In 1980, against everyone’s advice, Carlos Fuente set up his cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, near the town of Santiago - a place that bore a strange resemblance to the “Pinar del Rio”, the valley in which the best tobacco is grown in Cuba. After several attempts, he a succeeded in growing tobacco plants that produced wrapper leaf of the highest quality, with a uniquely powerful and rich flavour. Thus was born the “Chateau de la Fuente”, the first of the Fuente factories on Hispaniola, the continuity of the Fuente & Cie business that his grandfather had founded in Cuba in 1912.
To celebrate this success, he decided to produce the king of cigars, for which no concession would be made in terms of quality: the Fuente Fuente Opus X: the “torcedores” - the cigar rollers - had to undergo an additional 10 months of specific training; the cigar had to be composed of 9 leaves of tobacco, while other factories would make do with 5 for their prestigious models ; once rolled, they were “laid down” for at least 2 years before export to let their different aromas blend harmoniously through maturation.
"I wanted to reproduce something that already existed in my memory" said Carlos Fuente. "I wanted to go back in time, to my childhood. I wanted to go back to the happiest episodes of my life. I wanted my grandfather to be proud of me, my father too, and for my children to be so too one day. It was something that I owed to myself to do." 20 years later, the Fuente Fuente Opus X has achieved success among connoisseurs “The rarest cigar in the world” according to purists, the Fuente Fuente Opus X is celebrating its 20th anniversary., who fall over themselves to get hold of it.
The partnership between Hublot and the Arturo Fuente cigar began in 2012, on the occasion of the Fuente Foundation’s centenary. It is the result of a friendship between the men presiding over the destiny of two houses which share common values of meticulousness, manufacture, selection of the finest materials, production organised into workshops and, of course the quest for excellence. This partnership has already produced two horological creations.
Today Hublot is joining the 20th anniversary celebrations for the Opus X, by launching three commemorative watches in limited editions, marking the third collaboration between the two brands. These three Hublot Classic Fusion 45mm Fuente 20th Anniversary Special Edition models will be limited to a production of 20 watches each.
The first has a satin-finished black ceramic and bezel. Its blue dial is adorned with the famous X decorating the rings of the legendary puro, doubled for the occasion to become the number 20 in Roman numerals. It is topped by red gold plated hands and indexes with a “20 Years” mention apposed at 6 o’clock. Its back is engraved with an exclusive illustration of the Fuente family with the “Château de la Fuente, Fuente Fuente Opus X 20 Years” mention, as well the model’s limited edition series number. Its black alligator strap is lined with rubber to provide the wearer greater comfort.
The second version has a brushed titanium case. Its case and bezel are finely embossed with engravings reproducing tobacco leaf motifs interlinked into the letter X. The engravings on its back are partially lacquered in blue. The strap in grey alligator, with a deployant buckle clasp, is stitched in blue and is also lined with rubber.
The third version is in King Gold, the precious red gold developed by the Hublot house. It has the same engravings and features as the titanium model, while adding a brown strap.
All three feature the HUB1112 calibre, an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve. They are delivered in a case that serves as a humidor, a cigar box specially designed by Hublot so as to regulate the humidity and allow the correct conservation of the modules.
