Curious to Relate

So this will no doubt come as a shock to many, but despite my railings, I do quite like the Hublot Big Bang, and despite the fact that Jean-Claude Biver had a full head of hair before he started reading Tempus Fugit and is rumored to have had a Henki voodoo doll on his desk... I honestly feel that it is a pretty cool watch, and he is probably one of the smartest people in the watch business, EVER. I stand by both statements.

And if I had the money? If I picked the lucky six numbers and Lotto changed my life financially? I'd honestly plop down my money for this one -

Courtesy of Hublot

Now a few things about me -

1. I live under no illusions that I am on the A (or some days, even C) list of "noted watch writers".

2. I do not charge brands to appear on Tempus Fugit and I do not typically have advertising (there have been a few short-term exceptions for advertising). Writing about watches is not my vocation. I am a social worker. The organization I work for provides support and help to people who would otherwise fall through society's cracks. If you live on the North Shore and need help with heating for your home, you are homeless, you have an elderly parent who needs help in their home, you need training to enter or re-enter the workforce or you have recently arrived in the US and you need to learn English so that you can get a job and begin your new life here? We are here for you. We are not flashy, we run on a shoe string.

3. While I cannot get behind some decisions that Hublot has made in terms of PR (the less said about Floyd Mayweather the better), they did support Lang Lang's efforts to combat the poaching of endangered animals, and they continue to do some positive things - including their support of Sorai.

Some more about me - back in 2003 I was particularly good at selling Hublot watches at Tourneau in San Francisco - and this was before Mr. Biver came along and (if we are honest) really made Hublot as big and successful as it came to be. It didn't just happen by accident. But it also is a brand clearly positioned to people who enjoy a certain lifestyle. And honestly? There is nothing wrong with that.

So truthfully? I am not Hublot's demographic. And I suppose I can live with that ; )
Ultimately, we should all simply like what we like.

When you write about watches, you frequently get "typecasted". But in fairness, when something speaks to you, it speaks to you. And the Big Bang Unico Titanium Blue speaks to me.

Now if like me, you are planning on how to spend your Lotto winnings and want the specs, here they are -

CASE
REFERENCE
411.NX.5179.RX
DIAMETER
45 mm
CASE
Satin-finished and Polished Titanium
BEZEL
Satin-finished and Polished Titanium with 6 H-shaped Titanium Screws
WATER RESISTANCE
100m or 10 ATM
CRYSTAL
Sapphire with Anti-reflective Treatment
DIAL
Matte Blue Skeleton

MOVEMENT
MOVEMENT
HUB1242 UNICO Manufacture Self-winding Chronograph Flyback Movement 

with Column Wheel
POWER RESERVE
72 Hours

STRAP & CLASP
STRAP
Black and Blue Structured Lined Rubber Straps
CLASP
Titanium Deployant Buckle Clasp

The Big Bang Unico Sang Bleu II All Black

 From Hublot -

Courtesy of Hublot

Here are the pertinents -

REFERENCE
418.CX.1114.RX.MXM20 Limited to 200 pieces

DIAL
Matte Black Skeleton

CASE
Satin-finished and Polished Black Ceramic
Diameter: 45mm
Thickness: 16.50mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM (100m)

MOVEMENT
HUB1240.MXM
UNICO Manufacture self-winding Chronograph flyback movement with column wheel
Frequency: 4Hz (28’800 A/h) 

Power reserve: 72 hours
No. of Components: 330 Jewels: 38

CASE-BACK
Satin-finished Black Ceramic 

Engraved “LIMITED EDITION”
Case back Glass: Sapphire with Anti-reflective Treatment

STRAP & BUCKLE
Black Rubber Strap
Sang Bleu Design Black Ceramic and Black PVD Titanium Deployant Buckle Clasp

