While the Swiss watch brand revives the 80s trend with a new collection, its CEO Ricardo Guadalupe is also looking forward to the adoption of cryptocurrency
While the Swiss watch brand revives the 80s trend with a new collection, its CEO Ricardo Guadalupe is also looking forward to the adoption of cryptocurrency
Swiss watch brand Hublot is no stranger to being in the limelight. Earlier this month, it launched Big Bang Unico Ledger in partnership with crypto and digital asset platform. The watch’s high-contrast golden bezel in Electrum, a natural gold and silver alloy, comes with a limited-edition crypto key that will only be available with the watch. With this new product, CEO Ricardo Guadalupe has once again proved that the brand is on point when it comes to wooing a young and trendy audience.
CEO Ricardo Guadalupe | photo credit: sandro bebler
The announcement also reiterates what was said over a video call at last month’s LVMH Watch Week 2022, “We are certainly looking at NFTs and cryptocurrency, and are addressing [its community], Many of them have become wealthy in a short amount of time and are potential customers.” And let us not forget that last year, when industry veteran Jean-Claude Biver made news with the first NXT luxury watch to be auctioned, It was a Hublot – The Big Bang All Black Tourbillon.
Guadalupe has been instrumental in reviving the brand which is now synonymous with sporting masterpieces, innovative materials and daring color experiments. During virtual media interactions of the pandemic, he often joined his scientists in his lab at Nyon Construction to present to viewers the heating tanks and other futuristic equipment that goes into crafting their extraordinary sapphire cases and other components. . When we spoke during LVMH Watch Week 2022, they confirmed that they are “still a leader in the production of sapphires” in the industry.
Yellow Gold Collection | photo credit: special arrangement
yellow for 2022
Hublot started the year on a slim note with three 40mm ‘time only’ Big Bang integrals, but what caught the attention of many reviewers was the introduction of gold in its flagship collections: Big Bang Integral, Big Bang Uniqlo, the classic fusion chronograph and soul of the Big Bang. “We’re kind of going back to our roots,” Guadalupe said. “Since I joined Hublot [2004]We have never made a yellow gold watch, just rose gold because it reflects the time trend for watches. But I thought it might be the right time to keep yellow gold as a trend, and chose one model per line. Let’s see how the market reacts.”
Djokovic and gaming
Hublot, which signed tennis legend Novak Djokovic as brand ambassador, is working on a watch dedicated to its sport for a 2023-24 launch. And while they’re also set to partner with the gaming segment, “You have to find the right angle. Big games have a little violence so it’s hard to associate yourself with it,” is Guadalupe’s response.
While China and the Middle East are clearly in favor of the metal, he said there is interest from the United States as well. “Maybe India will also be keen on it. Our gold production of watches is also quite limited.” And regardless of size, watches will be appreciated by women as well.
Like many luxury watch CEOs tracking the growing interest among female watch collectors, Guadalupe agrees that their watches can be worn by both men and women. “The Big Bang Time 40mm may be a ‘no gender’ model for men and women. The women’s market is where we can really grow. Last year, it represented 28% of our sales; 20% to 28% and is expected to go up further,” he said.
yellow gold collection price 39.4 lakh onwards; big bang unicorn laser price 21.25 lakh
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