The skipper, the sea and his watch

Last June, Hublot was in the news again with the launch of its Oceanographic 4000, a watch able to resist pressure at 4,000 metres below the surface, sponsored by the Monaco Oceanographic Museum. The stuff of dreams for any holidaymaker on a quest for aquatic adventures. Diving enthusiasts of all abilities are consistently wooed by watchmaking Houses and their timepieces designed to be used at great depths. But summertime bubble makers are not all fans of serious deep diving or exploring murky waters with tanks strapped to their backs. Far from it. Many prefer the gentle lapping of waves on the sides of a sailboat after trying out its speed in a race at sea. And here too, watchmakers step in with timepieces whose functions meet the needs of boat-racing professionals. Even though Hublot Oceanographics have only been truly tested a handful of times in the mighty depths of the ocean, they still feature unique expertise suited to the seafaring world.

Brands lashed with sea spray

It is not surprising then that for many years, numerous brands in the Fine Watchmaking sphere have been splashed with salty water on the wrists of sailors. With boat-racing timekeepers, boat sponsors and patrons of these weathered sailors who have become their ambassadors, Houses in this line of business have all hands on deck. In 2007 for example, during the ultimate sailing competition, the America’s Cup, at the time preceded by the Louis Vuitton Cup, Audemars Piguet supported Alinghi, Corum adorned the sails of the Victory Challenge, Girard-Perregaux backed BMW Oracle, Hublot joined up with Luna Rossa, Omega banked on Emirates Team New Zealand, Sector joined forces with Mascalzone and Tag Heuer raised the spinnaker with Team China. No fewer than seven watchmakers were involved in a single contest, with just as many timepieces specially designed for the occasion: a whole lot of clockwork!

But this did not curb the overall investment of the Houses involved in the race, which must have been close to 50 million Swiss francs, with an additional 15 million Swiss francs per brand for advertising and events surrounding the competition. “The fields of sailing and Fine Watchmaking are very similar. Tradition, excellence and innovation are the values shared between the two worlds. Finally, team spirit, know-how and the ‘Swiss made’ aspect are the founding principles”, summed up an earnest Georges Henri Meylan, then patron of Audemars Piguet, explaining such a huge commitment.

A barrier against the vagaries of time

A commitment that is as strong as ever. The seventh edition of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge began last April with 500 classic sailboats taking part in around ten or so boat races in the Mediterranean, around the coast of New England completed by two unique events the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the Panerai British Classic Week in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. Among other sailing sponsoring, Rolex has associated its name with the Giraglia Cup since 1997, which takes place every year in the gulf of Saint-Tropez. Corum, the sponsor for the Bol d’Or, the world’s largest regatta in enclosed waters, holds its Grand Prix every year on Lake Geneva, having recruited the experienced sailor Loïck Peyron as an internal advisor on sailing sponsorship. Hublot decided to get involved with the boat races of the Royal Palma Sailing Club. Parmigiani has its own catamaran, which takes part in the Safram M2 Speed Tour.

There is no need to go on, the sailing world is clearly the most profitable for watchmaking Houses, demonstrating that measuring time and seasickness is not incompatible. “Thou must be like a promontory of the sea, against which the waves beat continually,” advised the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. This doctrine is perfectly applied if the only function of these boat-racing watches is to be used as shields against the vagaries of time.