The brand with the double-star logo, founded by Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-1790) in 1738, celebrates its 280th anniversary in 2018. Minerals were important to the company’s founder, and today they are an integral part of the brand’s DNA, and continue to play a major role in the Ateliers d’Art. Dendritic agate, ruby heart, sunstone, lemon chrysoprase, jadeite, rutilated quartz, slate, onyx, astorite... the palette of stones used by Jaquet Droz for its dials is virtually limitless. After the Petite Heure Minute in cuprite (a mineral made of copper oxide), which was unveiled for Valentine’s Day, new models with dials made of meteorite and stromatolite have been introduced this year. It’s no accident that the watchmaker chose the Grande Seconde, with its figure-eight aesthetic, to pay tribute to these minerals that symbolise the infinite depths of space.

Originally developed to reinforce hunting dog collars, pyramid-shaped studs appeared on belts from the 1930s onwards. They then inspired the Hermès dog collar bracelet, before appearing in the Médor secret watch, which conceals the hours and minutes beneath its cabochon, or reveals them with a press on the crown.

Tuesday, June 5th 2018, CEO Peter Stas won the “Industry 4.0 prize” during the first edition of “The Shapers” awards ceremony held at the Hotel Beaulac in Neuchâtel. The awards ceremony highlighted the original actions of ten companies selected, out of sixty candidates, which have all invested in the technological industries. This original prize rewards innovation and the actors of structural change in our connected 4.0 society. Peter Stas received this award at the 8th position, alongside the other winners: Reto Wyss (Vidi-System, Cognex) ; Philippe Menoud (IEM) ; Aude Pugin (Apco Technologies SA); Denis Jeannerat (Willemin-Macodel) ; Samuel Vuadens and Jonas Hügli (Factory 5) ; Marc Thurner (regenHu) ; Claude Jeannerat (Micro5) ; Christophe Nicolet (Felco) and Philippe Menoud (IEM). Overall, the ten “Shapers” share the same vision, investing and developing technology in our 4.0 society.

Hopefully you were easily able to answer the question in the title, at least from the horological perspective. Hublot first got involved in the sport 12 years ago, as a pioneer at a time when nobody else dared to associate the sport with the world of luxury watchmaking. Opening up this new niche was also born out of necessity, since the big luxury watch brands had already hermetically sealed off the worlds of golf, sailing and tennis. Today, though, it is Hublot and TAG Heuer that have done the same with football. 

For the first time in 19 editions, the Rallye des Princesses, now partnered with Richard Mille for the fourth year in a row, set off in a south-west direction. The brand’s aim was to offer a truly immersive experience. To achieve this, it supplied four 1963 Porsche 356s, one 911 from 1973, and one 1969 Mercedes Pagode 250sl. Six teams therefore got to experience a rally from the inside.

In every family there is a common raison d'être that spurs the clan to thrive and grow. So it was in the time of Pierre Jaquet-Droz. Trained in clockmaking by older relatives, he worked with his father-in-law and later his son Henri-Louis. Together they pooled their creative genius and avant-garde vision of clockmaking. 

I have put together a small selection of some of the unsung heroes of the watch industry. You won’t find collectors effusing over them, you won’t find them adorning the pages of glossy magazines and their presence at watch exhibitions and in press kits is discreet. Nevertheless, such watches accounts for a large percentage of the industry’s production and are those that are affordable for the largest majority of customers. They are also precisely the type of watch that the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is looking to see more of in its competition, in the new “Challenge” category this year for watches costing less than 4,000 Swiss francs.

Hublot and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc have come together to create a limited edition of fifty Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Eden Roc watches. Collaboration between luxury watchmaking and exceptional hospitality, this creation combines tradition and innovation.