Hublot

SteppeWolf
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Hublot's factory visit

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Hublot's factory with some of my friends

The tour guide is a master watchmaker. He has ~40years of experience. He started is career at Rolex, then Vacheron Contantin, Patek Phillipe and finally join Hublot. He works on high complication pieces.

We start the tour in the machining room with CNC. We were still in the "old" factory. Hublot will move some of the equipements into the "new" building across the road in the next week. Some parts manufactured in-house by Hublot.

Main plate in carbon fiber

More small CNC

Main plate of the Unico movement. 12'000 Unico movements are actually produce per year by Hublot.

We visit then the Magic Gold room.

Step 1: Powder packing

Ceramic powders are packed in a silicon mold, while pure gold (24 carat) is prepare for casting

Step 2: Pressing

The powder is cold pressed at 2000 bar of isostatic pressure to produce a compact preform

Step 3: Sintering of the preform

The ceramic particles are bonded to one another at 2200 degrees Celcius and 100 millibar of gas pressure.

Step 4: Gold casting

The pure gold (24 carat) is casted by melting it at 1100 degrees Celsius and pouring the liquid metal into a mould.

Step 5: Final stage

The 18 carat Magic Gold is created by injecting the gold with 200 bar gas pressure at 1400 degrees Celcius into the sintered preform

The preform is then cut and polished to reveal the Magic Gold

Magic Gold parts

Setting:

At this station, stones, screws and pins are fitted in the main plates and bridges. They are fitted manually using arms, or mechanically using a press

Unico assembly room

The chronograph wheel is automatically oil by a machine

Hand finishing, polishing

Almost the end, the movement is fitted with hand and then encased

High complication room

LaFerrari with diamonds

Minute repeater

 Many thanks to Hublot for this wonderful visit ! !