BEZEL
Satin-finished and Polished Black Ceramic

The Big Bang Camo Yohji Yamamoto

 From Hublot -

Courtesy of Hublot

Here are the pertinents -

REFERENCE
411.CI.0114.RX.YOY20

CASE
Microblasted and Polished Black Ceramic
Diameter : 45 mm
Thickness: 15.45 mm
Water Resistant : 10 ATM (100 m)

CASE-BACK
Microblasted Black Ceramic Engraved 

“LIMITED EDITION 200NUM”

BEZEL
Microblasted and Polished Black Ceramic

DIAL
Sapphire Crystal with Camouflage Decor

MOVEMENT
Caliber Hublot HUB1242
UNICO Manufacture Self-winding Chronograph
Flyback Movement with Column Wheel
Frequency : 4 Hz (28 800 A/h) 

Power Reserve : 72 hours 

Number of components : 330 Jewels : 38

STRAP & BUCKLE
Strap 1: Black Rubber with Camouflage Design
Strap 2: Black Fabric Strap with Microblasted Black Ceramic Buckle Clasp Included

The Big Bang Unico Sky Blue

From Hublot -

Courtesy of Hublot

Brace yourselves, here is the intro from the wordsmiths at Hublot HQ -

Between the water and the air, the Big Bang becomes the horizon

In the blue of the sea as in that of the sky, aquatic and ethereal, both relaxed and sophisticated, the Big Bang Unico Sky Blue invites you on a journey. From Mykonos to Ibiza via Saint-Tropez, the background is set. Cut out of ceramic, this new model makes an innovative material your new basic.

Courtesy of imgflip.com

So true confession time - I actually like Hublot. But I am honestly scoobied by the lengths the copywriters are going to in an effort to impress an audience that, sadly, is not likely taking the time to read the release.  Because what most of us would view as hyperbolic, seems to have morphed into the everyday lingo in Nyon. 

But because they took the time to send it, here's the rest of it and I will let you, gentle reader, draw your own conclusions -

What if you went on holiday... just by looking at your watch... The time that ticks away on the Big Bang Unico Sky Blue inspires a light and relaxed rhythm. That of the summer, of time for oneself. With its wide 45-mm diameter case, it is an invitation to escape. In all simplicity, it has adopted the colours of the leading summer spots. With its combination of pale blue and white, it arrives on the most renowned of the Cyclades islands, where the blue waters of the Aegean Sea contrast with the whiteness of its lime-washed houses under a clear blue sky. Its relaxed style, sporting a velcro fabric strap with a sky-blue ceramic deployant buckle clasp, travels the blue waters of the Mediterranean to drop anchor in the Bay of Saint-Tropez, where the blues of the water and the sky unite endlessly. Sailboats then reach the wild coves of the White Island, where the nights blend into the days and where the Big Bang Unico Sky Blue puts on its second strap, in sky-blue and white rubber. By serenely breaking up time to the rhythm of the Unico manufacture movement, the Big Bang Unico Sky Blue encourages this feeling of freshness and infinity. From the blue of the sky to ceramic

Beneath a minimalist appearance, its pale blue reveals nonetheless a material whose resistance to wear is undisputed. This is ceramic, which Hublot has come to master. In 2019, Hublot created ceramic in bright colours, a patented world first. Since then, all – or almost all – of the Pantone colours are within its reach. The Big Bang Unico Sky Blue brings together two Hublot essentials—the iconic Big Bang model and the Swiss watchmaker’s material of choice. A watch and a material that have been writing Hublot’s history for 15 years.

Oh, and in case you were actually interested in, the actual watch itself, here are the pertinents -

REFERENCE
411.EX.5120.NR Limited to 100 pieces

DIAL
Skeleton sky blue dial
Satin-finished rhodium-plated appliques with white luminescent

CASE
Polished and satin-finished sky blue Ceramic
Diameter: 45mm
Thickness: 16.30mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM (100m)

MOVEMENT
MHUB1242
UNICO Manufacture Self-winding
chronograph flyback movement with column wheel
Frequency: 4Hz (28’800 A/h) Power reserve: 72 hours
No. of Components: 330 Jewels: 38

