After my crazy traveling, I came back to Zurich to attend a special event at «The Nest» of the Hotel Storchen as Hublot and Andreas Caminada’s castle of Schauenstein celebrate 20 years with the special edition Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein. For this occasion, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe and friends of the brand, such as retired cross-country skier Dario Cologna, who won four overall World Cup victories, and four Olympic gold medals, Swiss World Cup alpine ski racer Corinne Suter, and profi golfer Joel Girrbach came to Zurich.
With Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe
The Art of Gastronomy
Blending meticulous expertise and a passion for fine artistry with time, gourmet cuisine and Haute Horlogerie share essential elements. Precise timing is vital for chefs, from ordering to plating up on the pass and through to service. This shared mentality has intertwined Hublot with the world of gastronomy. Hublot admires haute cuisine and those who convey their savoir-faire onto their dishes, skillfully fusing ingredients to create uniqueness while staying authentic. This connection has fostered remarkable partnerships and, notably, the iconic Big Bang Unico Gourmet watch.
Final touch by 3 Michelin stars chef Andreas Caminada.
This expansive universe continues to evolve, illuminating new opportunities to explore the bond between Hublot and a chef, starting in 2017 with the one and only Andreas Caminada.
Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein
A Tale of Fusion
The story of the Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein goes all the way back to 2004 when Hublot redefined luxury watchmaking with the concept of «The Art of Fusion,» blending traditional craftsmanship with avant-garde materials. Around the same time, Andreas Caminada took his culinary odyssey to new heights, taking over the historic Schauenstein castle, earning him prestigious Michelin stars for his innovative cuisine.
With Andreas Caminada
Over the past two decades, both Hublot and Andreas Caminada have personified the art of individuality in their respective fields. Hublot’s groundbreaking creations, including the iconic Big Bang and Classic Fusion lines, mirrored Caminada’s unrelenting pursuit of perfection and culinary artistry at the castle. This shared dedication naturally led to an inevitable partnership in 2017, when the 3 Michelin Stars chef joined the Hublot Family as a brand ambassador. Since then, Caminada has garnered numerous acclaims, including the Sustainable Restaurant Award, and continues to amaze with each passing year. Collaborating in events such as the Art of Fusion Night in 2019 alongside Hublot, this culinary maestro consistently reinvents the fine dining experience, remaining true to Art of Fusion ethos. This relationship culminates in a collaborative celebratory watch, the perfect tribute to such a talent.
The Schauenstein Castle is located in the village of Fürstenau, known as the smallest city in the world, in Switzerland’s Grisons canton. This captivating setting exudes a timeless allure and embodies the cherished ‘Swissness Attitude’ valued by Hublot. Within the acclaimed triple Michelin-starred restaurant, Chef Caminada immerses guests in an exploration of culinary awakening, echoing Hublot’s philosophy of perpetual exploration in crafting extraordinary pieces.
Gorgeous location for the launch event: The view from «The Nest» of the Hotel Storchen.
In honor of the 20-year jubilee of the Schauenstein castle and of Caminada’s culinary prowess, Hublot unveils its new Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein, underscoring its commitment to distinction and support for the best in their fields.
Sporting the new beauty on my wrist. I love the size of the 42mm case.
As the watch’s name suggests, the concept revolves around the color black, highly prominent throughout the various features of the timepiece, a design philosophy inspired by Andreas Caminada’s looks and reflecting Hublot’s desire to explore ‘invisible visibility’ in high fashion style. The watch features a 42mm microblasted black ceramic case, offering a sleek, modern aesthetic, with black plated H-shaped polished and microblasted titanium screws and a satin-finished black plated titanium with black rubber crown. The bezel, made of satin-finished black plated titanium with black rubber inserts, complemented by the satined and microblasted black plated titanium pushers, add depth and texture to the design. The sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment ensures optimal visibility. Additionally, the microblasted black ceramic case back is engraved with a depiction of Schauenstein’s castle in shimmering silver tones.
Elevating the watch, the matte black dial serves as a canvas for the applied silver-toned logo of Andreas Caminada on the small seconds counter, reflecting the spirit of culinary fineness. The black plated satin-finished titanium hands provide striking contrast against the dial, emphasizing legibility and style.
At the heart of the Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein beats the in-house Hublot HUB1280 self-winding chronograph movement. Introduced in 2010 as the first movement designed by the manufacture, the Unico calibre saw refinement in 2018 with the launch of the 1280 reference, a slimmer iteration tailored to a broader range of wrists, used in this new release in collaboration with chef Caminada.
With super sweet Corinne Suter
The watch proudly exhibits its inner workings with a skeletonized dial, offering a glimpse of the column wheel automatic winding mechanism that orchestrates its chronograph functions, and a date at 3 o’clock. Boasting a 72-hour power reserve and enhanced accuracy, it incorporates five patents for facilitated assembly, modernized architecture, and increased performance. The Unico 2 calibre offers a sleek 42-mm case and notable technical developments, including gentler winding, faultless chronograph display, and exceptional shock resistance, further emphasizing the best for the best with this limited edition.
The Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein comes in a presentation case complete with a black ceramic and black titanium deployant buckle clasp on the black lined rubber strap. Each watch is accompanied by a signed booklet by Andreas Caminada, a custom-engraved knife, and a knife block, reflecting Caminada’s passion for precision and authenticity in watchmaking and gastronomy.
Limited to just 20 pieces, each watch is a symbol of exclusivity and craftsmanship. The price is set at CHF 25,900 or EUR 29,600.
LoL, Sandra
With Dario Cologna
With Lucy Tallo, owner of PRticular
Profi golfer Joel Girrbach
Photos: ©Hublot Dominik Orth – Instagram @orthart , © Sandra Bauknecht
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Outside of my hotel in Melrose Arch.
Nelson Mandela Square is linked to Sandton City shopping center and is one of the most fashionable destinations in Johannesburg.
Everything can be found in Sandton City, from high end designer brands, to weapons and meat.
Armed convoy for our way to the airport with a bodyguard in our car and another car following us. You get quickly used to these security measures.
Fantastic meat at the 
Vibrant and trendy place to dine is 
As a starter I love Kudu, which is similar to venison, with a slight gamey, yet meat-like flavor. It is a very dry and lean.
If you are a meat lover, you will have love South Africa. I honestly had the best steaks here.
Something you should not miss in South Africa. Definitely a classic to end a meal is having a Dom Pedro, which is something halfway between a dessert and a cocktail, like a grown-up version of a milkshake. The blended ice cream laced with alcohol is rich and creamy but lighter than a traditional dessert. It is totally my thing!
