Doing Good - the Big Bang Unico SORAI

From Hublot -

Courtesy of Hublot

I really, really like rhinos. And needless to say, I would like to see them, and elephants, lions and every other wonderful animal not only survive, but thrive. 

It is nice to see Hublot pick up the call to action and support SORAI  in their mission to protect endangered wildlife.

Courtesy of Hublot

This is a limited edition of 100 pieces, and since Hublot is nice enough to do this, to support the efforts of SORAI, I thought I'd let them tell the story in their own words -

Courtesy of Hublot

With dedicated and consistent actions undertaken to protect the rhino, poaching – the biggest threat to their existence in Africa – continued slowly but steadily to decline up to 2020.

 

Over the last 10 years, two thirds of the rhinos in South Africa’s Kruger Park have been killed by poachers. Black rhinos in Kruger Park have disappeared dramatically and today there are estimated to be less than 500 remaining.

 

Hublot is using its global reach, and reconfirming its support for Kevin Pietersen and SORAI – Save Our Rhino Africa India – with the release of a new edition of the Big Bang SORAI, inviting 100 future owners to help support this cause for our planet. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated exclusively to Care for Wild – the largest rhino sanctuary in the world, supported by SORAI – for it to use as it sees fit.

Here are the pertinents, straight from Hublot -

CASE
REFERENCE
411.GX.5220.NR.SOA21
DIAMETER:
45 mm
CASE:
Microblasted and Polished Green Ceramic
BEZEL:
Microblasted and Polished Green Ceramic
WATER RESISTANCE:
100m or 10 ATM
CRYSTAL:
Sapphire with Anti-reflective Treatment
DIAL:
Matte Green Skeleton with “Rhinoceros” Applique at 9 o'clock

MOVEMENT
MOVEMENT:
HUB1242 UNICO Manufacture Self-winding Chronograph Flyback Movement with Column Wheel
POWER RESERVE:
72 Hours

STRAP & CLASP
STRAP:
Green Fabric Strap with Microblasted Black Ceramic Buckle
CLASP:
Microblasted Black Ceramic Buckle

The Big Bang Unico SORAI

Santa Clause returns to Nyon!



When it comes to good causes, I am an unapologetic pain the ass.  And that it is why it is so fantastic to see the folks at Hublot bring Christmas a bit early, with perhaps the greatest gift of all, the gift of more time, possibly even the gift of life for some of the earth's most vulnerable, and therefore valuable animals.  And to see that instead of the cynical value of death and trophies, Hublot and SORAI see the true value of these amazing animals, that they are far too valuable to be anything BUT alive.

This is the Big Bang SORAI From Hublot -

Courtesy of Hublot

Okay, longtime readers of Tempus Fugit know that I love rhinos and elephants.  I have a particular soft spot for organizations working to save them.

So BRAVO SORAI for the work you are doing to save rhinos, and BRAVO Hublot for your willingness to step up and support this very important venture.

Now for better or worse, I am an English Teaching Social Worker (yes, there is such a thing) so the closest I get to wearing an Hublot is during press visits at BaselWorld.  But with this type of a partnership, with this type of stewardship of an important cause?  Well for once I can say that if I had the means, I would be purchasing one of these right away!  And those of you out there who know me, when it comes to rhino and elephant conservation, I am not given to false hyperbole.

Courtesy of Hub-lot

The Big Bang Unico SORAI is limited to 100 pieces.  My further understanding is a portion of each piece sold will go to help fund the efforts of SORAI.

Here are the pertinents on the watch:

REFERENCE
411.CZ.4620.NR.SOA19 Limited to 100 pieces

CASE
Microblasted beige ceramic Diameter: 45mm Thickness: 15.45mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM (100m)

CASE-BACK
Microblasted beige ceramic Engraved “LIMITED EDITION” XX/100

BEZEL
Microblasted beige ceramic

DIAL
Matte beige skeleton “LIYONGBO” applique at 9 o’clock
Beige lacquered appliques with white luminescent

MOVEMENT
HUB1242: UNICO Manufacture self-winding chronograph
Frequency: 4 Hz (28'800 A/h) Power reserve: 72 Hours No.of Components: 330 Jewels: 38

STRAPS & BUCKLE
Black rubber with camouflage décor or beige velcro strap
Black PVD titanium with black ceramic insert deployant buckle clasp

PRICE (On 23rd of September 2019)
22’900 CHF 23’800 EUR 24’100 USD 19’900 GBP

Courtesy of HUBLOT

Here is the rest of the info, straight from Hublot -

Act with Hublot to conserve rhinoceroses,         
             a biodiversity emergency

Two-thirds of rhinoceros species may disappear in our lifetime, which would be an irreversible loss for our planet; and its main cause is poaching. Hublot has committed to a partnership with Kevin Pietersen and SORAI – Save Our Rhino Africa India – to conserve rhinoceroses threatened with extinction. This commitment takes the form of the Big Bang Unico SORAI, from which a large proportion of the funds raised from sales will be directly paid to Care for Wild for the care and conservation of orphaned baby rhinoceroses, and to the South African National Parks agency to reinforce their nocturnal surveillance capabilities using airborne thermal intelligence tools. In buying the time piece, 100 people will thus become involved in this initiative undertaken by Hublot on the recommendations of SORAI.

