LaFerrari, Neo Antikythera, and interview with Mathias Buttet - Part 1

Aug 10, 2013,08:39 AM
 

LaFerrari, Neo Antikythera, and interview with Mathias Buttet - Part 1




I had an opportunity to meet and handle these novelties and to interview Mr. Buttet again.  I had great times on both occasions and I hope you do, too.


Part 1. Interview with Mr. Buttet on LaFerrari:





I am pretty sure that I have spent the longest time with this "machine" alone so far, except for Hublot staff smile  Sorry, everyone!




KIH: It's not been such a long time (the last interview was held in November, 2012 - read here: hublot.watchprosite.com ), but how do you feel about visiting Japan for the third time?


Mathias Buttet ("MB"): Well, I am always impressed with the beauty of the ladies, kindness of the people, cleanliness of the street, and most of all, the delicious foods anywhere.  The more I visit here, the more I want to visit again and again.





KIH: Let me ask you about LaFerrari today.  Hublot and Ferrari, which proposed this watch first?


MB: I am quite often asked that question, but the honest truth is "neither".  You see, Hublot has the right to make watches with "Ferrari" name and logo on them anytime it wants.  It means that, technically speaking, Hublot could make and sell this watch without consulting Ferrari.  But in this case, when we heard about Ferrari's LaFerrari, we thought we wanted to do something together.  Also, coincidentally, the development of the long power reserve mechanism was almost finished and we thought it would be a good idea to use that mechanism as the "core" of this special watch.



KIH: Tell us a bit about your experiences working with the Ferrari team.

MB: Obviously, they cannot make comments or suggestion on the movement inside the watch, but their design team certainly gave us comments about the appearance and how the inside should "look".  For example, the red color used in this watch is exactly the "Ferrari Red".  You might think that we could get the ink from Ferrari, but Ferrari cars are painted many times, thus makes the body "thick" while the watch movement is a very small world and we do not have luxury to tolerate such "thickness".  So, we had to come up with the way to make the color in the alternative way by ourselves.  Ferrari team is very happy with this coloring.



Hour/Minutes adjustment is done via the screw on the left hand side of the back of the watch.  Unfortunately, the tool did not accompany the watch this time.




50 days worth of winding is done via this screw - with special "winch" or "drilling gun look-alike", which did not come this time either.





MB: I also found the similarity and the difference between the two industries.  The similarity between auto industry and watch industry is that R&D team and Design team do not invade their respective territories.  Engine development team comes up with the new engine, and the Design team creates the surroundings.  Movement development team - my team - develops a new movement, and our design team comes up with the outside design.  And, the difference is very obvious - auto has a lot more "room" to play and implement the new ideas about the car while watch has far more restriction - the space inside the watch - and it is not easy to design freely.  One thing, though, I also have known is that watch industry is at least 15 years behind the auto industry in terms of the "new materials".







MB: But this time, when I showed Ferrari team this color ceramic, they were very interested and impressed.  As an engineer, I was so proud.  Sure, there were colored ceramic before but they were all dark color and this is the first time to make ceramic with vivid colors.  Although the mass production is not ready yet, I expect this to be utilized in not only the watch industry but also in any other industries.


KIH: How did Ferrari team react when they saw this watch for the first time?

MB: It was "Wow!  Cool!".  Of course they later gave us various useful suggestions on the outside design, but not many.  Even for me, it is very common to think "Damn!  I should have done like this or that" after finishing the watch, but this watch did not let me think so.  I was quite comfortable and happy with what it is now - very well balanced, everything is put in the right place - I think this one will not let people get tired.





KIH: Why did you want to make 50-day power reserve movement to begin with?

MB: I have made 31 days power reserve watch - BNB made it for Jacob's Quenttin - and I heard someone was trying to make 40 days power reserve movement and I thought 50 would be better than 40 as a number smile  Seriously, when I came up with this movement design, 11 barrels could fit in it - so 5 days for each barrel and with 5 day worth possible power loss (due to friction), 50-day power reserve was made possible.  Even 5 days for each barrel is quite long for the conventional watch making.  We made this mechanism as torque-efficient as possible and we could achieve such efficient machine.



KIH: What was the most difficult part in the development of this movement?


MB: There are many.  But the most difficult task was to use the power built up in all the barrels equally.  As opposed to many people may think, 11 barrels DO release power AT THE SAME TIME, NOT one by one.  11 barrels must end at the same time - this was where I had to use my brain most.  This contributes to the very long time stable torque and thus reliability and accuracy of the watch.





KIH: Three years have passed since you joined Hublot.  Do you notice any change in Hublot and/ or yourself since you joined the brand?

MB: Well, not necessarily because of me, but Hublot is now a "manufacteur".  It was buying movement from outside, but now it has capability to make its own movement.  As for me, I have become more "kid" and now I am only interested in what nobody has done before.  I want to focus more on the new materials, more "first", not only in the watch industry but also in the world.  And I also want to challenge more on the complicated movements.  Although I can't say too much, I have just finished the movement with more than 4,500 parts.  When the time comes, it will be revealed.  Can't say if it's for the wrist, either..... smile



KIH: 4,500 parts?  Wow....  Looking forward to such a monster to be revealed sooner rather than later.  Thank you very much for your time today.

