The existence of a special edition of the Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph for the GIGN (National Gendarmerie Intervention Force) has been confirmed. GIGN is a special force tasked with countering terrorism and other crimes in France, and this watch is intended for its current and former members. Let's take a look at the details of this special edition model and learn more about the GIGN organization.
[Article published on January 26, 2024]
Hublot special order for GIGN (French Gendarmerie Intervention Force)
GIGN, a special forces unit belonging to the French military police that conducts counter-terrorism activities, was chosen by Hublot to create a watch commemorating the unit's 50th anniversary. Hublot was chosen from among many other watch brands because GIGN wanted to work with a brand they had never used before.
From the many models released in the past, a model suitable for the 50th anniversary was selected. It is easy to put into words the requirements for a watch as an idea, but it is not easy to translate them into an actual watch. In addition to the performance requirements - light, durable, and highly legible - there was also the design and spiritual aspect of fusing Hublot's DNA with GIGN's DNA.
"Classic Fusion Chronograph" selected as special order model
The model chosen was the Classic Fusion Chronograph. To borrow the words of former Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe, this GIGN custom-made model could be described as "a skillful fusion of tradition and innovation." This spirit overlaps with GIGN, an organization that is constantly innovating to adapt to the times, while never losing sight of its own history.
This GIGN 50th Anniversary model combines carefully selected materials and watchmaking techniques. This watch is made for current and former GIGN members. Its 42mm case is made of grade 5 titanium and is water resistant to 5 bar. The crystal is made of sapphire crystal.
Inner dial with GIGN logo
Next, let's look at the dial. The subdial for displaying seconds is located at the 3 o'clock position and is decorated with the GIGN logo. The subdial at the 9 o'clock position is a 30-minute counter. The second hand is shaped like the distinctive Hublot mark.
The case back shows that it is a GIGN custom order.
The automatic movement Cal.HUB1153 installed in this watch has a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The case back is transparent, so you can see the movement. The case back with the GIGN logo and the rotor with the Hublot logo are some of the highlights of this watch.
This model also comes with a blue rubber strap that, combined with a steel folding clasp, ensures a robust and comfortable fit.
Hublot has created a chic, sporty, and lightweight watch for the GIGN, a rugged, rugged special forces unit. While there are many watches named after the unit, this is perhaps one of the smartest.
What is GIGN (French National Gendarmerie Intervention Force)?
What kind of organization is the French special forces, GIGN? Let's take a look back at its history from its founding to the present, and the incidents in which GIGN has played an active role.
The history of GIGN from its inception to the present
In the 1970s, Europe was plagued by a series of hostage-taking incidents, most notably the 1971 hostage-taking incident at Clervaux Prison in northeastern France and the 1972 hostage-taking incident at the Munich Olympics in Munich, Germany. This created a need to prepare for a "war on terror."
On November 3, 1973, 50 selected gendarmes gathered in Maisons-Alfort, south of Paris, for a new selection test for GIGN 1, the elite gendarmerie unit commanded by Christian Pluto.
Thus, the GIGN (French Gendarmerie Intervention Force) was formed on March 1, 1974. At the time, it consisted of two units: GIGN 1, based in the Val-de-Marne department near Paris, and GIGN 4, based in the Landes department in southeastern France along the Spanish border.
After 1984, the GIGN grew in size and was dissolved into the GSING (Special Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie), which included the EPIGN (Airborne Intervention Company), GSPR (VIP Protection Unit), and GISA (Activity Guidance and Security Unit).
Fast forward to 2007, and the National Gendarmerie embarked on a major reform to combat the threat of terrorism. Four organizations that had been separated in 1984 were merged to form the new GIGN. In 2021, the 3.0 program was launched, bringing about further changes, including the transfer of responsibilities to regional branches and the transfer of VIP protection personnel to the central level.
Today, the GIGN employs around 1000 men and women in the field, applying their specialized skills to solve problems on the ground in France, its overseas territories, and abroad. Working alongside the Investigative Brigades and the Investigative Section, other units of the Gendarmerie, the GIGN combats the evolving threat of terrorism and the rise of organized crime.
It also tackles topical issues such as cybercrime, maintaining public order, and working to protect France's interests in international conflicts.
Numerous incidents in which GIGN played an active role
Since its inception, the unit has freed nearly 600 hostages and neutralized over 1000 criminals. Every year, GIGN carries out over 200 missions, including around 100 operations, some of which are highly publicized.
Examples include the 1976 bus hijacking in Royaida, Djibouti, an eastern African country near the Arabian Peninsula, and the 1988 hostage crisis on Ouvéa Island in New Caledonia.
Some may remember the hijacking of Air France Flight 8969 in 1994. To solve this case, GIGN mobilized all of its skills and crisis management capabilities. When a large-scale terrorist attack occurred in Paris in 2015, GIGN worked with RAID, a special police unit, rather than the Gendarmerie, to deal with the double hostage situation that occurred on January 9th of that year.
GIGN was called upon extensively during the 2024 Paris Olympics, working alongside RAID and the police's BRI (Investigative and Intervention Unit) to handle security for an event of unprecedented scale and complexity.
