Hublot pays homage to Savoie dog sled

1000 kilometres, 30,000 metres of positive altitude, nine nations and 400 high-performance dogs: this is what La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc entails. The Tour de France of sled dog and a tour de force of endurance, resilience and determination; the international race is an event of the highest athletic integrity, both canine and human. The 10 stage crossing is perfectly unique in the fact that it’s the only event of its kind to tackle mountainous topography, and one of the last playgrounds for those “sailing the White Seas”. Competitors are at mercy of both the terrain and the elements, climbing the equivalent of Mont Blanc from Chamonix six times, with the various breeds of Nordic dogs running up to two marathons each and every day at speeds ranging from 10km/h to 30km/h.

La Grande Odyss?e-1 ?Vincent Piccerelle

The competition is now in its 12th year, and to commemorate it and the second annual partnership with innovative Swiss watchmakers Hublot, the house have released a limited edition timepiece to mark the venture. The “La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc” Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph manages to recall the boldest, most spectacular elements from the gruelling contest, whilst staying true to Hublot’s standpoints of tradition and technology.

Celebrating the adventurous efforts from the mushers involved in La Grande Odyssée, a wind rose features on the right of the face – acknowledging the history of humanity’s intrepid expeditions. The wind rose was the first tool ever used by navigators, enabling direction through the reading of wind directions, and its appearance pays homage to the boundless open spaces competitors will cross in an effort to pip first.

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The canines contribution to the spectacle is also immortalised. The second hand of the chronograph runs blue as a representative of the dogs’ eyes. The distinctive, otherworldly almost ethereal shade that is so closely associated with the husky and other breeds of Nordic dog that make the contest what it is.

Finally, the very environment the race takes place on is given a knowing nod, communicated through key aesthetic elements. The strap which combines white rubber, vintage brown calfskin and further white stitching, notes the wintery conditions and unrelenting terrain crafted by Mother Nature herself. Whilst the satin-finished 45-mm case, crafted from polished titanium draws on the opalescent qualities of snow freshly settled in the Mont Blanc sun.

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In terms of the horological minutiae, the HUB1155 chronograph skeleton movement is automatically wound, the glass is sapphire with anti-reflective treatment, the dial is comprised of rhodium-plated with polished titanium hands and the piece is comprised of a total of 207 components.

With a limited run of only 100 pieces, each individual watch is stamped with the race logo on the reverse of the sapphire case to truly immortalise the occasion.

Images: Hublot

For more information, visit Hublot here.

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