Hublot King Power Oceanographic 4000

Sep 14, 2012,21:07 PM
 


I first handled the Hublot King Power Oceanographic 4000 during an event in Las Vegas right before IGOTT2 last year.  I'm a huge fan of carbon fiber and really like the visual impact of the carbon fiber patterns on just about everything: including cars, guns, mountain bikes and watches.  So recently I had another chance to look at the King Power 4000 Carbon version again and wanted to share a few pics and video of the watch. 

The Hublot King Power Oceanographic 4000 is available in a limited edition of 500 pieces for the version in carbon fiber and 1000 pieces in grade 2 titanium.  On the cabon fiber version, both the case and bezel are made of carbon fiber and accented with 6 'H' shaped black PVD coated titanium screws.  Caseback is a micro-sandblasted polished titanium with that is also black colored PVD coated. 

Both are massive watches with a 48mm diameter case.  Actually all the specifications of this watch is massive including the 6.5mm thick synthetic sapphire crystal so that it ensures watertightness under extreme underwater pressure. 

The name of the watch signifies that Hublot's watchmakers and engineers had developed a watch to be resistant to the pressure exerted at a record 4000 meters deep.  According to HIHS standards, testing was done down to 5000 meters deep.  At these extreme depths, legibility is essential.  The requirement that the Hublot King Power 4000 was to be legible from a distance of 25cm in the dark.  So Hublot placed large hour markers, inner bezel and hands treated with SuperLuminova in a green tinted color in the titanium version.


Since this is a diver's watch, Hublot integrated an internal rotating flange that is rack-driven and unidirectional for a dive time indicator.  The inner flange has five minute periods marked and dot and stick shaped minute markers which are also treated with SuperLuminova.  The crown that controls this flange for the dive time is located at the 2 o'clock position. 

There is a second crown located at the 4 o'clock position that is used for winding and setting of the time and date.

Lastly, as with almost all diver's watches, the Hublot King Power Oceanographic 4000 has a helium valve which allows gases to escape during an ascent.  The valve is made of stainless steel and fitted at the 10 o'clock position of the case. 

Movement is the Hublot HUB1401 automatic winding movement with 23 jewels and a 42 hour power reserve.  It consists of 180 parts and has a beryllium allow balance wheel escapement ring.

In 2012 Hublot partnered with Team Alinghi to make another special edition that is based on this same King Power Oceanographic 4000 but with red accents and a black colored  Nomex strap with red stitching.


Included with the watch are two straps that are nicknamd 'town' and 'diver'.  The 'town' strap is made of rubber, while the 'diver' strap is a blend of nylon and rubber.  The 'diver' strap is much longer than usual because of the possible scenario where the watch is worn over a diving suit. 

One very interesting and novel feature is the design of the way these two straps are attached to the case.  There is a small push button (with a raised triangle logo) that you can simply push in and pull out the strap.  This allows the strap to be easily changed without screwdrivers and any other tools.  Just press in and pull out the strap.




 Here's a pic of the rubber strap, it has a metal insert that is used for attaching it to the case.  It's a great design.  I wonder if Hublot is going to offer different color rubber straps?




And here's the nylon and rubber strap.  It has a nicely designed buckle that has the Hublot 'H' screws too.




And here's a little video I made of the Hublot King Power Oceanographic 4000 with the charming Hublot representative showing me how the strap detaches from the case:




So which do you like better, the carbon or the titanium version?

Have a great weekend,
ED-209



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No manicures required afterwards

 
 By: MTF : September 14th, 2012-23:33
Ed, Thanks for the report and video. I am a former critic of the re-engineered for the overkill in designs, "borrowed" cues and physical sizes. This is one watch that is logical to be over-engineered and big. That is why the DLC treatment is also my pref... 

I was worried about that too

 
 By: ED209 : September 15th, 2012-11:00
Very perceptive MTF, I didn't want the charming Hublot rep breaking a nail while trying to use the dive time crown. Regards, ED-209

I will be frank with you Ed...

 
 By: foversta : September 15th, 2012-00:47
First of all, thanks a lot for the report! But sorry, no, the Oceanographic 4000.... I can't... I found it bulky, oversized with the feeling to have a big car powered by a small engine... I was very seduced by some watches of the 2012 collection (Ferrari,...  

The size of the Oceanographic

 
 By: ED209 : September 15th, 2012-11:02
HI foversta, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Great pic that you took of the watch. I don't dive so I couldn't pull off wearing a 48mm watch so this is a no go for me. But it's a cool concept and I love how strap attachment works. Regards, ED-209

Hublot Oceanographic blue denim 4000

 
 By: clive.joel : January 20th, 2016-09:12
No disrespect but i would love to see that Hublot all blue denim on a more masculine thicker tanned wrist. This arm does it no justice

Sure! However, find a wrîst, where THIS watch will fit...?! With 48mm this is not that easy... ;-)

 
 By: MCG (Markus) : January 21st, 2016-01:15
From my point of view, 70% of all potential buyers the watch will not fit (for size reasons) I would love to see smaller diving watches from Hublot...

