Official Timekeeper since 2008Watch indexes in grass-green colour: The Hublot King Power Red Devil
At 6 pm on 7 May 2011, the day before the match against Chelsea, the hallowed turf of Old Trafford - the scene of so many victories, so much excitement and effort - has been chosen by the Manchester United players, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot, to host the presentation of the new King Power Red Devil to the international press.
In tribute to one of the world's most famous football clubs, for which it has been Official Timekeeper since 2008, Hublot has developed a King Power equipped for the first time with a chronograph movement distinguished by two centre chrono hands. This makes for better readability - quicker and more efficient. The wearer can keep track of both hands at a glance; the first indicates the seconds, and the other hand, specially developed for football, indicates the time elapsed out of the 45 mins in each half.
With a sapphire dial, the movement – here in an Aero Bang version - has also undergone new skeleton working, leaving it more open to reveal even more of the working parts of the watch and its fine mechanics. The topside retains only the material necessary for it to function. This is coated with black ruthenium for a beautiful overall effect of homogeneity, and clearer reading. Predominantly red, the minute track, a time counter at 9 o'clock and a date window at 4 o'clock round off the piece, stamped with the famous, slightly rebellious Red Devils emblem at 3 o'clock. In a nod to Old Trafford's more than one hundred year-old turf, the focus of all attention, the watch indexes come in a natural grass-green colour, obtained using real blades of grass from Old Trafford, picked and preserved especially by the club's groundsmen for the making of this limited series. It took Hublot 6 months of development to stabilise the plant material and its original colour, including against UV and temperature differences. The freeze-dried blades of grass were inserted into the indexes through an all-new process, then coated with a special transparent lacquer to secure them permanently.
The King Power case – 48 mm in diameter, and here in micro-blasted black ceramic or in 18K King Gold - has been revamped. Its two push-buttons have been redesigned, and are now each protected by a little safety bar, which is completely built in either side of the crown. Moreover, in a final reference to the legendary club and bringing a last aesthetic touch to the piece, the black rubber strap has a red line in the centre, directly inspired by Manchester United's graphic charter.
This limited edition is produced in 500 numbered pieces for the micro-blasted black ceramic version and in 250 pieces for the King Gold 18K version. Every watch is accompanied by a certificate guaranteeing its authenticity, signed personally by Sir Alex Ferguson.