Biver & Me: Exclusive Inside Look At The Hublot Watch Manufacture 4

A likely reaction to the fact that http://www.buyijoy.com/replica-hublot-big-bang.html is growing. As I said, the manufacture will be larger by the winter of 2010, and Hublot will be making thousands of movements a year. I wonder what Replica Hublot Big Bang King will be like a few years from now. Mature with their in-house movements, new models, and a legion of new fans and owners. Replica Breitling Navitimer is poised to be a new phenomenon in luxury sport watches. The gold standard in marketing, design, and image. Image being the most important part of it.

Wearing an Hublot watch will be more than just about the design and the movement - but will also have a little bit of each event or activity the JCB has aligned the brand with. I mention this concept to him and he smiles. The connection being obvious to him as it was his intention all along. Hublot is a lifestyle, not just a watch. Hublot owners want to life the Hublot ideal. To be like its ambassadors, to think of the events it partners with each time they look at the watch. Is there a little bit of World Cup in each glance at your Big Bang? To many there may be. JCB is strangely quiet about the topic of endorsements and further brand connections. Though he does smirk at my questions. I can tell he has a lot more planned up his sleeve for the future.

It was terribly sad news when I learned that Swatch Group founder and chairman Nicolas Hayek passed away in late June 2010. JCB himself being a Swatch Group graduate worked and learned under Hayek. He was sad to see his old mentor depart, but perhaps now has large shoes to fill. As loud and forward minded as Hayek (though in a different way), JCB is of the only people the watch industry can look to now for guidance. He has thrust himself in a position of trust and respect. Now he has a responsibility not only to Hublot, but the industry as a whole. It is true that JCB is not the next in line to Hayek's paternal spot, but I have a feeling he will see the sting of eager eyes looking to him to help steer the massive, slow turning ship of horology that once was just something for him to comment on.

I mentioned that Jean-Claude wasn't a watch maker. This is true, but he is a watch lover. He is living his passion. From large brands to small brands, he has dedicated his professional life to the Swiss watch industry. JCB is also an avid watch collector. The bank holds his treasures, but treasures he has. I was amazed to learn that JCB is one of the new people who bid on those massively expensive Patek Philippe watch auctions. In fact, aside from Hublot, Patek Philippe is his other love. JCB does not wear Patek Philippe watches - he merely collects them. They are precious items, not to be worn. I understand him actually. This is the hallmark of a true collector. Never ruin the corpus of your collection with risky handling. Especially when some of these watches are easily in the million dollar plus range.

JCB is a smart collector as well. He watches most of the major watch auctions but knows his stuff. Never bidding on items that simply recirculate through the hands of collectors looking to make a quick buck. JCB looks for the unique and the rare. Items either never before in auction, or having seen long absences from the public world. It is a joy to listen to him talk of the intricacies of watch collecting and Patek Philippe. His reverence for Thierry Stern, the CEO of Patek Philippe is sincere. He does see the brand as a shining jewel in the watch industry. Though again, when it comes to wearing watches, he is partial to Hublot. Of which he has many. Making it clear to me that each Hublot watch he wears, he purchases himself. His house is an Hublot household. His wife and children are all dedicated Hublot lovers. Each faithful to father with an Hublot on their wrists.

It isn't that much different back at Hublot Headquarters - most people you see are representing the brand proudly. Jean-Claude is modern in style when it comes to days at the office. iPhone in hand, he strolls around texting and answering e-mails with regularity. Back at his desk, JCB spend much of the day intently looking at his large computer screen managing his life on Facebook, and responding to e-mails. He is noted in the watch industry as being a man who is uniquely reachable. If you send Jean-Claude an e-mail, chances are he will read it and get back to you if it isn't too much trouble. The lack of artificial barrier between the leadership of the brand and the world is an important part I believe in Hublot's organizational flexibility, and JCB's awareness of the brand's salient issues and opportunities. It flies in the face of the stereotypical ignorant, outdated executive that most people picture sitting in ivory towers atop the corporate world.

Hublot and JCB are intrinsically connected now, and in the future, Hublot will be part of Mr. Biver's legacy. People have speculated whether or not Hublot will retain JCB, or whether he will find new problem brands to fix. JCB states no such intent. Hublot is fun, and he loves where it is going. With the new movements, new models, and new connections the brand will make, he has years left of work to do. JCB also seems to like his life right now. Not far from his home, the manufacture is a calm drive through the country side and he enjoys his calm estate with its manicured lawn, dairy cows, and lovely view of Lake Geneva. JCB boasts that a few hours at home are like a single day's worth of vacation. A state of lifestyle tranquility that most people would (and do) work a lifetime to achieve.

Left with many questions answered about just what the legendary Mr. Biver is like, I have more respect for him, having a better understanding of his ideas and his accomplishments. His business sense and charismatic pontification are a needed counter to the quiet and careful ways of the watch world. His fervor is passion, and in the end, he does what he loves.