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If we look at the watchmaking brands belonging to the LVMH group, Hublot was the most prolific, with plenty of new models, ranging from time-only wristwatches to tourbillons. The first half’s hero is undoubtedly the Classic Fusion Original.
The Hublot Classic Fusion Original
In 2020, during the celebrations for the brand’s 40th anniversary, Hublot launched a commemorative collection in three options: titanium, ceramic, and gold. Featuring a 45mm case, all models aimed at the original Classic Fusion by applying a bold Hublot logo at twelve atop a black lacquered dial with no indexes.
That project was a success and fostered the brand’s legacy and a world first: the Classic Fusion is the first-ever gold luxury sports watch with a rubber strap. Hublot kicks off 2023 by introducing a new collection, the Hublot Classic Fusion Original, in three different case sizes.
The 45 mm version is no longer available; the three new models boast 42, 38 and 33 mm case sizes, each paired with three materials options: titanium, black ceramic and yellow gold.
The latter is the closest thing to the original model you can buy; it holds its legacy and pure, uncluttered design, with no more than six screws on the bezel. Ideally placed alongside the original one, the new one is contemporary, with a thicker bezel and a rubber insert between the case and bezel.
The 42mm and 38mm variants feature a self-winding calibre, the Hublot HUB 1110. It’s a custom-rotor Sellita SW-300; a quartz movement powers the 33mm Classic Fusion Original. The Classic Fusion Original’s price list starts at 6,800 Euros for the 33 mm Titanium model and grows to 25,200 Euros asking price for the 42 mm Classic Fusion in Yellow Gold.
The Hublot Big Bang Unico Sorai
The brand has, since 2019, supported the SORAI. SORAI stands for “Save Our Rhino Africa India” and is a project launched in 2018 to protect rhinos from poachers in Africa and India. Its founder is Hublot ambassador and former cricket champion Kevin Pietersen.
To support the project, whose mission is to spread awareness and help the rangers protect these endangered animals, Hublot has released the Big Ban Unico Sorai, a 100-piece limited edition, whose big part of the proceedings will help the organization increase their support.
It is a Big Bang Unico Chrono, whose case adopts polished and micro-blasted grey ceramic as a tribute to the rhinos’ skin’s colour; the skeletonized dial celebrates sunset and dawn instead via colours on Arabic numerals, applied indexes and inner flange.
Sunset is the most dangerous part of the day for rhinos since poachers silently hunt for them; a new dawn marks a moment of relief as the hunt temporarily stops.
Technically, the new Hublot Big Bang Unico Sorai houses the UNICO Chrono calibre with a 72-hour power reserve when fully wound.
Thanks to the One Click device, you can quickly change the strap and opt for one in grey fabric and velcro or another in a black, purple and orange camo combo. Measuring 44 mm across and 14,5 mm in thickness, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sorai retails for 25,200 Euros.
The Hublot Big Bang Rainbow Editions watches
“Rainbow” calls for a specific product category where a combination of precious metals and stones stands out. Hublot has applied this formula to two Big Bang models, measuring 40 and 42 mm diameters, respectively, and crafted in proprietary King Gold, Hublot’s alloy offers enhanced resistance to scratches and a warmer gold tone less prone to oxidation compared to an ordinary alloy.
The chronograph adopts the same UNICO HUB 1280 chronograph found on the SORAI, but the talking point is somewhere else and focused on the precious stones’ pavè on the case and bracelet.
You may find ruby, amethyst, blue topaz, and tsavorite; pink, orange, blue and yellow sapphires. The Chrono model, the Big Bang Integrated King Gold Rainbow, adopts 174 stones, while the Big Bang Integrated Time Only King Gold Rainbow goes up to 176.
The retail prices are the following: the Big Bang Integrated King Gold Rainbow costs 176,000 Euros; the Big Bang Integrated Time Only King Gold Rainbow costs 165,000 Euros.
The Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon SAXEM
The Big Bang Tourbillon is a top-of-the-range model belonging to the Hublot Big Bang collection, available with different case materials, including sapphire. The brand further develops the collection by crafting the case in SAXEM.
What is SAXEM? It stands for Sapphire Aluminum oXide and rare Earth Minerals. In brief, it is an alloy of aluminium oxide, the primary component of sapphire, with the addition of rare earth elements such as thulium, holmium and chromium.
According to the brand, it offers superior resistance and brilliance. Hublot already adopted this material, mainly adopted in the aerospace industry, when engineering the Big Bang MP-11 in 2019.
SAXEM helped create the Yellow Neon case pictured here and mimics a sapphire case by delivering a translucent case with enhanced performance, as said.
The new model preserves the core collection’s architecture, based on the HUB6035 in-house calibre, a self-winding movement with a micro-rotor, fully skeletonized and with the tourbillon mechanism placed as usual at six. The bridges are in sapphire, and the movement runs for at least 72 hours when fully wound. Made in 50 pieces, the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon SAXEM costs 220,000 Euros.
(Photo credit: Hublot)
Editorial team @Horbiter®