Very interested in the Hublot All Blue Denim Carbon 4000

 
 By: clive.joel : April 27th, 2016-18:58
If anyone has one for sale at a competitive price then please contact me at [Email address suppressed for privacy] I am in the UK so i would prefer EU. International not a problem either. Has to be in great shape and with warranty and complete Thanks cliv... 

Love that watch!!!

 
 By: clive.joel : April 27th, 2016-18:59
Beauty!!

Thank you for the report!

 
 By: KIH : September 15th, 2012-04:38
One vote for carbon. I like carbon or carbon pattern whether it is really carbon or not. This model, as always, is either you love or hate, and I happen to love. I am not a diver and not keen about the diving watches, modern or vintage, but this one looks... 

Another vote for the carbon

 
 By: ED209 : September 15th, 2012-11:05
Thanks Ken for checking out the report. I'm not a real diver either (well actually I did the PADI thing many year ago in college but never got back into it) so the size is too big for me to wear on a regular basis. But similar to you, I like carbon fiber ... 

Will titanium hold up better than carbon underwater

 
 By: AB : September 15th, 2012-08:47
Thank you ED for the review on the KPO4K. I vote for the titanium version and was was wondering if it would hold up better in actual underwater use than the carbon? BTW nice video. Best, AB

should be

 
 By: ED209 : September 15th, 2012-10:58
HI AB, I think as long as you rinse off the salt water after a dive you should be OK. Thanks for checking out this post on the Hublot. Regards, ED-209

Def initelyTitanium

 
 By: sschew : September 15th, 2012-21:38
Both are very nice but I'm biased-titanium for sure!!!

The titanium version

 
 By: ED209 : September 15th, 2012-23:45
Hi sschew, I read your post on your Hublot titanium Oceanographic. Congrats, your custom strap looks good. Regards, Ed

Thanks ED209

 
 By: sschew : September 15th, 2012-23:48
Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated!!!

Since you ask, I have to say titanium.

 
 By: MichaelC : September 16th, 2012-19:51
I am not a big fan of the checkered pattern w/ Hublot's carbon. I understand that is common, but after owning AP's forged carbon w/ its random patterns, I find it the best in the industry. So titanium on this one, for me.

Standard carbon pattern

 
 By: ED209 : September 19th, 2012-14:57
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Definitely the AP forged carbon has a unique pattern. Regards, ED-209

Lets get this down to 44mm Hublot...

 
 By: kennygfunk : January 20th, 2016-15:46
And I think a lot of people will find this a hit.

+1!

 
 By: MCG (Markus) : January 21st, 2016-01:16
on the spot!

Call me biased...

 
 By: JToddH : January 20th, 2016-18:04
But my vote is for the Ti ! I've had my Oceanographic 4000 for about three years and absolutely love it. Sure, it's big, it's bold and not for the faint hearted. When I purchased it, I wasn't sure how much wrist time it would get. As it turns out, I wear ...  

Titanium...

 
 By: andrewluff : January 20th, 2016-18:06
As its a real dive/tool watch look... but I am a little bias.. Cheers Andrew ...  

Great shot Andrew!

 
 By: MCG (Markus) : January 21st, 2016-01:18
It seems you belong to the 30% of the crowd with wrists, that are big enough to actually wear the watch... ;-)

Clive Joel

 
 By: clive.joel : April 17th, 2016-12:40
I have owned the Carbon Black Oceanographic 4000 and the legibility during the day was bad but in the dark you could not see the hands at all? It says its Black Superluminova. Really confusing and too stealth-like but amazing looking!!!

The black superluminova never really works...

 
 By: andrewluff : April 17th, 2016-12:52
but I agree it is one AMAZING looking watch! There is always the cell phone for the time. Cheers Andrew

Or the position of the Sun? Maybe not in the UK

 
 By: clive.joel : April 27th, 2016-18:52
I am after the hublot 4000 all blue denim boutique edition but none in the EU at a competitive price at moment. One day one day

I saw one a couple of weeks ago Clive

 
 By: andrewluff : April 28th, 2016-02:12
Its a very nice watch indeed! Cheers Andrew

Hublot Oceanographic Blue Denim 4000

 
 By: clive.joel : June 30th, 2016-09:58
Hi Andrew, Can you ask the chaps in the EU if they are selling. Just sold my 1000 oceanographic so i have some funds in the next few days. Thanks for your time and Regards Clive Joel