We live in an era of cool, digital timekeeping. Our workdays are defined by electronic objects made from metal and plastic. Asphalt, glass, steel, and concrete surround us in our cities. No wonder we yearn for something different ? for warm colors, materials from living sources, wood grain, textured leather and textiles; for the look of lifelike materials such as bronze, which changes over time and acquires a unique patina. Bronze also recalls the pre-industrial era and ships, which ? despite the simplicity of their navigational tools ? helped us discover and explore entire continents. In this feature from WatchTime Special Design Issue 2017, we present several watches created using natural materials.
1. Fine Leather: Hublot Classic Fusion Berluti Scritto Hublot Classic Fusion Berluti Scritto
Hublot collaborated with renowned luxury shoemaker Berluti to create the Classic Fusion Berluti Scritto. This watch combines two of the most distinctive features of the French leather specialist: Venezia calfskin with its signature light-to-dark tones and script originating from 18th-century calligraphy. Because leather is a living material it must undergo special treatment to inhibit moisture that would affect the movement inside the airtight case. Hublot?s proprietary King Gold is a perfect complement to the ?tobacco? leather dial. The watch is powered by automatic Caliber HUB1100, which is based on a Sellita SW 300. This model is limited to 250 pieces and is priced at $29,400.
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