Searching for Carlo Crocco

Courtesy of MDM/HUBLOT

Remember him?  For many folks out there, there was no Hublot before Jean-Claude Biver.  And when you compare Hublot BB (before Biver) and AB (after Biver) you really can't dispute that.  He has done something amazing.

But gentle reader, way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth (1980), Mr. Crocco conceived the idea of the "porthole watch".  And the rest, as they say, is history.

But what history sometimes neglects is how it was that Mr. Biver came to Hublot in the first place.  Mr. Crocco was, more and more, getting involved in charity.  And he had created a foundation to help children in need around the world.  And he wanted to focus on THAT!

Photo shamelessly borrowed 

The watch industry (and in fairness, just about every other industry) is deeply entrenched in celebrity worship.  MILLIONS are thrown around to put a celebrity name on a dial, and get the "grip and grin" photo opportunity.

Now I accept the fact that I am a monumental pain in the ass, I nag brands for donations to causes, I will even resort to using shame if I think it will work.  But what the world DOES NOT NEED is another dim-witted, short-sighted celebrity tie in with a gift watch to someone who can afford hundreds of them.

No, what the world needs is another Carlo Crocco.