If traditional, self-satisfied 'watch enthusiasts' were at the helm, we'd all be swamped with sober 39mm dateless watches with colorless matte dials, integrated stainless steel bracelets, and pointless hand-wound movements. Therefore, not a day goes by that I don't thank the higher powers that the 'peanut gallery' holds no such authority, and that we have brands like Hublot, which has built its entire signature style on ignoring traditionalists and going against the grain. The latest release bringing some life to summer days is the new Big Bang Unico model, crafted from turquoise anodized aluminum - a colorful, clever twist on the classic model that Hublot typically presents in ceramic or titanium cases.
After all, what could be more 'summer' than the bright turquoise tile of a fresco at the pool's edge or the cool teal waters of the Caribbean Sea washing over the warm sands of the Mexican Riviera? The inspiring Unico 'Summer' model is a Hublot e-commerce exclusive, released in a limited run of 200 pieces.
Personally, I think an anodized teal sunburst dial would truly help convey the colorful summer vibes in this particular release, but Hublot seems firmly set on giving the Big Bang Unico a skeletonized dial (evidently, most Hublot collectors prefer skeletonized dials, so Hublot, as they say, gives people what they want), offering the owner an unobstructed partial view of the HUB1280 movement - a flyback chronograph with a column wheel created by Hublot. The movement is also well-visible through the case back, where its matte and matte-gray finish makes an elegant contrast with the cool blue of the case. Thus, this is an impressive modern chronograph movement used exclusively in Hublot's Unico line, and one that generally does not receive enough praise for its production.
Technical Specifications:
Brand: Hublot
Model: Big Bang Unico Summer
Size: 42 mm
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Case Material: Satin-finished and polished turquoise anodized aluminum with titanium case middle
Crystal/Lens: Sapphire
Movement: Hublot HUB1280 UNICO (in-house automatic flyback chronograph with column wheel).
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Strap/Bracelet: Integrated turquoise nylon with hook-and-loop fastener and anodized aluminum buckle; also includes integrated turquoise rubber
Price and Availability: $20,900 USD (exclusive online), limited to 200 pieces
Overall, aluminum is quite an interesting metal to craft watches from. Its weight is about a third of stainless steel, making it significantly lighter than even titanium, which weighs only half as much as steel. However, there is a trade-off for this lightness - the density of this metal is somewhat lower than both aforementioned metals, making it slightly more susceptible to severe impacts, so it might be worth keeping it away from speedboat railings if you plan on cruising the open ocean in the future.
But the Big Bang Unico is built on a modular case construction that uses a titanium midsection, allowing it to retain lightness while providing strength where needed. The watch features Hublot's 'One Click' strap-changing system, enabling you to change the strap's look as easily as pressing a large button between the lugs at the '12 o'clock' and '6 o'clock' positions respectively. The package includes two straps: a nylon with teal leather lining secured by a hook-and-loop fastener and a matching anodized aluminum buckle, as well as a traditional integrated rubber strap, which will be much better if you plan to test the watch's 100-meter water resistance.
Unlike last year's bright Big Bang Unico models in white and 'Sky Blue' ceramic, released last summer, Hublot chose a smaller 42mm Unico case for this new summer series, implying that this color variant is intended more for a definitive unisex release compared to the first, which was in a 45mm case. Of course, thanks to the relatively short length of the Unico case, it wears quite comfortably even in larger sizes, but 42mm is simply a pleasure, so for Hublot collectors, this should be excellent news.
The price of the Big Bang Unico Summer Edition in turquoise aluminum starts at $20,900 USD and is available exclusively at hublot.com.