Art, creativity, design, a never-ending story of renewal. An organic and cyclical process in which Ross, the radically distinct, generational artist, continues to grow his own creations. Like living materials, Dr. Samuel Ross’s creativity and thoughts are constantly shaping, reshaping, improving, imagining and reimagining things. For his next development on the Big Bang Tourbillon SR_A by Samuel Ross, Ross has brought subtle yet insightful details. Precision, clarity and choice are integrated through SR_A’s signature industrial language.
Constantly pushing new boundaries in terms of materials, fusion and aesthetics, Hublot has been loving Art for more than 10 years, working closely with daring, unconventional artists and designers to envision watches from new creative angles. The collaboration between Hublot and Ross began in 2020, in a three-year engineering process leading to an entirely new development, from case to crown, to dial, strap and bezel: the Big Bang Tourbillon SR_A by Samuel Ross. Just as with living materials, Ross’s creativity is constantly shaping, reshaping, improving his own thoughts, building on his first watch design to turn the watch case into a gray monochrome outfit to be worn on of the three rubber straps ranging from vivid green to black or white. A new iteration to which he has brought some subtle yet insightfully rethought details.
So, what’s new?
To assert its industrial look, Ross has opted to attire all the watch case components in shiny micro-blasted titanium, extending this to the clasp which also features a rough laser engraving of the Hublot logo. To enhance the overall gray monochrome look, the crown is overmolded in gray rubber, while the tourbillon bridge now appears in a neutral shade enabling the watch to be easily paired with one of the three smooth full rubber straps in black, white or the pop vibes of vivid green.
We are focused on crafting refined, minimal and expressive timepieces. SR_A, looks to expand, re-define and establish timeless icons of design, reflecting a spirit of innovation, optimism and craft. I firmly believe we need all three properties to usher in the next chapter of luxury. – Dr. SAMUEL ROSS Artist and Designer
From sculpture to wearable wrist sculpture
Applying Samuel Ross’s artistic language to Hublot watchmaking is exactly how he envisioned the sculpture that marked the start of his creative collaboration with Hublot in 2020 : encapsulating materials in aerodynamic, simple and striking shapes incorporating imprints of Nature’s sacred geometry to tell 40 years of Hublot history. Building on the perfect hexagonal pattern, Ross knows how to contrast hyper-technical with traditional elements to ensure a perfect fit with Hublot’s Art of Fusion vision. Just as in the sculpture he created for Hublot, Ross takes on the Big Bang tourbillon by playing on transparency with holes in the structure, as well as referencing the origins of Fusion by mixing rubber with manufactured metal. By juxtaposing contrasting materials, he has created a balance between the organic and the industrial, forged through innovation.
What defines the true nature of a collaboration between an artist and a brand? It is bringing together the best of two worlds while deeply respecting and building on the true nature of two visions. The Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross, launched in 2022, has ticked all the boxes of a successful and genuine collaboration, yet one in which Ross had left a powerful imprint through his aesthetic, functional and purposeful take on our watch, remaining true to who we are while shedding light from a different angle. His new iteration represents the next steps of a never-ending story demonstrating how creativity and engineering must never be taken for granted in consistently pushing existing boundaries to enhance our own creations. – RICARDO GUADALUPE HUBLOT CEO
Mingling sacred and industrial, organic and synthetic influences
With the hexagonal honeycomb shape and its perfect six equal sides, Ross has chosen the dominant governing pattern in the natural world recalling the functionality of a watch. Exactly like every single object he has designed, the watch is conceived as a durable, ergonomic and incredibly lightweight object – in this case made to be wristworn. Transposing this sacred geometry of Nature into the watch, Ross envisioned titanium plates to be polished, brushed, hammered and perforated in order to create a lean and imposing silhouette inducing a sense of motion.
The Big Bang Tourbillon SR_A by Samuel Ross is driven by the accuracy and technical design of the 282-component Manufacture HUB6035 caliber beating at 3 Hz during its 72-hour power reserve. Just as the first release, this new iteration is produced in a 50-piece limited edition.
Ross’s story to date
Artist and Designer Samuel Ross has defined his perspective through the arts; painting, sculpture, furniture, industrial design and fashion in particular.
Through founding both companies A-Cold-Wall*, since 2015, and SR_A since 2019 Dr. Ross has pioneered a signature design language that has translated to immersive, radical collaborations, developing and establishing a global cult audience, through multi-year design partnerships with Beats, Nike, Timberland, Converse Dr. Martens, Mackintosh, RideCake, Absolut, Acqua Di Parma and Hublot.
Developing a new millennial perspective in luxury goods, through his latest and most refined brand SR_A , founded in the same year he was awarded the Hublot Design Prize, has naturally occurred.
This polymathic creative force was named on the Forbes “30 under 30 Europe” list in 2020, has won numerous distinctions including GQ Fashion Awards and British Fashion Awards, received the Hublot Design Prize in 2019 as well as been a finalist for both the LVMH Prize and the ANDAM Award. Alongside his creative collaboration with Hublot, he has made a lasting imprint through his take on brands including Dr Marten’s, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, and Oakley. His designs have been worn by celebrities like Lewis Hamilton, Idris Elba, Daniel Kaluuya, Lebron James, Jay Z, Swizz Beats, Nick Jonas, Sophie Turner, BTS, Central Cee. As an active artist, Ross has been exhibiting in various museums around the world (Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK., National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Design Museum, London, UK, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX) as well as galleries with solo exhibitions (White Cube, Friedman Benda, Design Miami).
HUBLOT
Hublot is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1980 and based in Nyon. For its first ever timepiece, this fundamentally disruptive company combined gold with a rubber strap in a case with a design inspired by a ship’s porthole (hublot in French). Thus, the Art of Fusion was born, blending tradition, innovation, craftsmanship, worlds and talents. It became the brand’s aesthetic and technical signature.
This identity was strengthened in 2005 with the Big Bang, which attested to an unrivalled know-how in terms of complications, manufacture movements and state-of-the-art materials. Carbon, titanium, ceramic and sapphire have been developed on this model to technical extremes.
This ground-breaking, high-quality approach to watchmaking is summed up in its philosophy ‘Be First, Unique and Different.’ It gradually led to other collections with innovative designs: Classic Fusion, Shaped Collection (Spirit of Big Bang, Square Bang) and Manufacture Pieces. These draw on high levels of craftsmanship, both in terms of the materials so dear to Hublot (such as Magic Gold, brightly-coloured ceramics and sapphires) and its manufacture movements (Unico chronograph, Meca-10 and large complications such as the Tourbillon, the Cathedral Minute Repeater and the specific Manufacture Pieces movements).
Hublot’s world extends to powerful partnerships including football. ‘Hublot Loves Football’ has become the slogan at the world’s biggest sporting events (such as the FIFA World CupTM, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA EUROTM) and through its ambassadors. This love of football continues in art, design, music, sport, fine dining and sailing. Lastly, Hublot’s implication in joint environmental projects with SORAI and Polar Pod reflects its concern for the issues of the day.
Over 130 boutiques around the world share Hublot’s fervour and values, alongside the Hublot.com e-commerce site.