CASE-BACK
Polished sky blue Ceramic Engraved “LIMITED EDITION” XX/100

STRAP & BUCKLE
White fabric strap with polished
sky blue Ceramic buckle clasp included
White and sky blue Rubber
Titanium deployant buckle clasp

BEZEL
Polished and satin-finished sky blue Ceramic

PRICE
20’400 CHF 21’200 EUR 21’500 USD 17’800 GBP

Lost In Translation - Exclusively Inclusive

The Millennial Pink, from Hublot -

Courtesy of Hublot

Now I teach English for a living, and have done so for some time. I am not sure that Hublot is really familiar with the meaning of the word inclusive.  Where to begin?  Oh, I know!  Let's go with the bon mots of that starving artist and self-made man (yes, that is sarcasm) Lapo Elkann -

"At Garage Italia, we want to be part of a world where the character of every person is defined by their love of life and their inclusivity, rather than by their power or their superiority. More than simply a product, we want to create something which represents a positive change."

Lapo Elkann
FOUNDER & CREATIVE CHAIRMAN of GARAGE ITALIA

Hmmm......

Okay, let's take a moment and turn off the reality distortion field. For those of you who have been sleeping under a rock, in a fallout shelter, on Mimas (the smallest of Saturn's moons), without any internet connection... Lapo Elkann is one of (in fairness, several) heirs to the Agnelli fortune. I am sure he is a nice guy, hopefully donates a lot to charity, and I personally thought his dress sense (about 10 years ago) was on the button. But let's also be clear that I have never had the feeling that he was a humble artisan with his eye on "inclusivity". Sorry, just calling that one like I see it. If I ever run into him at the In-And-Out I will gladly pay for his Double-Double and sit in the corner wearing a funny hat. 

And now that I really think about it, Hublot is to inclusivity as Chef BoyArdee is to fine dining -

Shamelessly borrowed from my childhood and the worldwide info-web

And that is definitely not a criticism. Hublot is not in the "inclusion business". They have spent a lot of time and money informing us of this reality, and the fact that they have been able to be so successful in this sphere is to be applauded. And yes, I am saying that sincerely. They are exclusive, and they are meant to be so. And at $20,900 USD, I find it laughable that the message that they are trying to convey in today's press release is a warm & fuzzy "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" one.

Most of us can afford a Coke. An Hublot, not so much. If COVID-19 and the resulting financial crisis has taught us anything, $20,900 might as well be a trillion. For most of you reading this, the idea of owing an Hublot is like water from the moon. It's a wonderful thought, but one you are not likely to ever personally experience. And once again, that is okay. That is what luxury is supposed to be about.

And then lastly, for a watch and a marketing message so emphatic about inclusion, why are there so many photos of Mr. Elkann -

Courtesy of Hublot

His designer at Garage Italia, Carlo Borromeo-

Courtesy of Hublot

Some more images of Lapo Elkann -

Courtesy of Hublot

And the two of them together -

Courtesy of Hublot

Oh, and if you were feeling left behind, or dare I say it, excluded, don't worry!  They also included a photo of struggling footballer, Kylian Mbappe -

Courtesy of Hublot

And for some understanding of how, like Mr. Elkann, Mr. Mbappe is just like the rest of us, here are some estimates from last year on his wealth, courtesy of goal.com -

Paris Saint-Germain are paying Kylian Mbappe €20.7m (£17.6m/$23.2m) per year before tax, according to a biography published in May 2019.

He earns just under €10m after tax as of the end of the 2018-19 season and by the time his contract, which runs until 2022, is up, it is believed that he will be earning over €18m per annum from his salary alone.

It represents a massive leap from the €1m per year that he earned while with Monaco - and that's before sponsorship deals are taken into account.

He is the third-best paid player in Ligue 1 behind club-mates Neymar and Edinson Cavani and, over the course of a deal that began in 2017, he will have made around €87.5m.

