QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY
HUBLOT MDM. HUBLOT MDM. HUBLOT MDM. HUBLOT MDM
11 July 2025
The Quirky Backstory of the Hublot MDM
It all started in 1976 when bold Italian watchmaker, Carlo Crocco started raising money to build a small watch factory in Switzerland. At that time, the industry was still struggling from the quartz crisis of the previous decade and only the biggest players could withstand this crisis and the economic one correlated to the 1973 oil crash.
First launched in a precious material (gold), the Hublot featured the first ever black natural rubber strap to be used in watchmaking. The watch was therefore a hybrid timepiece, combining luxurious touches with sporty apparel. Rather slim, the case featured little screws to remind us of the design inspiration of the porthole and the size was rather conservative at 33 mm.
To make its place among other luxury watch brands, Crocco and his team knocked on many doors and built a strong story telling around this rather unusual piece. 10 years later and the strategy started to work as more markets embraced the Hublot watch for what it was, an original watch with a rather strong identity. Elton John, Prince Albert of Monaco or Giorgio Armani were seen wearing Hublot watches in the 1990s, which helped to shape the brand’s image.
