Hublot Launches Big Bang Unico Best Buddies Limited Edition With The Nonprofit Organization In San Francisco
For its second collaboration with Best Buddies—a nonprofit organization that works to help people with intellectual and development disabilities with creating friendship, employment and leadership training opportunities—luxury Swiss watchmaker Hublot debuted a limited-edition timepiece, the Big Bang Unico Best Buddies Limited Edition. In addition to the watch launch, the event marked the beginning of Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle, which is a bicycle race taking place this weekend.
Co-hosts Jean-François Sberro—President of Hublot North America—and Anthony K. Shriver—Founder, Chairman and CEO of Best Buddies International—put together an intimate event at Robert and Trina Dean’s private home in the San Francisco Bay. The Dean family has a strong connection with the Best Buddies organization, as long-time supporters and participants in the Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle.
“Best Buddies International is incredibly honored to have the ongoing support of luxury Swiss watchmaker Hublot with the launch of a second limited-edition timepiece benefiting our programs in the United States and globally,” began Shriver. “Since 2015, Hublot has been an integral part of the Best Buddies family in our efforts to create a more inclusive world for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). I am proud to wear the new Hublot timepiece, which embodies the true spirit of Best Buddies and Hublot’s remarkable commitment to our mission. I am thrilled to embark on this new phase of our partnership through 2021, which will continue to build awareness for Best Buddies and provide people with IDD the opportunity to showcase their amazing talents and abilities to excel throughout their lifetimes.”
Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails alongside music by DJ Chris Clouse, before sitting for an al fresco style dinner. Notable attendees included All-Star baseball icon Barry Bonds, former NBA point guard Beno Udrih and philanthropist Steve Hearst, as well as Best Buddies International ambassadors George Hincapie and Christian Vande Velde, who presented the new timepiece with Best Buddies program participants BJ White and Larry Larkin.
CEO of Hublot, Ricardo Guadalupe, also commented on the event: “Best Buddies is a wonderful charity that provides friendship and opportunities to so many people with special needs. Hublot has been committed to Best Buddies for years, and we are excited to continue our partnership both to raise money and awareness for them so that they can further their mission.”
Inspired by the sport of cycling, the Big Bang Unico Best Buddies Limited Edition case is made from Texalium—a coated carbon fiber material that is virtually weightless, making it easy to wear. It also features Hublot’s signature UNICO chronograph movement and two strap options: black Velcro with orange stitching and black rubber/orange alligator with orange stitching, with the iconic Keith Haring logo on the caseback. A portion of the watch proceeds will go toward Best Buddies and the partnership support provided by Hublot.
Patrick Schwarzenegger, actor and Ambassador for Best Buddies, noted: “I am proud to support Hublot’s partnership with Best Buddies, an organization that I am incredibly passionate about. Hublot’s generosity and commitment to supporting Best Buddies’ mission of friendship and inclusion will transform lives for the better and help create a world that respects and celebrates individuals with special abilities.”
For more information, please visit the brand’s website. All images courtesy of Omar Vega/Hublot.
