Hublot just celebrated the official grand opening of their first flagship boutique in Vancouver, and fifteenth location in North America. Hublot is one of the latest luxury watch brands to make its way to the Alberni Street corridor also referred to as the “Vancouver Rodeo Drive”.
To mark this occasion Hublot brand ambassador Lang Lang the famed chinese pianist was in attendance and did a sit-down press event on the second floor of the boutique.
Lang Lang the talented classical pianist. Photo credit: @braindrain232 Guests attending the grand opening for the Vancouver Hublot boutique. Photo credit: @LordnantucketFerrari Maserati of Vancouver was also in attendance to support their ongoing partnership with Hublot. The La Ferrari limited production high performance hybrid sports car seen parked out front of the Hublot boutique for their grand opening. Photo credit: @braindrain232
Mechanical watches and high performance sports cars have alot in common: Both require alot of fine tuning and hand assembly including this very limited production Hublot La Ferrari timepiece:
The Hublot MP-05: A tribute to the La Ferrari this piece was conceived by Hublot engineers to mimic the look and feel of having an engine on your wrist. This mechanical marvel is limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, has 637 components and a 50 day power reserve. Retail price: $300k+ USD Photo credit: @braindrain232Hublot Ferrari edition timepieces. Photo credit: @braindrain232A selection of Hublot Big Bang collection watches. Mixing high tech materials like ceramic and gold, the Big Bang line epitomizes avant garde watchmaking design. Photo credit: @lordnantucket
The late Dr.George Daniels (August 19th, 1926 – October 21st, 2011). One of the few watchmakers in modern times that could create a timepiece almost entirely by hand without the use of modern machining technology. (Photo credit: BBC).
October will mark six years since the passing of one of the greatest watchmakers of the 20th century. For anyone who has the slightest interest in watchmaking Dr. George Daniels literally wrote the book for aspiring horologists. As a legacy to his contributions to the world of watchmaking and specifically handmade or bespoke watchmaking this is the quintessential guide book for future generations who wish to follow in his footsteps.
A roadmap for watchmakers and watch enthusiasts alike. A wealth of information including diagrams, pictures, and a step-by-step tutorial for crafting handmade timepieces. (Photo credit: Amazon.com and Published by Sotheby’s London Circa 1981 with revised editions in 2009).
Over the course of his lifetime he created a total of 27 handmade timepieces. It should be noted that on average it could take in excess of 2500 hours to create a single timepiece. This included hand making screws, wheels, pinions, the dial, watch hands, watch case, and a number of other complex micro mechanical pieces for the watch. An example of an exceptional pocket watch known as “The Space Traveller” completely conceived and crafted by hand without the use of automation or modern machinery:
18k gold chronograph pocket watch with patented Daniels double wheel escapement, mean, solar, and sidereal time, age and phases of moon, equation of time indication. Circa 1982 (Photo credit: danielslondon.com/). This piece sold for $4,325,936.00 USD by Sotheby’s auction house in London at the time of publishing this article.
RedBar Vancouver meets once a month on a given date and at a venue predetermined based on the number of individuals attending. In addition to the monthly meetups on a fairly regular basis brands as well as retail friends will reach out and host private events to showcase SIHH, Baselworld, and new watch novelties as they come available.
A full house again at one of our meetups. There is something magical about watches that brings people together. Photo credit: @p_larryThe #sexpile a term first used by RedBar New York COO Kathleen McGivney and frequently hashtagged on Instagram by watch enthusiasts. It is a quirky term used to describe a pile of watches thrown together in an organized chaos by watch enthusiasts and then photographed. Watch collecting tends to be a very niche hobby. Many of the collectors in our group tend to focus on collecting vintage watches which adds to the charm and nostalgia of this hobby. Photo credit: @agedpatinaAnother common ritual among watch enthusiasts and RedBar members is the “wristshot” as a symbol of our unity and shared love of horology. Photo credit: @lordnantucketAn event hosted by Palladio Jewellers earlier this year had RedBar Vancouver in attendance to view H. Moser & Cie timepieces. Watch industry veteran Mike Margolis was present showing the collection and some special limited edition pieces from the brand as well. Photo credit: @Montrelalonde @watchcollector85A recent event with Roldorf+Co. (A local authorized retailer for several unique independent watch brands and also providing watch repair services by certified watchmakers). RedBar Vancouver was in attendance to celebrate the launch of the first Bremont watches authorized retailer in Vancouver and Western Canada. Photo credit: @Mikepearson6 (Mike Pearson, Sales Director of Bremont in North America).RedBar Vancouver members at the annual Omega watchmaking course taking turns disassembling and reassembling an Omega watch movement. Photo credit: @rakepr (Chris Hollinrake, President Hollinrake Communications).
RedBar Vancouver is on Instagram and Twitter @redbaryvr contact details for events and inquires can be sent to the official communication email: redbaryvr@gmail.com
Earlier this year Paul Newman’s legendary Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference #6239 was found by Phillips Watches Auction House and will be up for auction next month on October 26th in New York with an estimated minimum bid exceeding $1 million USD (before buyers premium). Given the provenance of this watch and the cult following of early Daytona models I am certain that this piece will shatter all previous records paid for a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with my own guess being a final hammer price of around $10 million USD. For vintage Rolex collectors this is the grail of all Rolexes of the Daytona variety.
The Horology Blog 