Now on the other hand, Mr. Mbappe does a lot of great charity work. But the point is, while Hublot is trying to talk about happiness and inclusivity, they are foisting wealthy, famous people wearing a watch that at the approximate cost of a starter home in Southern Ohio, is not exactly inclusive.

Oh, and one more photo of Lapo Elkann -

Courtesy of Hublot

And just in case you were still laboring under the illusion that this was meant to be inclusive, I will let Hublot clarify that in their own words -

Disruptive, creating new codes for traditional luxury, the Big Bang Millennial Pink produced in collaboration with Garage Italia will only be available in a very exclusive limited edition of 200 pieces.

Someone's got a bad case of Millennialitis.  I guess that makes it "Exclusively Inclusive".

So for those of you seeking inclusion, and have the requisite credit score here are the pertinents, straight from the source, unique spelling and all -

REFERENCE
441.UP.7320.NR.GIT20 
Limited to 200 pieces

DIAL
Mat pink millennial skeleton
Mat pink millennial appliques with white luminescent

CASE
Satin-finished and polished pink millennial anodized Aluminum
Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 14.50mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM (100m)

MOVEMENT
HUB1280
UNICO Manufacture self-winding chronograph
Frequency: 4Hz (28’800 A/h) Power reserve: 72 hours
No. of Components: 354 Jewels: 43

CASE-BACK
Satin-finished Titanium Engraved “LIMITED EDITION”

STRAP & BUCKLE
Pink millennial knit Velcro strap with pink millennial stitching
Polished pink millennial anodized Aluminum sport buckle
Engraved with the Logo "HUBLOT" Filled with White Lacquer
Pink millennial Rubber strap
Titanium deployant buckle clasp with pink millennial anodized Aluminum and Satin-finished decor plate
Engraved with the Logo "HUBLOT" Filled with white lacquer

BEZEL
Satin-finished and polished pink millennial anodized Aluminum

PRICE
19'900 CHF 
20'700 EUR 
20'900 USD 
17'300 GBP

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.

You Get To Pick 1 - Hublot

I have in the past waxed lyrical about this particular Hublot model, but first love can be a tough thing to shake, so here again is the Big Bang Unico Titanium -

Courtesy of Hublot

No partnerships, no celebrity ambassadors, just a cool chronograph.

One for the Ages...

Not.

Courtesy of Hublot

This is Hublot's latest journey down the rabbit hole of excess, vanity and brain-dead partnerships.

This is the Big Bang Unico Retrograde Kobe "Vino" Bryant - just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

Now apparently, there is a deep connection between between basketball, watchmaking, and wine making... for realsies?

Well, Mr. Bryant was kind enough to wax poetically on how this really (ugly, I'm sorry this thing hurts my feelings just looking at it) "unique" Hublot model came to be -

Kobe Brant, Hublot Brand Ambassador, said: “It is an honor to launch my second Hublot Timepiece, Vino. When I joined the Hublot family, the Black Mamba was a natural fit, but we also discussed the relationship between basketball, watchmaking and wine; specifically, the dedication of the wine makers to making that perfect blend, the effort that goes into the maturation process and the attention to detail that goes into the art of watchmaking," he added.

Courtesy of Hublot

Who knows, maybe he'll actually wear this one.  For those of you still interested, here are the specs - I'm heading out to search for some Pepto-Bismol. 

BIG BANG UNICO CHRONOGRAPH RETROGRADE KOBE ''VINO'' BRYANT

Reference: 
413.CX.4723.PR.KOB15 (Ceramic – Limited edition of 200 pieces) 
413.OX.4738.PR.KOB15 (King Gold – Limited edition of 100 pieces)
Diameter:
45.5 mm
Water Resistant:
10 ATM (100m)
Movement:
Caliber Hublot HUB1261
UNICO Manufacture self-winding Bi-retrograde movement with central chronograph and column wheel
Power Reserve:
72 Hours

Tempus Fugit - Hublot

Yes, time really does fly and I was reminded again by today's in box message from Hublot.  The Big Bang is celebrating its 10th anniversary!

