Arturo Fuente and Hublot Unveil Second Cigar-Inspired Timepiece at Dubai Celebration

Following the success of Arturo Fuente and Hublot’s first collaboration in 2012, the Swiss watchmaker and revered Cuban cigar house gathered in Dubai yesterday to celebrate the launch of their second limited edition timepiece, the Arturo Fuente ForbiddenX.

Hosted by Hublot CEO’s Ricardo Guadalupe and the grandson of Arturo Fuente himself, Carlos Fuente Jr, the exclusive event was held at the iconic One&Only The Palm. The event attracted cigar connoisseurs and horological high rollers from across the Middle East. Donned in white Panama hats, guests enjoyed ForbiddenX cigars while they were treated to a taste of Old Havanna. Classic Cuban cuisine and decor reminiscent of Arturo Fuente’s famed Château de la Fuente set the stage for the evening’s much-anticipated unveiling. It didn’t dissapoint.

Unsheathed in two different editions—the Classic Fusion ForbiddenX and the classic Fusion ForbiddenX Tourbillon, featuring a hand-wound, in-house tourbillon and limited to just 30 pieces—these elegant pieces resonated immediately due to their one-of-a-kind dials. Crafted with the same tobacco leaves used in the ForbiddenX cigar that were sealed in epoxy resin and carefully inserted into the 45mm cases, these richly textured dials exuded a classic elegance consistent with the Arturo Fuente legacy. Especially when displayed in their custom wooden humidor cigar boxes that Hublot designed to ensure ideal storage conditions for cigar and watch alike.

Playing on the opulent hues of the tobacco leaf, Hublot’s design team also outfitted the Arturo Fuente ForbiddenX’s 45mm cases with a brown ceramic dial and a variety of material options: titanium (250 pieces), black/brown ceramic (250 pieces), and the brand’s signature red gold and platinum mix, King Gold (150 pieces). The tourbillon version, which employs over 155 components and boasts a five-day power reserve, is available exclusively in King Gold. It’s finished, like its non-tourbillon sibling, with a tobacco-toned calfskin strap embroidered with ForbiddenX symbol.

And speaking of finishing touches, when the embers were eventually stubbed and the cases snapped shut, the evening left its A-list attendees with a final parting gift: The prevailing feeling that this partnership, of two of the world’s most respected luxury brands, looks ready to stand the test of, well, time.