Hublot has presented eight new models at the ongoing 2014 Baselworld, some including an entirely new material to the watchmaking industry. This time we present you the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Skull – the newest addition to Hublot’s skull series. This timepiece showcases a skeleton movement with a skull motif surrounded by a ceramic-coated aluminum. This material, which is new to Hublot, has a high hardness rating of around 1000 Vickers. It has excellent resistance to corrosion and friction, and is twice as light as ceramic.
Hublot’s famous manual winding skeleton tourbillon movement with its 5-day power reserve has also seen several transformations. This is particularly true of its bridges and plate which have undergone 3-D machining: a laser machining phase has transformed the flat bridges, creating a relief on these components. A very delicate technique to perform, it creates a 3-D look which is also quite rare in watchmaking as, generally speaking, bridges are flat.
Their bone-shaped design with skull-shaped minute tourbillon barret (which rotates fully in one minute) creates a surprising and different piece: the perfect fusion of the traditional and the modern, the craftsmanship of the past and a 21st-century creative vision for watchmaking. Also, the indices are in Roman numerals, which is also a first for Hublot.