Tag Archives: bigbang

BIG BANG UNICO ORANGE CERAMIC: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

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A new ceramic colour is making its appearance at the heart of the Big Bang Unico: a vibrant orange, the result of a unique alchemy and a flawless resistance to shocks and scratches.

If there is something Hublot excels at, it is disruption and unbridled creativity. But, sometimes, it is also known for those little touches that quietly and profoundly change the landscape of watchmaking. Such is the case today, after vivid red and yellow, the Manufacture introduces the first vivid orange ceramic.

Historically, ceramics were first available in unobtrusive colours: black and white. Hublot has gradually changed the game by exploring other shades. The Big Bang has introduced different variations of blue, grey and green. Then, in 2019, it presented a world first when the first brightly coloured ceramic was released: a vibrant red. The second of these achievements came in 2021, with a stunning yellow piece. But the Big Bang collector is not someone who is content with the status quo. Far from it! Hublot has therefore continued to innovate and develop new colours, the very latest of which is this orange.

Developing an original ceramic colour is as simple to say… as it is complex to achieve. The workload should not be underestimated: it requires in-depth research & development. Which additives are needed? In what proportions? What type of firing, at what temperature, and for how long? How can it be machined? Should it have a satin finish? Or polished? How resistant is it to impacts? What about scratches? What pressure? What chemical recipe?

This is just a small part of the specifications that govern the development of a new ceramic. And every single aspect is exacting, as the standards guaranteed by Hublot for its ceramic are among the most stringent on the market. 100% internal expertise, patent-protected.

“Ceramic is part of Hublot history, but it’s a history that is still being written. We’ve never stopped innovating. It’s in our DNA. From our first ceramic bezel in 2005 to the 100% ceramic cases – which we are currently the only company to master in such a wide array of vivid colours. And that’s just the beginning. We’ve got a lot more to come!”  – RICARDO GUADALUPE HUBLOT CEO

 

The new Big Bang Unico Orange Ceramic follows in the footsteps of its predecessors. It offers a unique, perfectly uniform colour, whatever exterior component it is used to adorn. It is finished to a very high watchmaking standard, with a perfect mirror polish all over. A blend of high technology and savoir faire were necessary to achieve this level of excellence on all the components, due to their diverse shapes, thicknesses, and angles.

Hublot has recreated the exact colour of the ceramic for the indices, counters on the dial and hands, as well as for the integrated rubber strap. This strap features the patented “One-Click” system for quick, tool-free changes.

This series is limited to 250 pieces. At its heart beats the Unico Chronograph Manufacture calibre. This is the very latest generation of the automatic flyback chronograph movement developed by Hublot. Guaranteeing a three-day power reserve (72 hours), it retains the same aesthetic signature: column wheel at 6 o’clock, bicompax layout (small seconds at 9 o’clock, 60-minute counter at 3 o’clock with integrated date), silicon escapement, and the always demonstrative and powerful skeleton architecture. The Unico sits inside the iconic Big Bang case. This version is 42 mm in diameter and features the famous 6 titanium ‘H’ shaped bezel screws and lugs on either side of the case that echo the design of a ship’s porthole.

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 unrivalled expertise in terms of complications,vmanufacture 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 involvement 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.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

CASE

REFERENCE

441.CU.5910.RX

SIZE

42 mm

CASE

Polished Orange Ceramic

BEZEL

Polished Orange Ceramic

WATER RESISTANCE

100m or 10 ATM

CRYSTAL

Sapphire with Anti-reflective Treatment 

DIAL

Orange Skelton

MOVEMENT

MOVEMENT

HUB1280 UNICO Manufacture Self-winding Chronograph Flyback Movement with Column Wheel

POWER RESERVE

72 Hours

STRAP & CLASP

STRAP

Black and Orange Structured Lined Rubber Straps

CLASP

Black Ceramic and Black-plated Titanium Deployant Buckle Clasp

HUBLOT’s Innovations at LVMH WATCH WEEK 2024: A Tour of Masterful Timepieces and Artistic Collaborations

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Hublot’s continued dedication to crafting timepieces that transcend the ordinary embodies the brand’s ‘Be First, Unique, and Different philosophy.’ Let us delve into the realm of horological excellence and artistic innovation as Hublot unveils a tapestry of masterful timepieces and captivating collaborations.

MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System

The Manufacture’s tenth MP revisits the fundamentals of watchmaking: no dial, hands or oscillating weight, instead a roller display, a circular power reserve and an inclined tourbillon automatic winding by two linear weights. The announcement of a new Manufacture Piece (MP) is always eagerly awaited at Hublot. This MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium will be no exception. The piece is immediately arresting. With its rounded angles, sleek design and sapphire crystal of an unparalleled complexity, it houses a movement which is no less sophisticated. A fusion of form and substance. The mechanical and aesthetic power are inseparable – one of the key concepts guiding the MP collections. And at the point where they intersect, the Manufacture offers a bold reinvention of the classic watchmaking complications. These are avant-garde pieces which are resolutely disruptive in their movement, display and complications. But they are neither concepts nor exercises in style. Like all the other MPs, the MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium is a complete, accomplished and practical watch that will soon adorn the wrists of a select few collectors.

Big Bang Unico Saxem Green 

Hublot unveils the second shade of its revolutionary material, SAXEM. Closely allied to sapphire, SAXEM is equally resistant, yet offers even more luminosity. With cousins, you can tell they come from the same family but they do have distinctive differences. The same can be said for sapphire and SAXEM, their connection is clear as they come from the same Hublot lineage. The Manufacture in Nyon is credited with bringing them both into the 21st century, to the point of establishing them as hallmark materials. Even so, their profiles are quite distinct. Sapphire is made of aluminium oxide, to which metallic oxides are added to provide colour. In contrast, SAXEM is coloured with rare earth elements. Sapphire has a trigonal (three-sided) structure, while SAXEM has a cubic (four-sided) form. Chemical details? Maybe, but ever since Hublot established itself as an integrated Manufacture, R&D has been the key focus of its operations. This was true when the Nyon Manufacture was inaugurated in 2009, and, 15 years later, remains so today. The new Big Bang Unico Green SAXEM is further proof

Spirit of Big Bang 32mm Jewellery

Watchmaking and jewellery collide to create an enchanting match . Master gemsetters have worked their magic on these six 32-mm cases, enveloping them in light or transforming them into rainbows. These pieces are crafted in King Gold – the Manufacture’s 18K gold alloy, warmer than 5N gold – or stainless steel. Hublot has channelled its avant-garde and unconventional approach to create these stunning variations with a feminine touch. With these fully-set Spirit of Big Bang Jewellery pieces, draped in their precious finery, time becomes incandescent. The slim design embodies a feminine spirit which enhances the brilliance of its setting. The character of the Big Bang is fused with the sophistication of the gemstones, transforming the Spirit of Big Bang into a sparkling piece of jewellery. The Spirit of Big Bang combines the Big Bang design and the brand’s unique expertise in a tonneau-shaped watch. The piece features six H-shaped titanium screws, the self-winding proprietary movement, the unique “sandwich” case construction which enables an unlimited number of combinations and materials, and comfortable interchangeable straps featuring a deployant buckle. These endless possibilities truly celebrate the art of fusion.

Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski Ceramic

Pop colours, an edgy design, outstanding mechanics, a skeleton tourbillon and a five-day power reserve: Hublot’s new collaboration with the artist is all about fusion, without compromise. From the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski to his sculptures, Orlinski’s pieces never go unnoticed. The watch emerges from a work of art. Or perhaps it’s the other way around? Hublot’s ‘Art of Fusion’ has never been more exquisitely expressed than through the brand’s collaboration with Richard Orlinski. The world’s best-selling French artist and the most innovative watchmaker of the last 20 years were destined for one another.The first is radiantly sunny, with its case, strap, bezel, hands and index all dressed in yellow. Its ‘beating heart’ is still the manually wound HUB6021. This movement is a favourite among brand connoisseurs. Its components, such as the crown and the six H-shaped screws around the bezel, appear suspended in space by black PVD skeleton bridges. Between 8 and 9 o’clock, the power reserve indicates the five-day capacity. At 6 o’clock, the tourbillon keeps the time ticking on. Plus, thanks to sapphire crystal faces on the front and back, the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski always catches the light.

Other Novelties

Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Purple Sapphire

Square Bang Unico King Gold Blue Ceramic, Square Bang Unico Titanium Blue Ceramic, 

Square Bang Unico Titanium Blue, Square Bang Unico King Gold Blue, Square Bang Unico Blue Ceramic

Big Bang Integrated Time Only Ceramic in Indigo Blue and Sky Blue

Hublot continues redefining watchmaking’s boundaries, seamlessly blending artistry, mechanics, and unparalleled craftsmanship, creating watches that tell time and stories of audacious creativity and boundless imagination.

