HOROLOGICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Here are some of our favourites from LVMH Watch Week, including Bvlgari, Hublot, Louis Vuitton, and TAG Heuer.

- FARHAN SHAH

THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE

Humans have always been fascinated by serpents. In cautionary tales, they represent two sides of the same coin. On one side, they are slimy, cunning, and a symbol of evil. Chinese culture, however, views snakes as symbols of wisdom and good fortune.

This intriguing duality makes it the perfect creative subject and Hublot has created one of my favourite renditions of the snake in its limited-edition Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake. On the dial, a striking, 3D gold-plated snake weaves around the chronograph’s three counters. Its head sits at noon, ready to greet each new day with aplomb or strike at your enemies, depending on the lens you choose.

The minute and second hands, and hourly indices are also gold-plated, while the open dial lets you view the inner workings of the HUB4700. The automatic calibre is a descendant of the historic 1969 El Primero, one of the first Swiss high-frequency integrated chronographs to be made.

Hublot has introduced several technical innovations and advancements, including a low-friction silicon escape wheel. Compared to traditional metals such as brass or steel, silicon has many advantages. As a result of a higher tolerance, it is more resistant to wear and tear, non-magnetic, and leads to improved precision.

There is more to the serpentine theme than just the dial. An intriguing snake scale pattern is engraved on the screwed ceramic bezel and extends to the black strap. The embossing technique gives the strap unique velvet finish with a slight shimmer, despite it being purely rubber. You can easily change it, too. With Hublot’s patented One-Click strap changing mechanism, you can choose any material you want. In classic fashion, the watch is limited to 88 pieces.