Hublot unveiled its 2016 collection earlier this year at SIHH, and followed up the presentation with a private viewing of the novelties in Abu Dhabi.
There are several new pieces for women in this year's collection. The Big Bang Broderie and Big Bang Broderie Sugar Skull feature a skull motif, embroidery and coloured stones, and work as much as functioning timepieces as statement bracelets. When asked why the brand chose a skull emblem, Hublot regional director MEA, Marco Tedeschi, explained that inspiration was taken from artist Frida Kahlo. "It's a skull, but it's funky, not too aggressive," he adds.
Also available for women is The Big Bang One Click. While the strap is removable, the main advantage to this particular version, according to Tedeschi, is that it can be done by the owner at home, without needing to venture out to the boutique to have it changed. “There is a wide range of straps in different materials, and for women this is a big advantage because you can match it with your handbag,” he adds.
For men there is a new version of The Classic Fusion. Following the success of the 2015 model, the new version, available in Racing grey, has already caught the attention of men in the region. “We already have a big order on this watch and we believe this will be a big trend this year,” says Tedeschi.
The Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph Uefa Euro 2016 and The Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph Uefa Champions League were also unveiled. Both have been dubbed as the official watches, respectively, of the 2016 Uefa Euro and the Champions League, with only 100 pieces of each available.
Finally the MP-05 LaFerrari Sapphire is an updated version of the 2013 timepiece, which was originally created as a tribute to the eponymous car. The new timepiece features a three-dimensional construction of the case with the movement now visible from every angle. The case itself, constructed from seven blocks of sapphire, comprises seven components and involved more than 600 hours of work. There are a total of 20 pieces available.
