In Anticipation of FIFA World Cup 2018, Hublot Opens Moscow Store
Exactly a year from the start of FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, luxury horologer Hublot unveiled its new store in the historic Metropol building in Moscow. The official FIFA timekeeper, Hublot hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Red Square, where the brand’s CEO Ricardo Guadalupe, CCO of FIFA Philippe Le Floc’h and soccer legend and World Cup record-holder Pele opened the new 1300sq. feet boutique.
The event also ushered in the Swiss watchmaker’s grand rehearsal for the major sport competition. From June 17th to July 2nd, the label is to track time at the 2017 Confederations Cup. To mark the prelude of FIFA World Cup, Hublot presented a Big Bang Unico timepiece with a series of novel straps that flags of the eight nations of the Confederations Cup (Russia, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, Cameroon and Portugal).
The Unico model features a patented One Click system that allows the wearer to switch between different straps and thus convey their support for a team. Aside from its soccer upgrade, the 330-component watch bears Hublot’s distinct specifications – from an emblematic manufacturing movement to a flyback chronograph with a column wheel on the side of the dial to a two-way automatic winding.
The Unico watch will lend its silhouette to Hublot’s official boards, which are to keep track of time, players change and extra minutes.
Next year’s FIFA World Cup will be the third for the Swiss brand, following its participation in the editions held in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014.
The 21st installment of the international championship, FIFA World Cup 2018 kicks off in June 14, 2018. It will be the first ever World Cup to take place in Eastern Europe and the first to be held in an European nation since Germany hosted the tournament in 2006.
