Hublot’s Big Bang Goes Square, the Sapphire Tourbillon Turns Purple, & the Integral Collection Tastes the Rainbow at Watches & Wonders

At LVMH Watch Week in January, Hublot introduced the Big Bang Time Only collection, two Unico Sang Bleu II models, and the Unico Golf Orange Carbon. Now for Watches & Wonders, the Nyon-based manufacture introduced a whole new lineup.

First, there is a fresh Big Bang collection, the Square Bang, with a brand-new case shape.

Next, as a pioneer in materials, Hublot surprised show attendees with the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Purple Sapphire, a first-of-its-kind tint for synthetic sapphire.

And finally, in preparation for the warm weather, there is the Hublot Big Bang Integral Ceramic collection with a quartet of colorful pieces inspired by the four elements.

In watchmaking history, square cases have always been a dicey proposition as they don’t always appeal to as many customers as traditional round cases often feel more natural.

First, it’s a question of design: The base component of any watch movement is the wheel. Wheels are, of course, round. Thus, movements are, more often than not, round. Therefore, the round cases of the pocket watches and later wristwatches were a natural progression. However, with the emergence of the early Art Deco movement at the dawn of the 20th century, square cases began appearing, starting with the Cartier Santos in 1904.
 

But Hublot decided to take the risk, creating a square-shaped watch using a holistic design approach in order to include all the elements needed for a coherent Hublot product. The result is the well-balanced Hublot Square Bang collection.

There are a few reasons why Hublot’s new Square Bang collection really hit the center of the target. First, as mentioned before, the round Unico chronograph movement is visible from the front and back of the 42mm case, which provides a pleasing sense of proportion. Meanwhile, the “sandwich” construction of the dial gives the new Square Bang models a sense of depth, almost resembling a 3D architectural model.
 

Next, the six screws on the Square Bang’s bezel are not only functional but in the same positions as the ones in the original Big Bang. While the placement of these screws might not seem significant to the design, their location is, in fact, a key element as it ties Hublot’s past and present design codes together.

Finally, the “chocolate squares” decoration on the new “One Click” interchangeable rubber strap is a small but cool detail that further emphasizes the collection’s shape.
 

Lastly, the Hublot Square Bang collection contains four models. Two have titanium cases with either a brushed titanium ($23,100) or polished black ceramic bezel. The titanium models are priced at $23,100 and $24,100, respectively.

The other two have cases made of King Gold and come with either a brushed King Gold or polished black ceramic bezel. These are priced at $43,100 and $39,900, respectively.
 

At the 2021 edition of LVMH Watch Week, Hublot presented the crazy Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Orange Sapphire, which included an entirely new tourbillon movement (the calibre MHUB6035) to power this tangerine-colored dream watch.

And this year, Hublot continues its quest to explore perfectly tinted translucence with the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Purple Sapphire.

Fun Fact: Hublot achieved this specific purple hue via a composite made of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and chrome.
 

With a three-day power reserve and a high-performance micro-rotor, the MHUB6038 tourbillon movement strikes the perfect balance between maintaining the lightness and beauty of skeletonized calibre and the no-fuss comfort of a self-winding watch for daily use.

Sadly, only 50 examples of the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Purple Sapphire will be produced, and like its translucent orange sibling, it is available for $200,000.
 

In 2020, Hublot introduced the Big Bang Integral with the brand’s first integrated metal bracelet that was both demeaned by industry observers and well-received by consumers.