In case you’ve ever wondered what an Hublot watch would look like on a 104 year old man, this is it. This chap is famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and he has been fortunate to not only live a very long time, but also have a very accomplished career behind him. For us Americans, he most notably architected the United Nations building in New York City.
Hublot now honors him with a watch. See a video that Hublot made presenting the watch to him here. Actually, Hublot has a dual reason for making this watch. The piece is also in honor of Brazil – a country Hublot has been keen to keep popularity high with. And why Brazil now? Well the FIFA World Cup for 2014 is coming to Brasilia, Brazil and Hublot also happens to have a relationship the kings of soccer.
My interest is more with Niemeyer however. I still think it is very interesting to see him wearing a futuristic Big Bang Aero Bang watch in tantalum with a dial in black accented with the yellow and green colors of the Brazilian flag. Jean-Claude Biver of Hublot is very open with the type of advertising and marketing that he is willing to experiment with. Most brands would probably not do this, but I applaud Hublot for doing so. I have a feeling Oscar never saw this coming. 30 years ago I am sure he would have been thrilled to get a limited edition watch in his honor. Today I am happy he is still alive. I think all very senior citizens should get cool looking futuristic watches. Timex, get some special modern versions of the Easy Reader out there OK?
On the back of the limited edition Aero Bang 44mm Oscar Niemeyer is an engraving of the Brazilian National Congress – a building that Niemeyer designed. Looking at his designs I think I know who designed Mos Eisely on Tatooine for Star Wars. Seriously right? That and the Space Mountain ride building at Disneyland. Niemeyer’s interesting sense of shapes, light colors and mid 20th century futurism are easy to appreciate today. Looks like the majority of his buildings are in Brazil and Spain.
Limited to 104 pieces the Hublot Niemeyer watch is in tantalum (don’t ask why the caseback says “tantalum” as well as “titanium”). In the Aero Bang collection, it has a skeletonized dial and overall black/gray style. I do really like the “lemon and lime” colors of the hands and hour markers. Good for Brazil, or 7-Up.
Tech specs from Hublot:
BIG BANG 44 MM “AERO BANG NIEMEYER”
Reference 311.AI.1149.HR.NIE11
Series Limited to 104 pieces numbered from 01/104 to 104/104
Case 44.5 mm Big Bang, in micro-blasted tantalum
Bezel Micro-blasted tantalum
6 H-shaped black PVD titanium screws, countersunk, polished & locked
Crystal Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective treatment
Bezel Lugs Black composite
Lateral inserts Black composite
Crown Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert
Push-pieces Black PVD titanium, rectangular, with black rubber inserts
Case-back Open tantalum, with circular satin finish
Case-back crystal Transfer of the Square of Three Powers, one of Oscar Niemeyer’s legendary works in Brasilia
Water resistance 10 Atm, i.e. approx 100 metres
Dial Matt black openworked skeleton.
Green varnished indexes, with yellow SuperLuminova™
Hands Polished black nickel, with yellow SuperLuminova™
Chronograph hand with H counterweight
Movement HUB4214 – Mechanical chronograph with automatic winding
Components 252
Jewels 27
Bridges Satin-finished, bevelled & polished
Screws Black PVD titanium
Calendar Trapezoid window at 4.30
Oscillating weight Openworked and coated in black PVD, tungsten segment
Main plate Micro-blasted black chromium
Barrel Reinforced spring
Escapement Glucydur hairspring
Power reserve Approximately 42 hours
Strap Adjustable black rubber and black Crocodile Porosus Hornback strap, with grey stitching
Clasp Big Bang black PVD deployant buckle, titanium screws and satin-finished tantalum plate