BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Hublot’s 2023 summer edition of the Big Bang watch has arrived. These are becoming regular occurrences now, to the point where summer can’t seem to begin without Hublot releasing one of these, like how Christmas can’t begin for me without watching Die Hard and singing The Holly & the Ivy in a pub or other venue. Maybe that’s the effect Hublot was going for, it’s quite a nice little tactic. Anyway.
The watch to get gussied up in colourful ceramic this time is the Big Bang Unico chronograph which is the same watch as the last two Summer Editions. Still, it’s a great watch to see in person, providing a great tactile experience in ceramic or metal (I’ve seen both in the past). With its ceramic case measuring 42mm x 14.5mm, this watch is quite compact. I will note, however, that the lugs with their unique quick change strap system, inspired by seatbelts in cars, make the watch quite long lug-to-lug, so it’s worth seeing in person to check that it suits. I can say that Hublot watches are generally very comfy on the wrist.
The colours, light blue with white accents, are perfect for the bright days we’re sure to have. The Big Bang Sky Blue represents the light colour of the sky, I wonder if the white is meant to represent clouds? I can’t wait to see the England edition which will be rainy grey I’m sure. The rubber strap matches the case, though, with a blue front and white sides.
Apart from the case and the strap, the watch is quite similar other Big Bang Unico models. The movement inside is the self-winding calibre HUB1280 UNICO, which features a 4Hz beat rate and 72-hour power reserve, it’s made of 354 pieces. The chronograph is of the column wheel variety, which means it has more precise start and stop actions when in use, and the flyback feature allows the chronograph to be reset without stopping it first. There’s also a date window nestled into the chronograph minutes indicator.
As well as the rubber strap, the watch is also being delivered with a fabric outer and calfskin inner with Velcro fastening. Limited to just 200 examples, this watch costs $23,800 before tax.
