Hublot unveils the Oceanographic 4000 diver's watch

Jun 07, 2011,08:50 AM
 

It is a symbolic watch. The 4000 m watch. A watch developed for pushing the limits of what is rational and possible. It has taken 18 months of research, development and testing to present, today, the Oceanographic 4000, a watch which can be worn on dives to depths of 4,000 metres, under extreme pressure - an exceptional technical achievement.

HUBLOT OCEANOGRAPHIC 4000

 

In association with the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco,

Hublot unveils a diver's watch able to withstand the pressure

exerted at a depth of 4,000 metres.

For the first time, the famous Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, with the Institut Océanographique Fondation Albert 1st Prince de Monaco - names renowned throughout the world in the fields of marine studies, research and conservation - has agreed to be associated with a watch. Quite some symbol.

 

Thus, on 6 June 2011, in the main aquarium in Monaco dedicated to the preservation of specimens of marine animals, the "Oceanographic 4000" will be officially unveiled in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot.

By choosing to support the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Hublot has decided not only to honour the history and unique heritage of the prestigious Monaco institution, but has also chosen to give its active support to the study and preservation of the oceans by making a financial contribution to the missions and scientific surveys conducted by the Institute.

 

The first official meeting of the partnership will be the "DEEP SEA Conference"to be held on October 13 at the Oceanographic Institute of Paris.Hublot will be the main partner.

 

A genuine instrument with technology developed to the extreme,

ergonomics for efficiency and ease of handling, this watch was conceived

and designed to push the limits of the possible.

 

Almost all the features of the Oceanographic 4000 are exceptional, in terms of design, development and manufacturing. To be described as a "montre de plongée" (diver's watch), resistant to the pressure exerted at the record depth of 4,000 metres, the watch had to meet the exacting specifications of the international standards of Swiss watchmaking (NIHS).

Starting with its seal, tested by Hublot in a Roxer tank, submerged and pressurised to the equivalent of 5,000 metres. To ensure the watertightness of the watch and to resist this extreme pressure, the synthetic sapphire crystal is 6.5 thick.This is thicker than normal, but is reasonable for this level of resistance.The case back is screw-down, a sine qua non for reaching such depths. It is made of grade 2 titanium, an extremely strong stainless material.

 

As its case is made of titanium or, in its other, All Black version, carbon fibre (both materials chosen for their extreme lightness and technical features appropriate for the specifications), the Oceanographic 4000 is still light on the wrist - although its diameter of 48 mm and its volume are substantial.

 

From the brightness standpoint, the time and elapsed time measured by the flange must be legible from a distance of 25 cm in the dark. To meet this requirement, the dial, the flange and the hands of the Oceanographic 4000 have been optimised to have a larger surface area treated with SuperLuminova™, a luminescent material emitting a green colour in the titanium version.

 

The reading method has been made as safe as possible, using an internal rotating flange which is unidirectional and rack-driven, with a dive time indicator. The dive time indicator being placed as close as possible to the dial minimises the risk of inadvertently altering the dive time. It also makes the dive time easier to read. In accordance with the standard, the Oceanographic 4000 has a minute scale on which the five-minute periods are clearly highlighted.

 

The watch is fitted with two screw-down crowns (a protective measure that helps ensure water resistance by compression of an O-ring seal).The flange crown which sets the dive time is placed at the 2 o'clock position for easy access and more comfortable use.It is unidirectional, again for safety reasons, with a bayonet fitting and protected by an oversized crown guard, for extra safety and easy operation when handling diving equipment. The second crown, for winding and setting the time and date, is positioned at 4 o'clock to avoid obstruction.

 

Finally, the Oceanographic 4000 has a helium valve, a feature essential to any diving watch capable of descending to great depths.An essential feature when the watch is used in diving chambers, the helium valve allows gases that have infiltrated the watch during the descent to safely escape during the ascent. The valve fitted to the Oceanographic 4000 is made of stainless steel, positioned at 10 o'clock, visible from the left-hand side lug.

