Kung Fu in Hublot store in Beijing
In a collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation, a special tribute exhibition for the Kung Fu superstar marks the launch of the Swiss watch brand Hublot’s store at the high-end Shin Kong Place (SKP) shopping centre in Beijing.
On display until March 6, the Be Water, My Friend – Legend of Bruce Lee Memorial Exhibition features precious items the actor owned himself, as well as limited-edition Hublot timepieces.
Lee’s daughter, foundation founder Shannon Lee, cut the ribbon of the new store along with Hublot Greater China GM Loic Biver.
Hublot participated in the design of the Bruce Lee exhibition. “As an icon of the 20th century and the most iconic Kung Fu star in history, Bruce Lee embodies the real ‘art of fusion’ of East-West culture,” says Biver.
Hublot also worked with the foundation on the Bruce Lee 75th Anniversary Memorial Exhibition in Hong Kong, and this time released a second limited-edition timepiece as a tribute to Lee.
The actor’s personal items on display include a Tang-style Kung Fu jacket, a genuine copy of the Way of the Dragon script, a replica of the life mask of Kato in The Green Hornet, and the business card for the Bruce Lee Martial Arts Studio he founded.
Exhibition guests can also experience the Bruce Lee Mirror, a cylindrical glass photo frame featuring Lee’s classic Kung Fu postures. Made of glass fragments, it uses 3D special effects integrating the Hublot Unico In-House chronograph movement.
Inspired by the dragon pattern on Bruce Lee’s desk, Hublot has designed a limited-edition (100 pieces) watch, Spirit of Big Bang Bruce Lee Be Water. It features a tonneau case in all-black microblasted ceramic and is fitted with the HUB4700 skeletonised automatic winding movement. Echoing Lee’s philosophy of water, the strap is made of blue alligator leather sewn on natural rubber.
The Hublot SKP Beijing boutique follows the brand-specific black, featuring dark grey carpet and black leather furniture combined with glass and metal counters. Subtle scientific and technological elements in the window display tell the story of the brand, connecting its past with the future with projections on a book. Big Bang, Classic Fusion, King Power are among the pieces and novelties on display.