As my reporting about Baselworld continues, tonight I want to present you 52 live taken pictures on 6 pages of the Hublot novelties 2016.
Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black
10 years ago Hublot launched its first “All Black” watch. In the beginning people thought the idea to have an all black watch is quite useless since you can’t even read the time. But all those who thought this would be a short and silly trend did have to admit that “All Black” became a “must-have” trend. The idea was copied and copied and still today almost everyone now offers an all black wristwatch…
To celebrate the first 10 years of the Hublot “All Black” watches Hublot presented the new Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black. The case is crafted from blocks of sapphire crystal – sapphire that has been coated with metal. Enhanced by black, this sapphire maintains its transparent properties in a subtle balancing act.
“By its nature, black absorbs all visible radiation and does not reflect any light. In this original interpretation of our ‘All Black’ concept, Hublot is once again playing with received ideas. The Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black is both transparent and completely robed in black. What is more, it does not absorb light. In fact, it lets light pass through. It embodies the dichotomy of the visible and invisible, the seen and the unseen”. Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot
A decade ago, with its All Black collection, Hublot launched a brand-new and pioneering concept: “Invisible visibility”. A philosophy symbolising the very essence of the brand. A timepiece whose transparent take on telling the time propelled it to the rank of iconic object. A powerful, emblematic design which became the height of fashion. Today, Hublot is still a pioneering figure in this monochrome, all black style. Visible invisibility
“In the original All Black concept, the watch is visible but the time display is invisible. The Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black plays with transparency; technically it is invisible but, conversely, the time display is rendered visible. It makes our proprietary Unico movement fully and completely visible. A watch which has nothing to hide, which fully reveals its construction and its movement.” Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot
Crystal Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective coating and Hublot logo
Crown Black rubber and Black PVD titanium with satin-finish
Push-buttons Black PVD titanium with satin-finish
Case-back Polished black smoked sapphire crystal
Waterproof 5 ATM, i.e. approx. 50 metres
Dial Black polished transparent composite resin skeleton dial
Appliqués and hands With black luminescent coating
Calibre HUB 1242 UNICO movement with black PVD coating, developed and manufactured in-house by Hublot
Automatic Flyback chronograph with column wheel and double clutch visible on the dial side
Date Window at 3 o’clock
Power reserve Approximately 72 hours
Strap Black transparent structured, ribbed strap
Clasp Black PVD titanium deployant buckle
The ultimate ‘design over function’. Definitely not for me either.
The clothes that Mr Biver has bought for Miss Hublot in Paris, she looks outdated in her new dress.
The dress that Mrs Biver bought, she looks beautiful.
Why don’t you list the price?
Very easy answer: I don’t have them…
Not my style. Not my brand.
What time is it. Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black is nicely made but not an easy read in a dimly lit room, or, for that matter, not even a well lit room with my old eyes. To turn an old joke, with a bland face like that I’d get more interest if I wore it face down.
OK. I’m not a young person, but I have to say, from my perspective, with the exception of the fusion model, which is kinda interesting, this is a ghastly collection of watches, and I would certainly not spend something north of $10K, probably, to put any of them on my wrist. I know what Hublot used to be. They were beautiful watches. These aren’t.
It’s almost like being back in the 70’s with polyester suits and large lapels. That went away. Maybe this will too.