High watchmaker Hublot, in addition to its pathbreaking MP-10, also unveiled other novelties during the LVMH Watch Week. These include the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski in funky colours, a Big Bang Unico in green Saxem, and multiple gem-set Spirit of Big Bang editions in 32 mm. Read on for a sneak peek at these novelties
Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski
Pop colours, an edgy design, outstanding mechanics, a skeleton tourbillon, a five-day power reserve, and fusion without compromise mark Hublot’s new collaboration, the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski, with Richard Orlinski. From the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski to his sculptures, Orlinski’s pieces never go unnoticed. The watch emerges from a work of art. Hublot’s ‘Art of Fusion’ has never been more exquisitely expressed than through the brand’s collaboration with the artist.
Vibrant yellow or sky blue are two sides of the same creative coin that Hublot and Orlinski have together produced, as serious pieces for collectors who aren’t. The first is radiantly sunny, with its case, strap, bezel, hands, and index all dressed in yellow. Its ‘beating heart’ is still the manually wound HUB6021. This movement is a favourite among brand connoisseurs. Its components, such as the crown and the six H-shaped screws around the bezel, appear suspended in space by black PVD skeleton bridges. Between 8- and 9 o’clock, the power reserve indicates the five-day capacity. At 6 o’clock, the tourbillon keeps the time ticking on. Plus, thanks to sapphire crystal faces on the front and back, the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski always catches the light.
The 45 mm case boasts the bold contours of Richard Orlinski’s signature style. Since 2017, Hublot has been giving the artist free rein to express himself and push the limits of his creativity within the Classic Fusion series. He has sculpted the bezel, redesigned the case, and crafted the index. The Classic is no longer classic in name only: Orlinski has transported it into a new graphic dimension. Smooth yet dynamic, like the edges of its ceramic case, it embodies a kind of animality, the ‘Born Wild’ spirit that is a constant theme running through Orlinski’s work, who first imagined this design in 2004, more than 20 years ago.
With the second version, Hublot and Richard Orlinski are taking another gamble. Bright yellow gives way to sky blue. The bridges are covered in silver rhodium plating, revealing the polished, satin-brushed, and embossed finishes of each component. Contrast is blurred and replaced by a chromatic harmony. Opposite the scorching, sunny yellow model, the second Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski plays the ‘clear sky’ card. One perfectly balances the other – the ‘Art of Fusion’. Although very different, they are inextricably connected. The first offers an azure sky into which the second sets as a brilliant sun. Celestial or solar, there will only be 30 pieces produced of each model.
Big Bang Unico Green Saxem
Hublot has unveiled a new version of its revolutionary material, Saxem. Closely allied to sapphire, Saxem is equally resistant, yet offers even more luminosity. With cousins, you can tell they come from the same family, but they do have distinctive differences. The same can be said for sapphire and Saxem, their connection is clear as they come from the same Hublot lineage. The Manufacture in Nyon is credited with bringing them both into the 21st century, to the point of establishing them as hallmark materials. Even so, their profiles are quite distinct.
Sapphire is made of aluminium oxide, to which metallic oxides are added to provide colour. In contrast, Saxem is coloured with rare earth elements. Sapphire has a trigonal (three-sided) structure, while Saxem has a cubic (four-sided) form.
Ever since Hublot established itself as an integrated Manufacture, R&D has been the key focus of its operations. This was true when the Nyon Manufacture was inaugurated in 2009, and, 15 years later, remains so today. The new Big Bang Unico Green Saxem is further proof. Creating an unprecedented shade of Saxem is a challenging process. It’s a process Hublot has been working on since 2019, when it was first introduced for the Big Bang MP-11. Since then, the Manufacture has developed two shades: yellow and emerald. While as resistant as sapphire, it has a different shine, a brighter one. Its structure has fewer strains, it is more uniform and seamless. Hublot is exploring the future with a Saxem that offers new technical and aesthetic perspectives.
The Green Saxem of the new Big Bang Unico highlights a number of these innovations. The 42 mm case is solid and robust. It packs all the power of Saxem into a dense, compact diameter. The material does not receive light but creates the illusion of emitting it. The Green Saxem is diffused into the smallest contours of the case and bezel, which are studded with six of Hublot’s iconic titanium H-shaped screws. The One Click system patented by Hublot for its interchangeable straps can be found at 12 and 6 o’clock.
For the movement, Hublot has opted for another Manufacture design: the Unico 2 calibre, a new generation flyback chronograph, the HUB1280. This is a first as the micro-rotor HUB6035 powered the previous Big Bang Saxem. The movement is still self-winding, but now offers collectors the added benefit of a high-performance tungsten oscillating weight, visible through the back of the Green Saxem case. Combining advanced technology and a robust design, the HUB1280 calibre features the iconic column wheel at 6 o’clock, Unico’s technical and aesthetic signature.
Another distinctive aspect is the date disc, entirely visible around the movement, with the aperture set in the centre of the 60-minute counter at 3 o’clock. The movement is finished in black PVD, as are the crown and its two push-pieces. For the index and the hands’ luminescent material, Hublot has successfully reproduced the exact shade of Green Saxem. This is a first and will remain highly exclusive as only 100 Big Bang Green Saxem watches will be produced.
Spirit of Big Bang 32 mm Jewellery
Watchmaking and jewellery collide to create an enchanting match in Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang 32 mm Jewellery watches. Master gem-setters have worked their magic on these six 32-mm cases, enveloping them in light or transforming them into rainbows. These pieces are crafted in white gold, King Gold – the Manufacture’s 18K gold alloy, warmer than 5N gold – or stainless steel. Hublot has channelled its avant-garde and unconventional approach to create these stunning variations with a feminine touch.
With these fully-set Spirit of Big Bang Jewellery pieces, draped in their precious finery, time becomes incandescent. The slim design embodies a feminine spirit which enhances the brilliance of its setting. The character of the Big Bang is fused with the sophistication of the gemstones, transforming the Spirit of Big Bang into a sparkling piece of jewellery.
Originally created at the dawn of the 20th century, the ladies’ watch now becomes a true piece of jewellery for the wrist. Since 2007, Hublot has created a gem-set model each year. These full-set pieces showcase the manufacture jewellers’ perfect mastery and excellent craftsmanship, from the meticulous selection of the gemstones to their exquisite setting.
The 27,782 facets of its 479 brilliant-cut diamonds set the Spirit of Big Bang Jewellery Steel or King Gold aflame with the undying light of a thousand stars. The splendour of each gemstone echoes that of its neighbours, with the middle cases, bezels and dials lit up with a symphony of light totalling 2.1 carats. True to its bold approach, Hublot has paired the pure white of this piece with a material dear to the brand: white- or black-lined natural rubber.
Resplendent rainbows – elusive, fleeting, ephemeral – are celestial phenomena that disappears when the sun is hidden. It is recreated on the Spirit of Big Bang Jewellery Rainbow, where 493 gemstones reveal a resplendent rainbow, featuring 58 rectangular baguette-cut gemstones set around the bezel. This cameo of subtle shades exudes an understated elegance in the steel version, with its richness accentuated in King Gold. This bright colour palette also extends along the leather straps.
The Spirit of Big Bang combines the Big Bang design and the brand’s unique expertise in a tonneau-shaped watch. The piece features six H-shaped titanium screws, the self-winding proprietary movement, the unique “sandwich” case construction that enables an unlimited number of combinations and materials, and comfortable interchangeable straps featuring a deployant buckle. These endless possibilities truly celebrate the art of fusion.