Day 2 at Watches and Wonders 2023

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If you have recovered from yesterday’s exhilarating trip, be ready to be spun around some more because the show keeps getting surreal.

Without much ado, we shall begin our discovery of the exquisite novelties that await us.

BEAUREGARD – Dahlia White Gold – Fire Opal

The Maison’s founding collection Dahlia was unveiled in 2018 to immediate international recognition. The collection was selected for the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) alongside international powerhouse brands. This poetic floral creation with its Haute Joaillerie dial, animated by a central flying tourbillon and set with 600 flawless diamonds, is presented this year with a dial handmade in vibrant Fire opal. Sourced in the Mexican village of Magdalena, the world center for the 5 mines producing this fascinating gem, this flawless selection of rough stones is worked in a Montreal workshop to the highest standards of craftsmanship.

A delicate-looking yet sturdy timepiece on a lovely wrist has a calming effect on time.

CHOPARD – Alpine Eagle 41 XPS

Alpine Eagle extends its range with an ultra-thin model featuring a small seconds indication. The L.U.C 96.40-L movement measures 3.30mm only, enabling the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS to beat with chronometer-certified accuracy. Optimal proportions and a textured “Monte Rosa Pink” dial endow this model with undeniable elegance and distinction, while its finishes have earned it Poinçon de Genève recognition.

This one is sure to charm you and make you look at the world with Rosa tinted glasses.

FERDINAND BERTHOUD – FB 3SPC.1

The Chronomètre FB 3SPC.1, one of the two versions, is equipped with an 18-carat white gold case, 2N pale yellow gold movement components and an eggshell-coloured dial in sandblasted silver-toned brass.

Golden dreams are made of these.

FREDERIQUE CONSTANT – Classic Tourbillon Manufacture

Honouring the watchmaking traditions, the Classic Tourbillon is manufactured in gold in a limited quantity of 150 individually numbered watches. The tourbillon was first unveiled in 2008, 15 years ago, with a comma-shaped aperture in 2023, the comma has become a full circle.

The elegance of this timepiece is not to be missed.

HUBLOT – MP-13 TOURBILLON BI-AXIS RETROGRADE

Hublot is known for its disruptive, creative and technical Haute Horlogerie. Now writing a new chapter in the MP story with masterpieces that are collectors’ dreams. The new MP-13 is a unique 100% Hublot Manufacture complication with a double-axis Tourbillon and Dual Retrograde Display from the watchmaking of tomorrow.

Wrap your head and time around this one because this is one complicated yet beautiful timepiece.

HUBLOT –Square Bang Sapphire 

Hublot unveils its interpretation of the square watch, a new geometry for the watchmaker. Inspired by the Maison’s iconic Big Bang, this Square Bang Unico adds a new pillar: ‘The Shaped Collection’ to sit alongside the Spirit of Big Bang.

A show-stopper is an apt word for this one. If the world were square, it would probably just fit in fine in this one. The transparent sapphire case makes this the watch to have. 

 

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN – Ingenieur Automatic 40 Black

During the 70s, Gerald Genta created the Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832. Today’s Ingenieur Automatic 40 embodies his vision of bringing a stainless steel sporty watch with an integrated bracelet. While meeting the highest standards set for technology, ergonomics and finish, the watch also shows off daring aesthetics.

The black ‘grid’ will seamlessly intersect and network into your multiple parallel universes, real or imaginary.

LAURENT FERRIER –  Square Micro-Rotor Evergreen

Always committed to creating timeless yet modern pieces that are functional yet can sway you with their aesthetic power, Laurent Ferrier now brings forth watches that are an eclectic mix of sophistication and elegance, the Square Micro-Rotor Evergreen and the Classic Micro-Rotor Evergreen.

Simplicity has immense power, check this watch out if you do not believe me.

ROLEX – New Cosmograph Daytona

Rolex has launched new age Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona updating its range. The case design is singular in nature and features its characteristic chronograph with refined details.

This model has the most unique colour combinations and this being Rolex it wears its crown high.

