BY JOVAN K
Samuel Ross first connected with Hublot in 2019 after winning the Hublot Design Prize, and their collaboration officially began in 2020.
After two years of work on the design, the first SR_A Tourbillon debuted in 2022 in orange, followed by the green edition in 2023 and the carbon model in 2024, each seen by only a handful of collectors.
This time, it’s not another sculptural tourbillon, but a new approach with the Big Bang Unico instead, which we covered during LVMH Watch Week, limited to 200 pieces, and the first SR_A watch built around Hublot’s Unico chronograph movement, marking it as the fourth watch in their collaboration. The 2026 release comes at a strategic moment, as Hublot celebrates twenty years of the All Black concept.
The case comes in black ceramic, measuring 42mm x 14.5mm, with a satin-finished and polished surface that gives the geometry definition while keeping the stealth look intact. Six black-plated titanium H-shaped screws frame the bezel, locking in that unmistakable Big Bang look. The caseback is satin-finished black ceramic with a sapphire display and has Hublot’s One-Click system for easy strap swaps. With 100 meters of water resistance, it is more than ready for everyday wear without trying to be something it is not.
The skeletonized matte-black dial means business, and it’s easy to appreciate the clever engineering going on. You get to see the column wheel at 6 o’clock, and all the guts of the HUB1280 Unico without it feeling cluttered. Ross’s honeycomb pattern defined his previous tourbillons, but now the focus is on the Unico movement. The motif moves to the strap, keeping the watch structured and in line with the SR_A aesthetic.
The HUB1280 Unico itself is a flyback chronograph with a silicon lever escapement, which handles temperature changes better than traditional lever escapements. It delivers a 72-hour power reserve and is rated at – 2 to + 4 seconds per day, and it holds five patented innovations, including dual oscillating clutches, a zero-friction ratchet wheel blocker, and a constant-pressure friction system for the minute counter. The movement is built to handle real use, which lines up with Ross’s take on a functional, hard-wearing watch. It’s a solid, modern chronograph with the mechanical character that fits this collaboration.
The strap is made in structured rubber with the honeycomb pattern as its main visual feature. It is lightweight, ergonomic, and designed to reinforce the industrial character Ross has been building with Hublot since the start of the collaboration. A deployant buckle in black ceramic and titanium keeps everything secure on the wrist. The watch is available at a selection of Hublot points of sale, on their website, and the price is set at $31,200 USD. With only 200 pieces, it’s not mass market, but it’s definitely more accessible than the earlier Samuel Ross SR_A Tourbillon watches.
