The Low Down

With their new timepiece, Hublot and Berluti combine their biggest strengths to create a watch that is understated, elegant, and innovative. The new Big Bang Unico Berluti Alumino is meant for collectors and connoisseurs, and it is the latest from the five-year old partnership between Hublot and Berluti.

On this timepiece, the leather is the star. It features the emblematic patinated Venezia leather on the polished titanium bezel as well as on the dial, where the indices and words “Swiss Made” are imprinted in relief.

The leather used for the dial is held between two pieces of sapphire glass, and Aluminio, one of Berluti’s signature patinas, is applied to create different shades on the Venezia leather.

The Unico movement is made visible from the dial side thanks to the cut of the leather dial and the two pieces of sapphire glass that hold it all together. This is the same trusted  workhorse of a movement developed in-house by Hublot, featuring automatic winding, a flyback chronograph mechanism and three days of power reserve.

The Big Bang Unico Berluti Alumino also features a new two-part bezel design. The first piece of the bezel, 1 mm thick leather, is secured onto the second part: a grey titanium base. The two pieces are then screwed onto the case of the watch.

The leather is, of course, also featured on the straps. Two are available, one in burnished Aluminio Venezia leather, another in patinated Aluminio Venezia leather with the Scritto motif, exclusively for Japan.

In a bold choice, the watch utilizes several different materials which creates a unique style and ensures optimum performance. The 44-mm case and deployant clasp is titanium, the central horn is formed in a resin, the oscillating weight is tungsten, and the hands are satin-finished rhodium.

The watch will be delivered in a special case with a travel pouch, and a shoehorn keyring with the Berluti logo. Available in a limited run of 100 pieces.

IMHO

This watch was made for fans of understated looks. The dark leather and the unique dial add to give a sense of distinct and simple elegance. It is uncomplicated, but formidable, showing that minimalist designs and high-quality materials continue to provide for some of the  best watches in recent memory.

Tech Specs

Movement: Hublot MHUB1280, Self-winding UNICO Manufacture Chronograph, Flyback movement with column wheel, 72 hours Power reserve
Case: Satin-finished and polished titanium; Satin-finished titanium etched with “LIMITED EDITION 100NUM” and “BERLUTI”; Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating; Satin-finished and polished titanium with a genuine patinated Venezia leather insert by Berluti
Dial: Genuine patinated Venezia leather by Berluti with indices in relief and words “Swiss Made”
Strap: Black rubber and genuine patinated Venezia leather by Berluti Titanium deployant buckle clasp
Price and Availability: USD 25,200.00; limited to 100 pieces

More information: hublot.com