MB: It is always the pleasure.







Now, Let's take a look at this "machine".....




On the right is Hour/Minute, on top being "hour" and the bottom being "minute".  On the left hand side is the power reserve meter - 5 day meter (5, 15, 25, ...) on top and 10 day meter (0, 10, 20, 30....) on the bottom.








Eleven barrels.




Backside has the engine-like beams.




CG by Hublot.  The last one has no "stopper".




The center plate is titanium - not exactly the "base plate" but something like that for this movement.
As you can see, the movement parts are put horizontally while the conventional movement parts are normally put vertically - only way to have many barrels.
















Wrist shots!












Big, but cool profile.




















Even the buckle is made curvy.....




A touch of carbon like LaFerrari body....








It's 1:46




And the power reserve has about 5 days left.




... and 15 second....

















Slightly curved back makes the watch wear quite comfortably.




Some of the specifications:

Number of parts: 637
Number of jewels: 108
V.P.H: 21,600
Power Reserve: Approx. 50 days (1,200 hours)
Ref #: 905.ND.0001.RX
LE: 50 - unfortunately. all have been spoken for, most of which have been "sold" even without seeing one.  Waiting list is getting longer.....

==============================================================



Thank you very much:
Mr. Mathias Buttet, R&D Director, Hublot S.A.
Ms. Kitty Kano (technical translator)
Ms. Nakai, Hublot Japan


Hope you enjoyed the watch and interview as I did!


End of Part 1
 
This message has been edited by KIH on 2013-08-10 08:51:47 This message has been edited by MTF on 2013-08-10 20:08:45 This message has been edited by KIH on 2013-08-10 20:46:58 This message has been edited by KIH on 2013-08-19 18:45:46


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Comments: view entire thread

 

Wow! As a self professed gear head and exoticar fan, all I can say is...

 
 By: ThomasM : August 10th, 2013-10:53
Wow! Thanks, Ken, for the great pictures and interview, and thanks, Mr. Buttet, for the insights and for creating something so very interesting. This has got to be one of the most appropriate watch - car cross over models I have ever seen. I'm drooling...... 

Thanks, Thomas...

 
 By: KIH : August 11th, 2013-09:10
.. I was lucky enough to play with it for over an hour or so.... Amazing "Machine". Hope you get the chance to see and touch it soon! Ken

Great job dear Ken

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : August 10th, 2013-12:04
Nice interview Very detailed pictures and explanations This one is sure conversation starter piece Hublot did very good job with this one Sincerely Damjan

Thank you!

 
 By: KIH : August 11th, 2013-09:12
Your comment is much appreciated. Yes, this one is honestly worth the praise. Again, thank you for your mature response, Damjan! Ken

Sometimes

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : August 11th, 2013-09:20
is hard to be mature among friends ;) Cordially Damjan

I know... but...

 
 By: KIH : August 11th, 2013-09:42
... the fact that you know that shows that you are mature and that is good enough. Some people are not even aware that they are behaving like spoiled kids, and that is helpless. Ken

:) [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : August 11th, 2013-11:40

Hublot audacity

 
 By: MTF : August 10th, 2013-20:03
I am more conservative than most so the Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari aesthetic is not my choice BUT I recognise the level of engineering prowess and persona. Hublot Masterpiece MP-05 LaFerrari was probably the most audacious novelty at Baselworld 2013. Just whe... 

Think out of the box..

 
 By: KIH : August 11th, 2013-09:14
... is Mathias way. Come to think of it, it is so true that watch making has not essentially changed for 300+ years. Why do watches always have to be like it was 300 years ago? I kinda like the way Hublot thinks about watch making.... Thanks, MTF! Ken

cool report Ken san. Thank you! (nt)

 
 By: δΈ­ι‡Žγ‚Œγ„ : August 11th, 2013-10:15
e

Hey, all for die-hard Hublot fan like you!

 
 By: KIH : August 11th, 2013-19:17
.. it is my pleasure! Ken

Thanks for the great interview Ken!

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : August 12th, 2013-07:47
You asked a lot of great questions, and we got a lot of insight and info we won't read in any press release. Btw, next time you interview Mr. Buttet, ask him what's the watch he wears on his wrist on a daily basis, assuming it's not a secret prototype :) ... 

I will ask that next time :-)

 
 By: KIH : August 12th, 2013-18:27
Last time, he was wearing Antikythera, and this time he was not wearing any.... I, too, wonder what his daily beater watches are.... Ken

Really does look like an engine!

 
 By: patrick_y : August 12th, 2013-10:04
Looks like a supercharger on the top of the engine or the air manifold. Really a very impressive looking watch. Thanks for sharing Ken, along with your interview with Hublot.

Yes, thsi is totally different...

 
 By: KIH : August 12th, 2013-18:28
... in terms of design concept from Hublot or any other major brands ever made (with just a few exception one of which he was involved anyway...). Thank you! Ken

Very thorough report Ken - great work.

 
 By: MichaelC : August 16th, 2013-10:11
Appreciate the detailed look into this new watch. Looks to be one of - if not THE - finest Hublot creations so far. Really a unique and special watch.

Wow, thank you Michael!

 
 By: KIH : August 16th, 2013-17:38
It mean a lot, especially from you! Ken