HUBLOT CELEBRATES THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT

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In order to mark the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit, Hublot collaborated with Chinese Artist Wen Na in creating a unique painting for the dial of the Spirit of Big Bang Black Ceramic Rabbit 

As the Lunar New Year is approaching, Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot has invited Wen Na to craft a new Year of the Rabbit painting and present the Spirit of Big Bang Black Ceramic Rabbit. The fusion of traditional Chinese culture with Contemporary Haute Horlogerie has given rise to new ideas: Wen visualised 12 double-hours from the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches and combined them with traditional elements of the Lunar New Year. We therefore can find festive lanterns, firecrackers and lion dance in the artwork, to create an intriguing world to usher into the new year. The time is brimming with wonder and excitement at each double-hours, giving full expression to Hublot’s Art of Fusion spirit.

 In traditional Chinese culture, the rabbit is considered sacred and auspicious, and thus the Year of the Rabbit 2023 is recognized as “the lucky year”. Hublot wanted to give green light to an artist in order to celebrate this Lunar New Year. Wen Na created a New Year-themed painting in her vibrant artistic language, using unbridled imagination to visualise 12 double-hours in a unique way. A group of charmingly naive rabbits, which are having fun with a lion dance, or holding firecrackers or indulging themselves in other traditional Chinese activities, marking the wonderful moments as time goes by. This scene depicts a vigorous and prosperous Year of the Rabbit and also conveys the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, an occasion for family reunion.

Enlighted by Hublot’s Art of Fusion brand concept, Wen drew inspiration from the ancient calendar of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, an old and mysterious Chinese cultural treasure. The 12 double-hours are fused with the images of rabbits to deliver a sense of joy and reunion. Meanwhile, she believes that refined arts in our world come in diverse forms, of which the essence lies in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In her painting, a group of quick-witted rabbits bring to life the traditional customs associated with the Lunar New Year, including performing dragon and lion dances, putting up or changing door gods, hanging up festive lanterns, and giving and receiving red packets (a Year of Rabbit gift with money stuffed into red envelopes). There always is something to enjoy at each double-hours – from the Zi Hour to the Hai Hour. The twelve Earthly Branches are also used to record the year and the month, thus implying that every day and every month is a good time in the world of Hublot time.

Moreover, in Wen’s mind, rabbits are not just gentle and cute. She gave rabbits a more modern look by presenting them in a slightly playful style. While in keeping with the theme of the Year of the Rabbit and the quintessence of traditional Chinese culture, she changed the usual image of the gentle rabbits and recreated amusing rabbits that are energetic at different double-hours in an artistic way, injecting fresh vitality into the new year and aptly interpreting Hublot’s innovative and pioneering spirit of “be different”. A contemporary reinterpretation of the classics. 

The whole visual is thus captured in her mind, which is then realised in the canvas, with powerful images interpreting the rhythm of minutes and seconds, and conveying joyful emotions in a new year. The creation is the result of a fusion between Haute Horlogerie know-how and traditional art and culture, between the essence of Eastern and Western cultures, and between the past and the present.

Coming from China, Wen Na is acclaimed as one of the leading young contemporary Chinese artists for her distinctive artistic style. She graduated with a major in printmaking and developed an indissoluble bond with “fusion of arts” during her university years. From mural paintings to sculpture and from art to music, Wen has constantly experimented with the fusion of various art forms, leveraging unique aesthetic concepts to inspire new thinking about modern art. The “fusion of arts”, which Wen believes is the driving force behind inspiration and imagination and also is in line with Hublot’s Art of Fusion brand concept. With its ingenuity and craftsmanship, Hublot has combined seemingly diametrically opposed materials and joined hands with the most talented practitioners in alternate fields to push the boundaries of what is technically and aesthetically possible to set new trends for watchmaking.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with a young artist like Wen Na who is a master of traditional Chinese culture to craft a new Lunar New Year painting and present the Spirit of Big Bang Black Ceramic Rabbit. Everyone who saw Wen Na’s mural work was shocked as she has fused her strong imagination with rich colors and lines. More interestingly, these images are not replicas of existing traditional symbols, but a combination of her use of the place where the murals are located, history, and her strong imagination. Her unique artistic style perfectly embodies the bold creative vision that we have at Hublot. Meanwhile, Hublot loves Art has been demonstrating through various forms of expression and creations how the brand loves to fuse different artistic inspirations and styles. Hublot Loves Art!”  – RICARDO GUADALUPE HUBLOT CEO 

