By Meor Amri Meor Ayob
Among manufacturers, diving watches represent a show of brute strength in a similar way size is to the animal kingdom. This is pure macho play that connects to our primeval subconscious being. Let’s face it, most buyers of diving watches are not divers. Less than 1% of all dive watches sold ever get the chance to go down below 10 meters underwater.
This fascination for brute strength has been the driving factor for manufacturers continuing to invest research and development into this watch genre. Hublot is no exception. Part of the Oceanographic 4000 series of extreme dive watches, the Oceanographic EXO4000 Reference 731.QX.EXO14 is the latest rendition based on the latest enhancement.
Below is some general technical specification of the watch:
- Case diameter 48 mm
- Casing of matt carbon fibre
- Water resistance to 400 ATM or 4,000 meters (Tested to 5000 meters according to the NIHS standards)
- Superluminova™ paint on the markers and hands
- Internal rotating bezel with dive-time markers
- Automatic helium escape valve (HEV)
- Movement Mechanical movement with automatic winding HUB1401
- Number of components 180
- Jewels 23
- Power reserve Approximately 42 hours
This new model is very similar to the original Oceanographic in terms of shape, size and automatic movement. Instead of titanium as the core material for the casing, a carbon case has been utilized instead.
From my personal point of view, this is just a cosmetic change which Hublot is famous (or infamous?) for. Although this would provide choice for buyers, the manner how options are presented does not sit well with me. Buying a Hublot is not like buying a Seiko 5 watch. It is a major purchase even to the wealthy. It would be fairer to everyone if all options are made available when a major model is released. As it stand, if one is not equipped with the facts, it is easy to mistakenly assume something that is not. In this case a new model or just a cosmetic change.
Don’t get me wrong. My criticism is only on Hublot’s policy on the release of new model for an existing series that are in fact just cosmetic changes. The research and development resources spent on introducing new series is nothing short of brilliant. The MP2, MP5, MP6, MP8 and many more series under the Hublot watch collection stable shows a very vibrant and active product development team.
The Oceanographic 4000 series is one of my favorite. The technology that does into the watch to be able to withstand a pressure of 5,000 meters of water (based on tests done. Officially the watch has been rated to 4,000 meters) is just incredible. The overall external design oozes sophistication and sex appeal. This balance of technology and overall design is what makes Hublot stands out from amongst the crowd. For more info, please visit hublot.com
Meor Amri Meor Ayob – Contributing Editor
Meor Amri is a passionate watch collector from Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Having bitten by the horology bug in 2010, he has written extensively about the watch scene and has assembled a large collection of watches (excessively!!) on his own free time. Read his articles here.
His blogs on the same subject are: Eastern Watch & Western Watch