 

The watch comes with two tongue and buckle straps ("Town" & "Diver"). This type of fastening is more secure than a folding clasp for this type of use, and is also easier to handle and close when using gloves. Note that the design of this buckle is original (because the use of a tongue is rare in the normal Hublot collections) and that its method of attachment to the case is even more so with two small push buttons built into each end of the case to allow the strap to be changed instantly without the use of a screwdriver or any other accessory.The "Town" strap is in black rubber. The "Diver" strap, a blend of rubber and nylon, longer than a standard strap, has been developed to be worn over a diving suit up to 8 mm thick.

 

The Oceanographic 4000 has been designed to meet the most demanding requirements of both professional divers and watch enthusiasts.

 

It will enter the history of diving watches which have become legendary.

 

HUBLOT KING POWER 48 MM

OCEANOGRAPHIC 4000

TECHNICAL DETAILS

 

Reference     731.NX.1190.RX

731.QX.1140.RX

Series    Limited to 1000 pieces for the titanium version

Numbered 01/1000 to 1000/1000

Limited to 500 pieces for the All Black version in black carbon fibre

Numbered 01/500 to 500/500

Case       "King Power" - 48 mm diameter

Micorblasted satin-finished titanium or matt carbon fibre

Bezel       Microblasted satin-finished titanium or matt carbon fibre

6 black PVD H-shaped titanium screws

Crystal    Sapphire with anti-reflective treatment

Lug bezel        Black composite resin

Lateral Inserts        Black composite resin

Case back       Micorblasted satin-finished titanium

Or microblasted satin-finished titanium with black PVD

Crown     Titanium with black rubber insert or black PVD titanium with black rubber insert

Screws    Black PVD titanium

 

Water resistance        Certified to 400 ATM or 4,000 metres

Tested to 5,000 metres according to the NIHS standards

 

Dial        Matt black

Satin-finished appliques with green or black SuperLuminova™

Hands     Microblasted satin-finished with green or black SuperLuminova™

Movement      Mechanical with automatic winding HUB1401

No. of components        180

Jewels     23

Bridges    Satin-finished, bevelled & polished

Screws    Black PVD

Barrel      With reinforced spring

Escapement    Glucydur hairspring

Power Reserve       Approximately 42 hours

 

Straps     Available with two straps - black rubber and rubber and nylon

Closing system       Tongue and buckle in titanium or black DVD titanium

 

Press Release


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Comments: view entire thread

 

Great event.

 
 By: VMM : June 7th, 2011-10:18
Beautiful performance, it looks like a beautiful event. The watch is something to have in mind, it was my fav Hublot novelty from Basel. Vte...  

Great looking beast...

 
 By: roman : June 7th, 2011-11:29
Thanks for the wrist preview.

Looks good on your wrist!

 
 By: KIH : June 7th, 2011-15:59
I am impressed, too. Thanks for the pics! Ken

gorgeous!

 
 By: playtime : June 7th, 2011-17:57
looks great on your wrist J

Say it before/say it again

 
 By: Mostel : June 7th, 2011-20:15
Hublot is AP's bastard brother... but the bastard is really making some noise!

my oh my oh my!

 
 By: playtime : June 7th, 2011-17:56
I had taken a departure from dive watches--but this one is remarkable. kudos to Hublot! J

I was not convinced by this one.

 
 By: foversta : June 8th, 2011-13:11
In fact, I found it too bulky, even for a "very deep-sea" watch. I felt more a feeling of a visual heaviness rather than of a powerful design. Fx...  

nice pics nonetheless:)

 
 By: playtime : June 8th, 2011-21:55
thx for sharing them J

I'm not a huge fan of the whole Big Bang series...

 
 By: tom3 : June 13th, 2011-11:03
but I think this is really cool. Form and function.

Actually - that is a very cool way to 'launch' a dive watch!

 
 By: 219 : June 14th, 2011-02:26
Like that! Watch looks cool, but do think that these days a number of watch firms are 'over cooking' the design of the dive watch. The simplicity of say the GP, Rolex, or even the Pita seems missing on most. Still a worthy cause to sponsor rather than som... 

Being a diver,

 
 By: dr.kol : June 18th, 2011-03:21
I am just SMILING... LOL. Kari

No no...

 
 By: BDLJ : June 20th, 2011-20:04
...Kari. It will enter the history of diving watches which have become legendary