“The partnership with Hublot is a very pleasant surprise. It is also an interesting combination to integrate the ancient representation of time in traditional Chinese culture, the sexagenary cycle, with Hublot and its pioneering watch. More importantly, Hublot’s presentation of the animation also amazed me, and the whole creative process made me feel very smooth and happy as well.”  –WEN NA CONTEMPORARY ARTIST 

Inspired by Hublot’s Art of Fusion brand concept, Wen Na interpreted the twelve Earthly Branches, a symbol from the traditional Chinese calendar, with artistic imagination to depict the distinctive 12 double-hours. A group of charming rabbits having fun with a lion dance, holding firecrackers or indulging in other activities, mark the wonderful moments of each of the double-hours. This timepiece represents a fusion of the essence of Chinese culture and innovative watchmaking concepts, while demonstrating the connection between Eastern and Western cultures with a unique artistic language. 

A Year of the Rabbit-themed painting is vividly rendered into a festive scene on the dial with playful rabbits at different double-hours, thanks to the brand’s exquisite craftsmanship. Hublot artisans use a variety of brushes to paint the dial, with some details presented in hair-thin fine strokes. Each hand-painted dial is created through a complicated process that takes over 40 hours. Each dial of the 12 pieces is different from the others, therefore all are unique artworks that showcase the brand’s exceptional watchmaking expertise. In addition, the representation of hour markers has adopted an artistic expression that derives from the traditional twelve Earthly Branches, representing a tribute to profound Chinese culture and Hublot’s efforts of taking its pioneering philosophy of fusion to a new height. 

This timepiece adopts the tonneau-shaped case, a signature design code of the Spirit of Big Bang collection, and incorporates all the classic design elements of Big Bang watches: the six H-shaped screws on the bezel, the lugs either side of the case, the over-moulded rubber screw-down crown decorated with the iconic H, and the sandwich type construction. Additionally, the Spirit of Big Bang Black Ceramic Rabbit is made of black ceramic to provide a perfect contrast with the gorgeous image on the dial where rabbits are celebrating the Lunar New Year. Housed within the 42mm-diameter case is the HUB1710 self-winding movement with a 50-hour power reserve. 

REFERENCE 

CASE 

CASE BACK 

BEZEL 

646.CI.0610.NR.WNA23 

Limited to 12 pieces 

Microblasted and Polished Black ceramic 

Diameter: 42 mm 

Thickness: 13.85 mm 

Water Resistant: 10 ATM 

Microblasted and Polished Black Ceramic 

Microblasted and Polished Black ceramic 

DIAL 

MOVEMENT 

STRAP AND BUCKLE 

PRICE 

Sapphire Crystal, hand painted 

HUB1710 Self-winding Movement 

Frequency (Hz): 4 (28’800 A/h) 

Power reserve: Approx. 50 hours 

Number of components: 185 

Jewels: 27 

Black Fabric Strap with Black Ceramic Buckle Clasp 

Black and Red Lined Structured Rubber Strap 

Black Ceramic and Black-plated Titanium Deployant Buckle Clasp 

38’000.00 CHF 

41’000.00 EUR 

40’000.00 USD 

34’500.00 GBP 

THE BIG BANG UNICO SORAI TIME FOR RHINOS

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In the battle against extinction, time is everything and every second counts.

Hublot has been supporting SORAI Save Our Rhinos Africa India since 2019. An organisation founded by Hublot ambassador and former international cricket star Kevin Pietersen. His work helps keep rhinos threatened with extinction safe from poachers. As with the two previous limited editions, part of the proceeds from the sale of the 100 Big Bang Unico SORAI will be donated to the organisation. The colours chosen for the third limited edition are those of sunset recalling the heightened danger faced by rhinos as night falls. Here, the sun is a symbol of hope of a new dawn.

“If purchasing a watch can buy time, then it is a small gesture with huge implications. Saving the rhino is an urgent matter for both the planet and future generations. When brand ambassador and former international cricketer Kevin Pietersen launched SORAI in 2018, we felt it was entirely natural to join forces with him in his race against time to beat the poachers. We have used our limited editions to help him gain access to more state of the art technologies on the ground, put together more surveillance teams, as well as rescue injured or orphaned rhinos, with the single shared aim of shielding this endangered species.” –  RICARDO GUADALUPE HUBLOT CEO

A watch made to support rhinos.