Courtesy of Hublot

This is the Big Bang Unico Full Magic Gold.  So just what is "Magic Gold"?

Before your imaginations run wild with you...

Magic gold is (according to Hublot) the world's only scratch-resistant gold.  It is warranted to be 18k and was developed by Hublot in cooperation with the EPFL.  The result is a gold that is stated to be scratch resistant and the only of its kind in this respect.  

Courtesy of Hublot

The hardness, according to Ricardo Guadalupe (Hublot's CEO) is close to 1,000 vickers.

Courtesy of Hublot

So here are a few details -

• The case measures 45 mm in diameter and is crafted of polished Magic Gold.
• The movement is HUB 1242 UNICO with an "anthracite grey" treatment.  This is Hublot's in-house movement and it features an automatic flyback chronograph function.  Column wheel and double clutch can be seen through the dial side.
• The strap is black rubber, and is interchangeable.  The clasp is of titanium that has been treated with black PVD

So happy birthday Big Bang!  May you always be shiny and scratch free!

Courtesy of Hublot

BaselWorld Countdown - You Get to Pick 1 of Each...

This year I thought that I'd try something a wee bit different.  So the idea is this:

You get to pick ONE of the current collection of every watch brand you will meet with at BaselWorld, which one would you pick?

Courtesy of Hublot

Not in alphabetical order - From Hublot I would pick the Hublot Unico Titanium Big Bang.

So reasons...

I think in many ways this particular Big Bang embodies:
1.  The original idea/vision of my favorite philanthropist Carlo Crocco.   The case with the porthole bezel and the rubber fusion of a beautiful watch with a rubber strap.
2.  The FUSION principle of Jean-Claude Biver and that AMAZING Unico movement.

Now I am a humble university employee, but maybe some day I will have the savings for something this cool ; )

Here are the details:

• OUTER CASING

• REFERENCE

  411.NX.1170.RX

• CASE SIZE

  45 mm

• CASE

  Polished and Satin-finished Titanium

• BEZEL

  Satin-finished Titanium
  Anodized Black Aluminium Lower Bezel with 6 H-shaped Titanium Screws
  
  

  • INNER CASING

  • CRYSTAL

    Sapphire with Anti-reflective Treatment and HUBLOT Logo printed on the Inner Side

  • DIAL

    Mat Black Dial with Rhodium-plated Upper Layer
    Satin-Finished Indexes With White Luminescent
    Satin-finished and Microblasted Rhodium-plated Hands with White Luminescent 
    
    

    • STRAP & CLASP

    • STRAP

      Black Structured Lined Rubber Straps

    • CLASP

      Titanium with Titanium Insert Deplpoyant Buckle Clasp
      
      

      • INNER WORKINGS

      • MOVEMENT

        HUB1242 
        UNICO Manufacture
        Self-winding Chronograph 
        Flyback Movement with Column Wheel

      • POWER RESERVE

        72 Hours

Ferrari and Hublot

This is the latest Ferrari co-branded effort from Hublot -

The BIG BANG FERRARI BLACK CERAMIC

 

Courtesy of Hublot

Limited to 250 pieces, this is reference  401.CX.1123.VR (Black ceramic) - 

Limited edition of 250 pieces 

The case is crafted of black ceramic, with a matching bezel.  The "H" titanium screws are black PVD treated titanium which are countersunk into the bezel.

The strap is black rubber, red Schedoni leather with blue and white stripes with red stitching and secured by a black pvd deployment clasp.

Courtesy of Hublot

And the BIG BANG FERRARI GREY CERAMIC, also limited to 250 pieces

401.FX.1123.VR (Grey ceramic) - Limited edition of 250 pieces, matching ceramic bezel.  The bezel screws are titanium.

The strap is Black rubber, Schedoni leather grey with black and white stripes, with grey stitching, finished with a titanium deployment buckle.

Under the hood is Hublot's HUB 1241 Unico movement which features a flyback chronograph feature.