Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI
A Closer Look At The Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI In Green Ceramic
An eye-catchingly verdant timepiece, the new Big Bang Unico SORAI is dedicated to preserving the highly endangered black rhinoceros
By Steven Rogers
Contributor
A few months back, you may remember, we wrote about the launch of Hublot’s Big Bang Unico SORAI in green ceramic, the Swiss brand’s second timepiece dedicated to preserving the extremely endangered black rhinoceros. This week, we go a step further and get hands-on with this two-tone watch that is helping to support a vital cause.
About SORAI
Over the past decade, two-thirds of the rhino population in South Africa’s Kruger Park have been killed by poachers. As the species’ biggest threat, poaching had greatly decreased by the beginning of last year. This step in the right direction was partly thanks to the work of SORAI, an organization that supports animal sanctuaries and local efforts to reduce poaching.
Standing for “Save Our Rhino Africa India,” SORAI was founded by South African-born, former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen.
But when the onset of the coronavirus last year saw South Africa close its borders to tourists – whose presence in the national parks helped keep the poachers away – the poachers returned, and now the black rhino population in Kruger Park has crashed to less than 500.
A Global Emergency
Speaking about the severity of the crisis, Pietersen said: “The rhino population is diminishing at a rate of knots. If big voices, big activists don’t do anything about it, and we don’t raise the amount of money that needs to be raised to support anti-poaching teams and to use networks from around the world to globalize the issue, we are going to lose the rhino population in Africa.”
He continued: “Rhino is one of the big five in Africa, and Africa would never be the same without it. We, therefore, need to put our common efforts to protect this species. I am very happy that Hublot is once again able to provide its support to SORAI; to help raise maximum awareness of this global emergency.”
Colors Inspired by the South African Bush
Of course, we have already seen the Big Bang Unico – with its in-house automatic flyback chronograph movement and 45mm ceramic case – presented in yellow, sky blue, navy blue, and red, to name just a few colors.
Hublot’s first Big Bang Unico in support of SORAI launched in 2019 and had a beige ceramic case, evoking the colors of the South African bush in winter.
The latest SORAI edition – limited to just 100 pieces – is inspired by the natural hues of the bush in summer, with the green ceramic case paired with a darker green fabric strap featuring a black ceramic buckle and Velcro clasp or a black rubber strap with a camouflage motif featuring a blackened ceramic and titanium deployant clasp. The SORAI logo is also engraved on the transparent sapphire caseback.
The Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI in green ceramic is priced at $24,100, and a portion of the sales will be donated to Care for Wild, the largest rhinoceros sanctuary in the world, supported by SORAI.
All Donations Count
If you’re not interested in buying the watch, not to worry: It is the cause that is the most important thing here. Just making a donation to Care for Wild, however big or small, could make a crucial difference to the future of the black rhinoceros. Already, since the launch of the watch, a further 19 black rhinoceros have been killed.
(Photography by Pierre Vogel)
Celebrating In Soho: The Launch Of The Hublot Big Bang Unico Berluti Aluminio
By Jessica “J.J.” Owens
, Contributor
To celebrate a five-year partnership, Hublot and Italian menswear designer, Berluti, hosted a dinner party at famed Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant,...
Sponsored
Video: Summer Never Ends With Five Custom Hublot x Watchonista Cocktails
By Marco Gabella
, Chairman & Executive Publisher
Today, we travel to more than five Mediterranean locations with five matching Hublot Boutique Editions Watches and match them to five bespoke Watchonista...
On A Roll: Hublot Presents The Classic Fusion “Las Vegas Boutiques” Collection
By Rhonda Riche
, Editor-At-Large
These horological high rollers are exclusive to the brand’s two Las Vegas boutiques.