  • Because the rhino’s only predators are humans.
  • Because every day, every minute and every second counts.
  • Because each Big Bang Unico SORAI will buy time for endangered rhinos.
  • Because, on the ground, we need to be faster than the poachers.
  • Because poaching is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and risk for species extinction, second only to the destruction of natural habitats.

One of the “BIG FIVE” and the second largest mammal after the elephant, the rhino has seen its numbers drop by 90% over the last ten years. On average, three wild rhinos are killed every day, leaving fewer than 30,000 rhinos currently alive across the world. And while trade in rhino horn has been banned internationally since 1977 by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), poachers continue to hunt and kill rhinos for their horns, whose price is worth more per kilo than gold.

Since 2018, SORAI has supported projects to protect endangered animals, identify new technologies to combat poaching (thermal cameras, GPS tracking of animals) and raise awareness of the need to protect these endangered species. In line with its motto, “BE THE CHANGE”, SORAI is pushing change and working to prevent poaching and hunting. There are many ways to combat poaching (raising public awareness, education, law enforcement, transmitters for tracking animals, increasing ranger numbers and creating sanctuaries for injured or orphaned animals). However, prevention and active rangers on the ground remain the most effective tools Proceeds from the sale of the Big Bang Unico SORAI will go directly to projects supported by SORAI to equip helicopters with cameras, raise awareness in schools about the consequences of poaching and to provide backup to rangers on the ground. These strategies are implemented where the need is biggest and most pressing South Africa. South Africa is home to more than 80% of the world’s total population of rhinos, with the majority of poaching taking place in Kruger National Park as it has the largest population of wild white rhinos left on earth.

Our actions on the ground (surveillance teams and equipment to prevent poaching, rhino sanctuaries and refuges) are vital. However, in order to act, we first need to raise public awareness, increase publicity and make this a visible cause. Hublot is helping us on the ground by donating proceeds from the sale of the Big Bang Unico SORAI and by lending the brand’s voice to our cause to bring it to global attention. In the three years since we began this joint venture, it has yielded concrete results.

KEVIN PIETERSEN FOUNDER OF SORAI, HUBLOT AMBASSADOR FORMER INTERNATIONAL CRICKETER

 

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, 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. Almost 130 boutiques around the world share Hublot’s fervour and values, alongside the Hublot.com e-commerce site. 

SORAI

SORAI is a socially conscious enterprise that collaborates with the world’s most progressive brands and their audiences to support the conservation of key endangered species. In short, our Purpose is that we exist to bring people and business together to ensure that Africa & India’s keystone species survive and thrive in the wild. Forever 

Founded in 2018 by former international cricketer and conservationist Kevin Pietersen, SORAI has supported grassroots organisations that rescue abandoned, injured, and orphaned endangered species and rehabilitate them where possible. 

Alongside its network of global partners, SORAI is also committed to bringing attention to the plight of these animals through award-winning television and digital content.Together with our partners we work to connect with communities around the world to raise awareness of the importance of these animals and their value for future generations 

The SORAI emblem is a symbol for change. It informs, it empowers, it unites people through conservation. 

SORAI, Be the Change. 

BIG BANG UNICO SORAI 

TECHNICAL SHEET REFERENCE 
CASE 
CASE BACK 
BEZEL 

421.FX.8099.NR.SOA23 

Limited to 100 pieces 

Micro-blasted and polished grey ceramic with “One-Click” system 

Diameter: 44 mm 

Thickness: 14.50 mm 

Water Resistant: 100 m 

Micro-blasted grey ceramic and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment with SORAI logo 

Micro-blasted and polished grey ceramic 
DIAL 
MOVEMENT 
STRAP AND BUCKLE 
PRICE 

Matte grey skeleton with “Rhinoceros” applique at 09:00 

MHUB1280 UNICO 2 Manufacture self-winding chronograph flyback movement with column wheel 

Frequency (Hz): 4 (28’800 A/h) 

Power reserve: Approx. 72 hours 

Number of components: 354 

Jewels: 43 

Grey fabric strap with micro-blasted black ceramic buckle 

Additional black rubber with black, orange and purple camouflage decor 

Black ceramic and black-plated titanium deployant buckle clasp 

22’900.00 CHF 

25’200.00 EUR 

24’100.00 USD 

20’800.00 GBP 

 

SAXEM, ACT II: THE BIG BANG TOURBILLON AUTOMATIC NOW IN NEON YELLOW SAXEM 

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Hublot continues its exploration of SAXEM – a material often used in satellites and some lasers – allowing the Manufacture to obtain unprecedented translucent colours, of which neon yellow. A first for Hublot and for watchmaking.

