LVMH Watch Week: Hublot Brings the Color and the Rainbow

Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon SAXEM Yellow Neon
Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon SAXEM Yellow Neon

As evidenced by its unusual and catchy livery, the Big Bang Tourbillon SAXEM Yellow is the brand’s flagship launch and marks the debut of yet another new coloured sapphire.

Short for “Sapphire Aluminium oXide and rare Earth Mineral”, SAXEM is essentially a man-made sapphire created with a mix of aluminium oxide and rare-earth elements such as thulium and holmium. It differs from typical artificial sapphire in the fact that it uses rare-earth elements instead of standard metal like iron or titanium, which results in a higher brilliance than sapphire.

But the main point is the unique tone of neon yellow, which according to the brand is the result of a three-year research and development process, which tracks as it arrived four years after the brand debuted the first watch with a SAXEM case, the Big Bang MP-11 in emerald green SAXEM. The new neon yellow, however, is far more striking thanks to the fluorescent hue that almost seems like it’s glowing.

Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon SAXEM Yellow Neon
Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon SAXEM Yellow Neon

To match with the high-tech material, ticking away inside the watch is the brand’s in-house HUB6035, an automatic tourbillon movement that’s designed from the ground up to showcase its mechanical parts, which are held together by see-through sapphire plates. Notably, the micro-rotor has been incorporated into the barrel and avoids being a visual obstacle.

Tech Specs

Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon SAXEM Yellow Neon

Movement: HUB6035; automatic; power reserve 72 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, and tourbillon
Case: 44mm x 14.4mm; neon-yellow SAXEM; water resistant to 30 meter
Strap: Rubber strap with titanium folding clasp
Price: USD 211,000
Availability: Limited edition of 50 pieces


Big Bang Unico Integrated & Time Only Rainbow

Hublot Big Bang Unico Integrated Rainbow
Hublot Big Bang Unico Integrated Rainbow
Hublot Big Bang Time Integrated Only Rainbow
Hublot Big Bang Time Integrated Only Rainbow

Even more colourful than the neon-yellow watch above, the newest Big Bang Unico pair is perhaps the ultimate maximalist take on a rainbow watch, with the entire case and bracelet bathed in eight types of precious stones, namely rubies, amethyst, blue topaz, tsavorite, as well as sapphires in pink, orange, blue and yellow.

Just as the brand’s chief Ricardo Guadalupe puts it, the Rainbow pair is “100% Hublot”. But besides its exuberant personality, the Rainbow watches also demonstrates the manufacturer’s prowess in gemsetting, as each of the two versions sport over 900 individual stones, all perfectly coordinated in terms of colours and sizes.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Integrated Rainbow
Hublot Big Bang Unico Integrated Rainbow

If anything, the Big Bang Unico Integrated Rainbow and Big Bang Unico Time Only Rainbow are less flamboyant when compared to the one-off Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Rainbow introduced two years ago. The newest Big Bang Unico uses princess-cut stones – which have their unique charm – as opposed to baguette-cut stones on the bracelet, revealing more of King Gold underneath.

Tech Specs

Hublot Big Bang Unico Integrated Rainbow

Movement: MHUB1280 Unico; automatic; power reserve 72 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and flyback chronograph
Case: 42mm x 13.45mm; 18k King Gold; water resistant to 100 meter
Strap: 18k King Gold bracelet
Price: USD 169,000

Hublot Big Bang Time Integrated Only Rainbow

Movement: MHUB1710; automatic; power reserve 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Case: 40mm x 9.25mm; 18k King Gold; water resistant to 100 meter
Strap: 18k King Gold bracelet
Price: USD 158,000


Classic Fusion Original

Hublot Classic Fusion Original
Hublot Classic Fusion Original

While modern-day Hublot is mostly about fun, in-your-face wristwatches, the brand’s roots are relatively minimalist. In fact, the brand’s original wristwatch from 1980 was so simple that it had an empty dial, though it was certainly cutting-edge because of the rubber strap that’s fitted to a gold watch, a fusion of materials that was novel in that era.

In 2020, the brand celebrated its 40th anniversary with a trio of Classic Fusion modelled on the original, but they were on the large side at 45mm. Now the brand has unveiled an entire collection of Classic Fusion Original pieces based on vintage original, and they are available in an array of sizes, 33mm, 38mm and 42mm. It avoids the original 36mm, but the line up covers all tastes.

