Jean Claude Biver & Hublot

Just 2 weeks ago, we celebrated 50 years of nation building, we celebrated Singapore's Golden Jubilee. Even though there are many other watch makers (e.g. Longines, Mont Blanc, Jaeger LeCoultre, Ball, etc.) whom made special editions for SG50, I chose to showcase Hublot's effort to commemorate this significant milestone of the country that I'm so proud of, solely because of 1 man, Jean Claude Biver.

Some of you who are more acquainted with his name might argue that he is just another marketing genius. I do not disagree with that and indeed, he turned around companies like Blancpain and now Hublot, in a marketing fashion seemingly; bragging about fusion of all things from design to materials, from art to technology, which is "nothing" more than combining rubber with precious metal, and skeleton watch designs with contemporary manufacturing techniques in Hublot's offerings. Well almost, but I see beyond that. I see in him, passion and drive for the watch industry, and more importantly, love for his people that resulted in innovation and entrepreneurship that is shown through their products. Unlike many companies putting out marketing spin to force fit their product into the image that they'll like to be perceived, Hublot under the leadership of Jean Claude Biver conveys those messages through their products.

Mr. Biver talks above Love, Passion and Watchmaking

'No Innovation, No Future'
Mr. Biver as Guest Lecturer at The Singapore Polytechnic

'No Innovation, No Future' is his favorite tagline in a lot of his talks and motivational speeches. Again, some may argue on the point, innovation or the lack of it in Hublot. But who says innovation has to be revolutionary? Innovation is strictly about doing something that nobody has tried, or thinking of something obvious yet no one has thought of. The courage in challenging the unconventional and the belief in that idea, is entrepreneurship. Mr. Biver has both.

How many of us, so called watch lovers, know that Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak Offshore copied Hublot's original idea of cladding watches with rubber strap and not the other way round? How many of us thinks that AP ROO's chronograph 3126/3840 movement is superior to the UNICO? The sad truth is, many of us do. Just because of AP's longer history in watch making, and the price they command, many have the perception that they must be superior. I beg to differ...

Audemars Piguet 3126/3840 movement

Hublot manufacture UNICO movement

Cam vs. column wheel chronograph mechanism, 50 vs. 72hrs of power reserve, traditional jeweled vs. full silicon pallet fork and wheel, and the oh-so-beautiful skeleton date wheel on the UNICO! Both uses modular construction, where a based movement is coupled to the chronograph module, instead of an integrated design. Modular chronograph may not appeal to purist, but the ease of servicing it brings is undeniable, which we know can be very expensive for chronographs designed as integrated. As for movement decoration, AP chooses the more traditional way of Cotes de Geneva and Perlage, which requires high artisan skill and time to produce. Whereas Hublot uses the "easier" sand blast method to complete it's avant garde principle. In fact, besides their 'Port Hole' inspired bezel design, there isn't many similarity between the 2 range of watches that many choose to associate them closely with.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore

44mm in stainless steel and ceramic

Hublot Big Bang Unico Chronograh

45mm in titanium and ceramic

So which one will I pick if I have to choose just 1 to own? It's really a tough call given both have merits in their own rights. At gun point, despite the luring 22k gold rotor waving warm welcome from the AP ROO, I believe I'll go for the Unico BIg Bang. Perhaps, just because Jean Claude Biver is at the helm of Hublot.