The concept is clear, sapphire crystal clear. We were expecting to (re)see the white version – the ‘Big Bang Unico Sapphire’- presented just a few weeks ago, but ten years after the launch of the “All Black” collection, Hublot surprises us and brings it all together with the introduction of the ‘Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black’.
By Victoria Townsend The concept is clear, sapphire crystal clear. We were expecting to (re)see the white version – the ‘Big Bang Unico Sapphire’- presented just a few weeks ago, but ten years after the launch of the “All Black” collection, Hublot surprises us and brings it all together with the introduction of the ‘Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black’.
If the “All Black” concept became iconic with its visible watch and invisible time display, the ‘Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black’ is technically invisible with a perfectly visible time display. Even better, we can now see the very construction and movement of the timepiece from the dial side.
Crafted from blocks of sapphire crystal – sapphire that has been coated with metal to become one of hardest, most scratch resistant and transparent materials in existence – and enhanced with black, the case and bezel are see-though while reflecting the essence of the “All Black” style. This transparency, combined with skeleton work, allows us to see right into the proprietary Unico automatic flyback chronograph movement with column wheel and double clutch visible on the dial side.
Sculpting the sapphire into the shape of the Big Bang case was particularly complex – the material can be cut only by a diamond. The impressive result is a 45 mm polished black smoked sapphire crystal case and bezel, with a case-back in the same material for a further look inside.
Beneath the front crystal sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective coating and Hublot logo, the black polished transparent composite resin skeleton dial features appliques and hands with black luminescent coating and a date window at 3 o’clock. Six H-shaped countersunk, polished and locked screws in black PVD-coated titanium on the bezel, a black rubber and black PVD titanium with satin-finish crown, and black PVD titanium with satin-finish push-buttons punctuate the sapphire crystal material. And of course, to complete this “Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black” look, the structured, ribbed strap with black PVD titanium deployant buckle is black and … transparent.
Inside, the HUB 1242 UNICO movement with black PVD coating boasts 72 hours of power reserve. The timepiece is water resistant to approximately 50 meters.
Reference 411.JB.4901.RT, this limited edition of 500 pieces is expected to be in shops by May/June 2016. Priced at CHF60,000.
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