Hublot

Cigar factory meets watch manufacturer

"The Fuente Fuente Opus X is a reference for every cigar lover, both in terms of the intensity of flavor and the quality of the finish. The manufactory strives for perfection and wants to offer only the best products. We at Hublot can fully identify with this. We are delighted to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of this exceptional cigar and to be working with Arturo Fuente for the third time. A partnership that works brilliantly!" Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot


The Fuente Fuente Opus X,
considered by purists to be "the most exclusive cigar in the world", is celebrating its 20th birthday. Let's take a look back at the beginning of the 1980s: Carlos Fuente founded his cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, near the city of Santiago, against all advice. After numerous attempts, he and his family succeeded in growing tobacco plants there that produced very high quality wrapper leaves with a unique intensity and richness of flavor. He was personally convinced that he would achieve this result: The location reminded him in a strange way of "Pinar del Río", the valley where the best Cuban tobacco is grown. Thus the "Château de la Fuente" was born. It was the first Fuente factory on the island of Hispaniola, a continuation of the company Fuente & Cie, which his grandfather had founded in Cuba in 1912.


To celebrate this success,
he set out to produce the queen of cigars without compromising on quality: the Fuente Fuente Opus X. He even set high standards for the workforce: Before they were allowed to work on this project, the "torcedores" - the cigar rollers - had to complete a special ten-month additional training course. This was necessary in order to meet Don Fuente's requirements: The cigar had to consist of nine tobacco leaves, whereas other manufacturers were content with five for their prestige models (one as the wrapper, one as the binder and another three for the binder, the heart of the cigar). After being rolled, they are left to "steep" for at least two years before being exported, so that their different flavors can blend harmoniously as they mature. Carlos Fuente tells us what inspiration guided him: "I wanted to recreate something that already existed in my memory. I wanted to go way back, to my childhood. I wanted to return to the best moments of my life. I wanted my grandfather and my father to be proud of me and one day my children too. I just had to do it." 20 years later, the Fuente Fuente Opus X is undisputed and much sought-after by cigar lovers.


"A perfect construction,
exquisite aromas combined with a century of tradition: this is what the Fuente Fuente Opus X cigar represents for us. We would like to thank the watch manufacturer Hublot for wanting to celebrate this anniversary with us in the best possible way and for launching three exceptional timepieces to mark the occasion. We hope to stay in touch with the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer in the future." Carlito Fuente, CEO Arturo Fuente

The partnership between the watch manufacturer from Nyon and the Arturo Fuente cigar factory began in 2012, on the occasion of the centenary of the founding of the Fuente company. It is the story of a friendship between the men at the head of these two houses and the story of the similarities between cigar making and watchmaking, of which there are more than it first appears: care, craftsmanship, the selection of the best materials, production in workshops and, of course, shared values such as the pursuit of perfection. Two watch creations have already emerged from this partnership.


It is therefore only natural
that Hublot would like to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Opus X with three limited-edition special models, marking the third collaboration between the two brands. The three editions of the Hublot Classic Fusion 45 mm Fuente 20th Anniversary Special Edition are each limited to 20 pieces. The first has a 45 mm case in satin-finished black ceramic. Its bezel is made of the same material. Its magnificent blue dial is adorned with the famous X that adorns the rings of the legendary cigar and which has been doubled to form the number 20 with Roman numerals to mark the occasion. On the dial are hands and indices covered in red gold and the inscription "20 Years" at 6 o'clock. An exclusive illustration of the Fuente family is engraved on the back with the inscription Château de la Fuente, Fuente Fuente Opus X 20 Years and the serial number of the model's limited edition. Its black alligator leather strap is lined with rubber, which makes it more comfortable to wear.


The second version comes in brushed titanium.
Its case and bezel are finely chiseled with engravings depicting intertwined tobacco leaves in the letter X. The engravings on the back are partly painted blue. The strap with a folding clasp made of gray alligator leather has blue stitching and is also lined with rubber. The third version is made of King Gold and has the same engravings and details as the titanium model. The brown strap rounds off the design. All three models are powered by the HUB1112 caliber, a self-winding movement with a power reserve of 42 hours. They are delivered in a case that serves as a humidor, a cigar box specially designed by Hublot to regulate humidity, giving the modules a long life.

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