HUBLOT UNVEILS NEW LIMITED EDITION WITH BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY

September 6, 2018 [Woodside, CA] – Tonight, Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot unveiled its second limited-edition timepiece in partnership with Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event also served as a kick-off to the annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle cycling race taking place this weekend on Saturday, September 8.

To celebrate the new watch, President of Hublot North America, Jean-François Sberro and Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies International, Anthony K. Shriver hosted an intimate launch event at the private home of Robert and Trina Dean. The Deans are long-time supporters of Best Buddies, having participated in the Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle for many years and maintaining close ties to the organization in the Bay Area.

Media, friends of both brands, and Bay Area-socials enjoyed cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres and music by DJ Chris Clouse before taking their seats for a dinner al fresco. Award-winning cyclists and Best Buddies International ambassadors George Hincapie and Christian Vande Velde arrived with Best Buddies program participants BJ White and Larry Larkin to present the new timepiece to the guests. Other notable attendees included All-Star baseball legend Barry Bonds, former NBA point guard Beno Udrih, and philanthropist Steve Hearst.

Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, shared: “Best Buddies is a wonderful charity that provides friendship and opportunities to so many people with special needs. Hublot has been committed to Best Buddies for years, and we are excited to continue our partnership both to raise money and awareness for them so that they can further their mission.”

Anthony K. Shriver, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies International, commented: “Best Buddies International is incredibly honored to have the ongoing support of luxury Swiss watchmaker Hublot with the launch of a second limited-edition timepiece benefiting our programs in the United States and globally. Since 2015, Hublot has been an integral part of the Best Buddies family in our efforts to create a more inclusive world for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). I am proud to wear the new Hublot timepiece, which embodies the true spirit of Best Buddies and Hublot’s remarkable commitment to our mission. I am thrilled to embark on this new phase of our partnership through 2021, which will continue to build awareness for Best Buddies and provide people with IDD the opportunity to showcase their amazing talents and abilities to excel throughout their lifetimes.”

Patrick Schwarzenegger, actor and Ambassador for Best Buddies, noted: “I am proud to support Hublot’s partnership with Best Buddies, an organization that I am incredibly passionate about. Hublot’s generosity and commitment to supporting Best Buddies’ mission of friendship and inclusion will transform lives for the better and help create a world that respects and celebrates individuals with special abilities.”

The Big Bang Unico Best Buddies Limited Edition is a lightweight timepiece inspired by the sport of cycling. The case is made of nearly weightless Texalium, a coated carbon fiber material, housing the in-house manufactured UNICO chronograph movement for which Hublot is known. The straps come in two exciting options: black Velcro with orange stitching, and black rubber / orange alligator with orange stitching. The palette is inspired by the philanthropy’s colors, with the iconic Keith Haring logo on the sapphire exposition case back. A portion of proceeds from the watch itself will benefit the organization, in addition to the partnership support provided by Hublot.