance materials such as sapphire and ceramics or creating Hublot in-house movements, with some developments taking up to 5 years of R&D – like the new MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System. It is such an avant-garde timepiece, designed with a dial-less piece, fusing the calibre and dial into one. Only a strong manufacture R&D team would create such excellence and trend-setting in watchmaking.

In December, in an interview in Bahrain, you mentioned that the Middle East market is saturated with luxury brands – Does this make the competition stiffer for Hublot? And do you think that buyers of luxury brands in the Middle East have greater purchasing power than those in other markets?

Naturally, the region of the Middle East is quite saturated with luxury brands as I’ve mentioned before. That being said, Hublot remains steadfast as the fore-runner in the world of watchmaking, with our commitment to innovation and excellence which distinguishes us and ensures our competitive edge.

Our focus lies in delivering unparalleled quality and experiences to our clients, which is unrelated to the market saturation. The market here definitely has a stronger and larger base for luxury buyers that have the purchasing power for luxury and appreciation for fine craftsmanship and branded heritage.

Does the new showroom in Muscat have any firsts with regard to new products or offers for Hublotista members?

Yes! I am very happy to unveil the newest timepiece made exclusively for the Omani market, in partnership with Mistal. It is definitely not the first time we produce a special edition for Oman. However, this is a very special launch as it is an anniversary timepiece to celebrate our 10-year partnership with Mistal.

The Classic Fusion Titanium Gradient Blue Oman – The Classic Fusion collection is a well-liked collection here in Muscat, and we felt that developing further on the likes of the region, inspired by the region’s blue seas, is the most important collaboration to fuse together the world of Hublot in this very special market. The timepiece features many different elements that highlight the Omani heritage and rich culture, such as Khanjar calligraphy which reads ‘Sultanate of Oman’ and customising the seconds hand to feature the three colours of the Omani flag on the tip. We are proud to celebrate the Omani pride whilst reflecting the brand’s deep appreciation for Oman.