Depeche Mode and Hublot unite against teenage cancer

In support of a charity devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer, a promising concept in charity support has been launched thanks to a novel partnership between the music and watch industries.

“When you are passionate and successful in what you do, you should share and give to those less fortunate,” advocates Jean-Claude Biver, the hyperactive Hublot boss who is attributed with making the brand a global success story (and one that has weathered the economic crisis). “This is exactly what Depeche Mode have done and I am proud that Hublot could help achieve this.”

Qualified as "the most popular electronic band the world has ever known" by the influential Q Magazine, Depeche Mode is an English electronic band formed in 1980 that have sold over 100 million albums and singles worldwide and are still going strong.

“They are fans of Hublot and I am proud to associate our brand with their music and for a cause as important as the Teenage Cancer Trust,” adds Biver.

The Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK provides specialist services for young people with cancer by offering treatment by experts in a tailored environment. “We don’t believe that teenagers should have to stop being teenagers, just because they have cancer,” the trust proclaims.

Ten years ago, with the help of The Who frontman, Roger Daltrey, the trust inaugurated the yearly concert project at Royal Albert Hall, which has now become an eagerly anticipated event on the British music calendar. The aim of the concerts is to raise desperately needed funds for the teenager specialist units in hospitals.

Many celebrities have also been mobilised by the trust for an on-going awareness campaign between concerts.

The novelty of this year’s edition is the association with Hublot. “Depeche Mode have committed themselves with such enthusiasm to this project. It has been a humbling experience to join them on this journey,” says Biver.

To launch the charity partnership, the Swiss watchmaker produced 12 boxes comprising 12 exclusive Big Bang timepieces, each one displaying one of the group’s iconic albums on the dial. The boxes also included the vinyl and digital version of the album, a framed gold CD and signed photos.

Put up for auction on multiple websites, the boxes provoked tens of thousands of bids from Depeche Mode and Hublot fans from around the world.

Then to cap and round off the auction, and as part of their world tour, a charity concert was hosted by Depeche Mode at the unique Royal Albert Hall in London on 17 February. A complete sell-out in less than an hour, the concert was followed by a VIP reception and a VIP raffle with a chance to win an Hublot King Power Zirconium.

“This joint project has proven to be a tremendous success! The result is amazing and we are so proud to have been part of this historical charity event,” Biver expounds with his hallmark enthusiasm.

The sum of the contributions from the auction and the concert surpassed expectations.

From the stage on the 55,000 seater Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf and venue for the penultimate concert of Depeche Mode’s “Tour of the Universe” on 26 February, Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver joined Depeche Mode in presenting a cheque of 622,390 US dollars to Teenage Cancer Trust CEO, Simon Davies.

Teenage Cancer Trust

Depeche Mode

Hublot