On September 6th, in Woodside, CA, Hublot unveiled its second limited-edition timepiece in partnership with Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event also served as a kick-off to the annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle cycling race that took on Saturday, September 8.
To celebrate the new watch, President of Hublot North America, Jean-François Sberro and Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies International, Anthony K. Shriver hosted an intimate launch event at the private home of Robert and Trina Dean. The Deans are long-time supporters of Best Buddies, having participated in the Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle for many years and maintaining close ties to the organization in the Bay Area.
Award-winning cyclists and Best Buddies International ambassadors George Hincapie and Christian Vande Velde arrived with Best Buddies program participants BJ White and Larry Larkin to present the new timepiece to the guests. Other notable attendees included All-Star baseball legend Barry Bonds, former NBA point guard Beno Udrih, and philanthropist Steve Hearst.
“Best Buddies is a wonderful charity that provides friendship and opportunities to so many people with special needs”, shared Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot.
“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”, commented Anthony K. Shriver, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies International. “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.”
“I am proud to support Hublot's partnership with Best Buddies, an organization that I am incredibly passionate about”, noted Patrick Schwarzenegger, actor and Ambassador for Best Buddies. “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.”
The Big Bang Unico Best Buddies Limited Edition is a lightweight timepiece inspired by the sport of cycling. The case is made of nearly weightless Texalium, a coated carbon fiber material, housing the in-house manufactured Unico chronograph movement for which Hublot is known. The straps come in two options: black Velcro with orange stitching, and black rubber / orange alligator with orange stitching. The palette is inspired by the philanthropy’s colors, with the iconic Keith Haring logo on the sapphire exposition case back. A portion of proceeds from the watch itself will benefit the organization, in addition to the partnership support provided by Hublot.