“It has taken us almost three years of research, after the MP-11 Emerald Green, to develop a new colour fit for our Big Bang and that would be totally transparent and completely resistant. Once again, Hublot is pushing the possibilities of technology and aesthetics and fuses them to create a unique neon yellow manufacturer piece. – RICARDO GUADALUPE (HUBLOT CEO)”

Reproducing a translucent case in a bright, fluorescent shade of neon yellow may seem like a simple idea. But, in fact, it was incredibly complex to achieve. The yellow is a powerful, bright neon colour which almost seems to glow from the inside, like a fluorescent material. An intense fluorescent shade of acid yellow, citrus-like in its quality. To meet this highly technical challenge, Hublot had to search for a solution in space technology. In fact, SAXEM was developed in the field of satellite technology. A unique material that had also been used in 2019 for the Big Bang MP-11. 

At the time, Hublot had crafted it in emerald green. This time, the goal was to achieve a brand-new neon yellow colour. It also had to meet the strict requirements of the Nyon Manufacture for its sapphire watches: complete transparency and incredible resistance. After three years of research and development, the challenge was met and overcome with the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon SAXEM. 

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What is SAXEM? It stands for “Sapphire Aluminium oXide and rare Earth Mineral”. It is an alloy of aluminium oxide, the basic component of sapphire, with rare earth elements like thulium and holmium as well as chromium. The resulting material is ultra-resistant and endowed with a brilliance that is greater than that of sapphire. The absence of tension within the material ensures greater stability in terms of shaping, whereas the cubic crystalline structure guarantees the same shade and intensity of colour, regardless of the angle from which the case is viewed. The fully polished neon yellow SAXEM offers a bold contrast with the bezel’s six H-shaped screws and with the crown, all in polished and micro-blasted titanium. 

In terms of movement, the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon SAXEM is powered by the HUB6035 self-winding Manufacture calibre. Hublot has chosen the most difficult technical route, self-winding using a micro-rotor, the only way to avoid concealing the back of the movement as a conventional rotor would have done. On top of that, the Manufacture has chosen to skeletonise the entire calibre. This is a stratospheric feat of watchmaking which pushes open-worked materials to the limits of their functional resistance, almost nothing remains that would conceal the calibre. Entirely visible and fully laid bare, even its bridges are made from sapphire so that only the beating heart and soul of the watch remain. This heart is the tourbillon, which appears to be suspended in mid-air. This architecture serves to free the piece from any visual clutter. Positioned at 6 o’clock, it offers the technical and hypnotic spectacle of a high-precision Haute Horlogerie piece, designed as a 21st-century interpretation: modern, disruptive, dazzling. 

Finally, to make it suitable for daily use, the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon SAXEM offers a guaranteed 72-hour power reserve – making the piece perfectly weekend-proof. 

This timepiece, which will be exclusively available as a limited edition of 50 pieces, comes with a neon yellow textured rubber strap, tailor-made for this watch, complete with a titanium deployant buckle and equipped with the One Click system so that it can be changed immediately with no need for tools.

Check it out at: www.hublot.com 

BIG BANG TOURBILLON AUTOMATIC YELLOW NEON SAXEM 

TECHNICAL SHEET REFERENCE 
CASE 
CASE BACK 
BEZEL 
YELLOW NEON SAXEM 
429.JY.0120.RT 
Limited to 50 pieces 
Polished and microblasted neon yellow SAXEM with “One Click” system 
Diameter: 44mm 
Thickness: 14.40 mm 
Water Resistant: 30 m 
Polished neon yellow SAXEM and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
Polished and micro-blasted neon yellow SAXEM 
DIAL 
MOVEMENT 
STRAP AND BUCKLE 
PRICE 
Sapphire crystal 
HUB6035 Manufacture automatic tourbillon movement 
Frequency (Hz): 3 (21’600 A/h) 
Power reserve: Approx. 72 hours 
Number of components: 282 
Jewels: 26 
Lined transparent neon yellow rubber strap 
Titanium deployant buckle clasp
200’000.00 CHF 
220’000.00 EUR 
211’000.00 USD 
182’000.00 GBP