As always, quite a few exquisite timepieces have been showcased during this year’s Baselworld – one of them being Hublot’s Classic Fusion Tourbillon Firmament.
This amazing watch is the first ever to feature a dial made from osmium crystal, the rarest stable element on the planet. We cannot emphasize enough how incredibly rare and valuable this metal is, with a global reserve of about 200 tons. This may sound like a lot, but to put it into perspective, the platinum global reserves stand at about 13,000 tones and platinum is pretty rare itself!
Osmium is also very dense and thus quite sturdy. Once in a compact and crystallized form, it becomes inalterable in air and it will never lose its beautifully unique blue spark. The metal is crystallized using a highly sophisticated process developed by a team of researchers based in the Swiss Canton of Valais, during which the osmium reaches its melting point (3,033°C, which is almost 5,500°F), changing its structure and transforming into osmium crystal.
In the end you get the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Firmament, a perfect blend of science, art and that world-famous Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship.
[Extravaganzi]