Hublot Classic Fusion Original
Hublot Classic Fusion Original

Just like the original, the new Classic Fusion Original is offered in an 18k yellow gold case, though contemporary options like titanium and black ceramic are also available. All watches share the same polished black-lacquered dial that has no markings save for the brand’s logo at 12 o’clock.

Hublot Classic Fusion Original

The two larger versions have an automatic MHUB1110 that’s based on the Sellita SW 300-1 that has a running time of 42 hours, arguably the only area of improvement, as three-day power reserve is the norm now. The smallest 33mm version has a quartz movement just like the original from 1980.

Tech Specs

Hublot Classic Fusion Original 42mm & 38mm

Movement: MHUB1710; automatic; power reserve 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Case: 42mm x 10mm or 38mm x 9. 85mm; 18k yellow gold, titanium, or ceramic; water resistant to 50 meter
Strap: Black rubber strap
Price: 42mm titanium – USD 8,200; 42mm ceramic – USD 10,000; 42mm gold – USD 24,100; 38mm titanium – USD 7,900; 38mm ceramic– USD 8,500; 38mm gold– USD 20,500

Hublot Classic Fusion Original 33mm

Movement: Quartz
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Case: 42mm x 10mm or 38mm x 9. 85mm; 18k yellow gold, titanium, or ceramic; water resistant to 50 meter
Strap: Black rubber strap
Price: 33mm titanium – USD 6,500; 33mm ceramic– USD 7,300; 33mm gold– USD 17,800


Big Bang Unico SORAI

Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI
Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI

A partnership that started in 2019, Hublot’s support for the Save Our Rhinos Africa India (SORAI) has seen two limited-edition watches created to help the charity organisation that helps keep wild rhinos safe from hunters.

In the same vein, the brand has introduced a third limited edition, which is identical to the earlier ones save for the material. While the grey ceramic case of the latest Big Bang Unico SORAI is the most understated of the SORAI editions to date, the dial and strap received a colourful makeover.

Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI
Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI

Clad in yellow, orange, pink, and purple, the strap and dial resembles the sunset palette and is a reminder of the “heightened danger faced by rhinos as night falls.” Notably, the hidden rhinoceros emblem at 9 o’clock is painted in bright orange and easily stands out from the dial, a feature that’s less obvious in previous editions.

Tech Specs

Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI

Movement: HUB1280 UNICO; power reserve 72 Hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and flyback chronograph
Case: 44mm microblasted and polished ward grey ceramic
Strap: Grey fabric. Additional black rubber with black, orange and purple camouflage decor
Price: USD 24,100


Big Bang Unico & One Click Cheval Blanc Randheli

Hublot Big Bang Unico Cheval Blanc Randheli
Hublot Big Bang Unico Cheval Blanc Randheli
Hublot Big Bang One Click Cheval Blanc Randheli
Hublot Big Bang One Click Cheval Blanc Randheli

Last but not least is a pair of Big Bang Unico in cheerful colours to mark the 9th anniversary of the Cheval Blanc Randheli, a luxury hotel in Maldives. This is the third limited edition created for the resort, with the earlier two editions made in 2016 and 2017 and sold out quickly thanks to the hotel guests.

Like the SORAI edition above, the Randheli edition is inspired by the sun, as evidenced by the polished ceramic bezel in bright yellow, complementing the brown dial while creating strong contrast with the greyish titanium case. Two versions are offered, with the first being a 42mm Big Bang Unico that’s a chronograph with an in-house but modular movement, and the second a 39mm Big Bang One Click that’s a straightforward time and date.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Cheval Blanc Randheli
Hublot Big Bang One Click Cheval Blanc Randheli

Tech Specs

Hublot Big Bang Unico Cheval Blanc Randheli

Movement: MHUB1280 Unico; automatic; power reserve 72 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and flyback chronograph
Case: 42mm x 14.5mm; titanium; water resistant to 100 meter
Strap: Brown alligator and white rubber strap
Price: USD 23,700

Hublot Big Bang One Click Cheval Blanc Randheli

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Case: 39mm x 12.55mm; steel; water resistant to 100 meter
Strap: Brown alligator and white rubber strap
Price: USD 16,300

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