The Hydromechanical Horologists, aka hublot replica, have finally released their second watch model after the explosively popular Replica from last year. The new watch is the Replica, and breaks new ground in terms of mechanical and visual interest versus merely adding a new complication. Our friends at Hublot's media partner Watchonsita offered the full details here for Hublot. Before getting all excited about the Replica, let's recall what the breitling replica was about by visiting our hands-on look at the Replica watch here.
Earlier this month Hublot shared with us a picture of the rear of the http://www.modserap.com/'s movement here. Looking like a robot face, the image was a prelude of a technically marvelous watch to come that was as much about design and style as it was about horology. Hublot worked with APRP's Giulio Papi to help design and produce the Replica's movement. In short, the movement actually has less complications than the first (with the removal of the subsidiary seconds dial). However, with an increased power reserve and more complex architecture, the Replica's movement is much more of a technical challenge.
Unlike the Hublot Replica, the Replica will be part of a limited edition of just 50 pieces. That may be for the entire series, or just this version in a DLC black-coated titanium case. At 48.8mm wide, the piece is large and in charge with very impressive stance and visuals. Retained of course is the green liquid hour indicator tube that uses bellows to push liquid over an hour scale. The bellows are now in a V-orientation as part of the symmetrical movement which also makes up the dial. Toward the 12 o'clock position is the dial-mounted balance wheel and to the right is a crown function selector (letting you know if the watch is in neutral, time setting, or winding mode).
Both hours and minutes are shown on retrograde scales. There is something very Urwerk-feeling about the design, and reading the time is impressively interesting without being illegible. That is a tough thing to achieve because we've found that most "experimental" ways of telling the time simply sacrifice convenience. The dial also has a unique power reserve indicator which takes the form of an exposed spring! The spring gets more tightly wound when the power reserve is full, and unwinds as it runs out. The manually wound movement has a full eight days of power reserve when the movement is fully wound.
Hublot makes no effort to hide the fact that Replica is all about high-end appeal and experimental technical style. The movement was designed precisely to be "cool," and almost concept-like in its presentation. For collectors and modern gadget lovers, this is a timepiece which merely shrugs at the appeal of a Patek Philippe and says to rich-guys "hey! What you really want is something big and cool on your wrist that looks (and is) expensive.