"The illegal trade in rhino horn and poaching was one of the subjects debated in Geneva last August during the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), demonstrating the urgency with which action is now needed. Staying ahead of poachers is a race against time, every time. Using innovative technologies such as thermal intelligence, surveillance teams can stay ahead of the poachers. We are proud and delighted to support Kevin Pietersen’s SORAI organisation in this goal for our future generations and global biodiversity."
Ricardo Guadalupe CEO Hublot

"This collaboration between Hublot and SORAI has allowed us a platform to give huge amounts of visibility to an incredible cause, on a global scale. By partnering, we are doubling the voices on this cause - and I'm so pleased that Hublot is now supporting the rhinos and their conservation quest. I’m looking forward to future and sharing the amazing story of SORAI with the world."
Kevin Pietersen Founder of SORAI

Big Bang Unico SORAI
Symbolic of the alliance, this 45-mm ceramic dial has donned the sandy tones of the sumptuous African bush and houses the image of a white rhinoceros. Strapped onto a matching NATO bracelet, the Big Bang Unico SORAI can express its commitment with personality by adopting the camouflage style of the second bracelet, made of rubber. The selective vulcanisation technology produces motifs in long-lasting colours that are perfectly drawn with an accuracy of a tenth of a millimetre, a first in the watchmaking world. This timepiece will be released as a special edition of 100 models.

The largest rhinoceros sanctuary in the world
Care for Wild, founded in 2001 by Petronel Nieuwoudt, is the largest rhino orphanage and sanctuary in the world. Its mission is to ensure the continued existence of these species for our future generations. When it is left alone because its parents have been killed by poachers, an orphaned baby rhinoceros has virtually no chance of survival. Care for Wild ensures their protection, growth and well-being in secured environments that are equipped with 24/7 video surveillance and communication networks, watched over by mobile units, dogs and their masters who are trained to counter poachers, and with aerial support.

South African National Parks
This body created in 1926 manages the 19 national parks in South Africa, including the most majestic, Kruger National Park, with its 20,000 km2 of animals roaming freely. Thanks to the funds obtained, South African National Parks will be able to acquire nocturnal airborne thermal intelligence technology, additional and efficient means to fight against poaching. Its teams will thus be able to localise rhinoceroses, intervene more rapidly, and protect the greatest number of these mammals sought after for their invaluable horns.

Doing Good - Hublot and SORAI

Courtesy of Hublot

It is nice to see the folks in Nyon picking up a very positive charitable partnership.  
Me personally?  I really like rhinos and elephants, and unless something pretty dramatic happens, both are rapidly heading towards extinction.  

SORAI - Save Our Rhinos Africa & India are actively working to help preserve and protect the remaining populations and hopefully help them slowly recover.  Per their "about" statement -
We are committed to rescue abandoned, injured, and orphaned rhinos and to rehabilitate them wherever possible. Through various organizations we enlist the help of veterinarians, nutritionists, ecologists, and other specialists, to ensure the successful rehabilitation and release of these animals.


That seems like a pretty good deal to me.
So in support of this very positive partnership, the full release as I received it.
And a very sincere THANK YOU to Hublot! It is appreciated!

HUBLOT IS COMMITTED TO HELPING PROTECT THE RHINOCEROS AND IS NOW PARTNERING SORAI – SAVE OUR RHINOS AFRICA AND INDIA

A forthcoming timepiece will immortalise this commitment

Hublot has joined in partnership with Kevin Pietersen and SORAI (Save Our Rhinos Africa and India) to protect the rhinoceros, which is facing extinction. The ex-international cricket star, and Brand ambassador, is now able to dedicate himself entirely to a cause very close to his heart: saving these huge herbivorous mammals, found in Africa and in Asia, now a matter of urgency for the planet and our future generations. Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, is currently in South Africa to launch this partnership with Kevin Pietersen. To seal this collaboration, the watch Manufacture has developed a watch which will be unveiled very soon.

Hunted for their highly valuable horns, two thirds of species could be lost in our lifetime. To help prevent this, abandoned, injured, or orphaned baby rhinos are located and cared for by teams of specialists actively supported by Kevin Pietersen, before being released back into the wild as soon as they are ready. South Africa is home to more than 80% of the world's rhinos, and the majority of poaching incidents take place in Kruger national park.

There are around 28,000 rhinos remaining worldwide, 23 times fewer than there are African elephants! Poaching is one of the main threats they face. Major steps have been taken by governments to introduce regulations but informing consumers and changing their behaviour remains a key challenge in the fight against poaching. If Hublot can play a role in raising awareness, then I would be delighted.

Ricardo GuadalupeCEO of Hublot


Our planet is home to five species of rhinoceros: the Black rhino and the White rhino, which live in Africa, and the Sumatran, Javan and Indian rhino, which inhabit the tropical forests and swamps of Asia. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, of these five species, the Black, Javan and Sumatran rhino are now considered "critically endangered", White rhino are "nearly threatened" and Indian rhino are "vulnerable". I am appalled by the brutality they face. There is an urgent need for action, and Hublot's support for this is crucial. By reducing the time it takes to act, we can protect as many rhinos as possible.

Kevin Pietersen - Founder of SORAI


The actions of Kevin Pietersen – SORAI
Following his prestigious cricketing career, working in rhino conservation was an obvious move for Kevin Pietersen to make, as he is passionately devoted to this crucial cause. He founded SORAI in 2018 to support the various organisations - comprising rangers, nutritionists, ecologists and other specialists - who strive every day to save, care for, and ensure the complete rehabilitation of every mammal found in Africa and Asia. This global initiative is designed to raise public awareness, to inform and educate to initiate a change in behaviour, and to raise funds to build up the resources and equipment needed for these rhino conservation, monitoring and care activities to continue their essential work.