Jay Z and Hublot: Empire State of Mind

Flashback to 2011, Jay Z and Kanye West released the song Otis from the Watch the Throne album. Once the song hit, rumors circulated about Jay Z’s upcoming collaboration with a watch company for a new timepiece he was working on. The line Jay Z sang in the song that sparked so many rumors was, “Proof, I guess I got my swagger back, truth / New watch alert: Hublots.” Perhaps a teaser for the new Shawn Carter by Hublot timepieces that just premiered.

The recent announcement of the partnership between Hublot and Jay Z is a perfect combination. Mr. Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot expressed his excitement when asked about the Shawn Carter and Hublot collaboration, “After having been the first luxury watch brand to enter the world of soccer as Timekeeper of the World Cup, the first to enter basketball with the partnerships with Miami Heat and the LA Lakers, the first luxury watch brand to have partnered with Ferrari, we are now the first luxury watch brand to become a partner of one of the most influential icons of music,” explains Mr. Guadalupe, “Together with Jay Z, we believe that we have always been the first, different and unique.”

The Shawn Carter by Hublot is a custom timepiece designed by Jay Z and produced by Hublot. “As you can see by looking at the watch, this is something to be very proud of, it’s not just a celebrity endorsement or something you just put your name on, it’s something that is really unique to the partnership and it was done with the highest level of integrity and class,” said Jay Z.

There are two models available, one in black ceramic and the other in 18k yellow gold. Both versions feature a 45mm case which houses the HUB1300, hand-wound movement with a 90-hour power reserve. One of the details on this timepiece I particularly love, is the cutout of the Shawn Carter logo on the dial, resembling a Maltese cross, it allows for a perfect glimpse of the movement underneath the dial and creates a look all its own. On the back of the timepiece, a sapphire crystal case-back also showcases a fantastic view of the beautifully decorated watch movement.

The 18K gold version of the Shawn Carter by Hublot is part of a limited collection of 100 pieces, which retails for $33,900 and the black ceramic model is limited to only 250 pieces and retails for $17,900. Both models are fitted with black alligator straps and matching buckles. Twenty five percent of all sales from the Barneys project will go toward the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

The Shawn Carter Collection by Hublot will be available at select Hublot Boutiques as well as the special pop-up installation called ‘A New York Holiday’ at Barneys New York on November 20, 2013.