Hublot and Caminada: two decades of fusion and experimentation

By Serge Maillard

August 2024

In 2004, Swiss watchmaker Hublot unveiled its ‘Art of Fusion’ concept, which continues to define the brand. Just a year earlier, chef Andreas Caminada acquired Schauenstein Castle in Graubünden, transforming it into a culinary mecca. Together, they embody a shared spirit of innovation, reimagining traditional Swiss craftsmanship.

Hublot and Caminada: two decades of fusion and experimentation

Français

By Serge Maillard

August 2024

Hublot and Caminada: two decades of fusion and experimentation

t’s impossible to talk about Andreas Caminada without mentioning the influence of Romansh culture, a tiny slice of Swiss heritage representing less than 1% of the population, on his cuisine and his work. Hailing from Sagogn in the Graubünden mountains, Caminada proudly champions this unique culture and its language – the only language spoken in Switzerland and nowhere else. There are five distinct Romansh dialects, and Caminada’s native tongue is Surselvan.

“Growing up here, you’re inevitably rooted in nature”, Caminada reflects. “Life is simple, unhurried. I’ve always been a keen traveller, but I can’t stay away too long without feeling the pull to return.”

Caminada’s creativity, steeped in local culture, shines through in unexpected ways – take onions, for instance. “It might seem banal, but we grow 25 varieties of onion in our garden. We wanted to take a new approach, reinventing this humble ingredient by using raw onions from our kitchen garden to create an amuse-bouche, paired with strawberries for a tangy twist and a burst of colour. Culinary identity isn’t just about flavour; presentation is key. We even have a collection of artist-designed plates on which we serve our food.”

It’s perhaps this fusion of a minority culture with a global outlook that gives Caminada’s cuisine its distinctive edge. Boasting three Michelin stars and 19 GaultMillau points, his cooking style marries local produce with a natural, unfussy presentation.

This concept of fusion resonated with Hublot, which had adopted it as a guiding principle in watchmaking – coincidentally in the same year Caminada set up shop at Schauenstein. This year, the chef and the Swiss brand unveiled the Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein timepiece, marking 20 years since Caminada’s arrival in Fürstenau.

“The first time I saw a Hublot, it was an All Black,” recalls Caminada, who’s been collaborating with the watchmaker since 2017. “Adopting this concept felt natural, as it aligns with our own colour scheme. The 42 mm size is ideal – not excessively big. Besides the 20 pieces in this special edition, we’ve also created a model for Fundaziun Uccelin, my foundation that supports young culinary talent.” This series marks a first for Hublot’s gastronomic collaborations, featuring both the chef’s name and logo.

The All Black moniker is well-earned: the bead-blasted black ceramic case, the H-shaped screws in polished and bead-blasted black-plated titanium, the crown in satin-finish black-plated titanium with black rubber, the bezel in satin-finish black ceramic with black rubber inserts, the push-pieces in satin-finish black-plated and bead-blasted titanium – and, of course, the matt black dial, which features Andreas Caminada’s applied silver logo on the small seconds counter, right down to the black-lined rubber strap with a black ceramic and titanium folding clasp. The black bead-blasted ceramic caseback features an engraving of Schauenstein Castle in shimmering silver.

At its core lies the HUB1280 self-winding chronograph movement, Hublot’s first manufacture movement, introduced in 2010. The Unico calibre was redesigned in 2018 with the launch of the reference 1280, and it’s this slimmer movement that powers the new creation created in collaboration with Caminada. The skeletonised dial features a date display at 3 o’clock and offers a glimpse of the inner workings, including the automatic column-wheel mechanism orchestrating the chronograph functions.

Boasting a 72-hour power reserve, the watch incorporates five patents designed to facilitate its assembly, modernise its architecture and enhance performance. It comes complete with a booklet signed by Andreas Caminada, a custom-engraved knife and a knife block – a nod to the Swiss chef’s culinary universe.

“Every seven to eight weeks, I craft a new menu”, Caminada explains. “Our creations follow the seasons, involving plenty of experimentation until the magic happens.”. His accolades include the Sustainable Restaurant Award, and he previously joined forces with Hublot for the 2019 Night of the Art of Fusion.

The unique piece bearing the Fundaziun Uccelin logo was auctioned at June’s AC Masters event, fetching CHF 34,500 for the foundation. This initiative aims to inspire new talent – potentially breathing fresh life into age-old Swiss traditions. After all, the concept of ‘fusion’ spans generations too.