We’re used to having luxury watch brands partner up with sports teams but here’s a new one. Hublot has become the first maker of fine timepieces to sign up with the international professional poker circuit.
Hublot is now the Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of the Big Bang World Poker Tour and has sealed the deal with a new line of watches inspired by the game which were presented at a recent event in Las Vegas. Joining Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe were some on the top players on the pro poker circuit. This event took place at the Bellagio on the legendary Vegas strip during the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, WPT Alpha8 Las Vegas, taking place from December 15 through December 20.
In recognition of this new partnership, the WPT Player of the Year will now be dubbed the Hublot WPT Player of the Year and will be the recipient of a custom one-of-a-kind watch.
Unveiled at the event was the limited edition Big Bang Unico World Poker Tour Watch which will be available in two versions. The King Gold model will be made in only 100 numbered pieces while the steel version will be limited to 200 pieces. Both 45mm Big Bang Unico WPT watches will have a sapphire crystal case-back bearing the WPT logo. On the inside is the in-house made Hublot caliber HUB 1242 Unico automatic movement.
Guadalupe explained why Hublot chose to join forces with professional poker: “Hublot has once again proven itself to be first, unique and different, as the first luxury brand to become Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of the international professional poker circuit.
“We chose the World Poker Tour because its global presence, televised tournaments and quality of its players make it a benchmark in the game. I strongly believe that this field has great commercial and marketing potential. The tremendous success of our boutiques in Las Vegas and Macau are evidence of the possibilities. I am delighted with this great collaboration that awaits us.”
Adam Pliska, President of the World Poker Tour whetted the appetite of the players with what they can look forward to if they win Player of the Year: “Hublot is a Swiss luxury brand renowned across the globe for its sports watches with an instantly recognizable design. This partnership will bring even more value to each and every televised event of the World Poker Tour.
“In April, Champion of season XII of the World Poker Tour, Keven Stammen beat Byron Kaverman in Borgata, and received the magnificent prize of a Hublot King Power Unico. We are delighted to be able to give almost 1 million dollars’ worth of luxury watches to the champions of our televised events and the Hublot WPT Player of the Year in the upcoming seasons.”
For that poker player in your life, the Hublot Big Bang Unico WPT watch is packaged in a special gift box with red and black leather bands plus two sets of poker chips. Prices are $25,200 for the steel model and $45,900 for the King Gold. This watch is a bit flashy for conservative tastes but where would Vegas be without flash?
