Hublot launches the ultimate 4000-metre deep-diving watch

　　To test its airtightness, Hublot placed this watch into a sealed tank and pressurised it to the equivalent of the pressure at a depth of 5000 metres. To ensure its water resistance and pressure resistance under extreme conditions, the sapphire crystal is only 6.5mm thick; although slightly thicker than the crystal of an ordinary watch, it is just right for withstanding the immense pressure at a depth of 4000 metres. To successfully reach this depth, a screw-in case back is a necessary condition, made of extremely hard grade two titanium, which is absolutely corrosion-resistant. In addition to the titanium series, the "Deep Sea Explorer 4000 metres" has also launched an all-black carbon fibre version (both titanium and carbon fibre are extremely lightweight materials that meet special technical standards). Therefore, although the "Deep Sea Explorer 4000 metres" has a diameter of 48mm and a rugged appearance, it still feels very light to wear.

　　To ensure that the time remains clearly legible in the darkness of the deep sea at a distance of within 25cm, the dial, indices, and hands of the Oceanographic 4000-metre are generously coated with SuperLuminova™, a material applied to titanium elements that emits a cool green glow.

　　To ensure safe control over dive times, a unidirectional rotating internal gear-driven diving timer is positioned as close to the dial as possible to prevent divers from overlooking their immersion time and to make calculating dive duration much more convenient. According to uniform standards, the minute graduations for the Deep Sea Explorer 4000m are clearly marked at every 5 minutes.

　　The watch is fitted with two screw-down crowns (with O-ring gaskets to ensure they can withstand deep-water pressure). The three-dimensional crown used for setting the dive time is positioned at the two o'clock position for easy adjustment by the wearer. For the diver's safety, this mechanism also features a locking latch and a protective crown guard enclosing it, facilitating operation underwater while enhancing security. The other crown, used for winding and time-setting, is positioned at the 4 o'clock position to avoid operational errors.

　　Finally, as a diving watch, the Deep Sea Explorer 4000m is specially equipped with a helium escape valve to ensure it can descend to a depth of 4000 metres. During a dive, the helium escape valve ensures that gases which have penetrated the watch during the descent are smoothly released during the ascent. The valve is made from anti-corrosive stainless steel and is fitted on the left-hand lug at the 10 o'clock position.

　　This timepiece comes with two sets of straps, a pin buckle strap and a deployment clasp strap (for the City and Diving versions respectively). This strap design is safer than a folding clasp and is easier to operate when wearing gloves. It is worth noting that this traditional pin buckle is relatively rare in Hublot products, and the way the strap connects to the case is also very special. At the end of the case, two push-buttons allow the strap to be changed freely, eliminating the tedious need for a screwdriver or other accessories. The City version uses a black natural rubber strap, whilst the Diving version uses a blend of natural rubber and nylon, being slightly longer than standard straps to allow it to be worn over a wetsuit, with a strap thickness of just 8mm.

King Power 48mm Hublot Oceanographic 4000 Diving Watch