By Kien Lee
The Big Bang from Hublot, today instantly recognisable in the world of watchmaking, with a package that includes a 44 mm case, "sandwich" construction, large pushers, bezel with 6 visible, unaligned, functional screws, case and pusher guard, skeleton dial and interchangeable rubber strap which uses the brand's own One Click system.
The aesthetic of the Hublot Big Bang is powerful, modern, disruptive. Its dial boasts Arabic numerals and skeleton Big Bang hands, beneath which lies the manufacture chronograph movement, the self-winding UNICO 2.
Now, Hublot has supercharged the Big Bang with its Magic Gold alloy, featuring on both the case and the bezel. Its hues are echoed on the indices, counters and hands, in satin-finished and microblasted 3N gold. This is in contrast with the rest of the components of the case, from the the titanium pushers, guards, and screws to the rubber strap, which are all in the deepest black.
Magic Gold is exclusive to Hublot. Unveiled in 2011, it is a true fusion of 24-carat gold – the ultimate noble and natural material – with the most high-tech mastery of ceramic. The result is 18K gold that is patented, unalterable and scratch-proof.
Traditional gold has a rating of 400 Vickers. Hardened steel, 600 Vickers. Magic Gold, 1000 Vickers.
By injecting liquid gold into the cold-pressed boron carbide components at very high pressure, Hublot has managed to create a completely unique material, composed of gold and ceramic, that can only be scratched by diamond.
The Big Bang Unico Full Magic Gold being driven by the new UNICO 2 manufacture movement (HUB 1280). Thinner, more precise and more innovative than the UNICO 1, its successor offers a power reserve of 72 hours and a 2-year warranty, extended to 3 years when registering for an Hublotista account.
The subject of several patent applications, the UNICO 2 boasts a gentler and quieter winding system. Its chronograph does not jump at the start, and it no longer quivers, thanks to a brand-new clutch mechanism. The UNICO 2 also offers better resistance to shocks. Furthermore, it has retained all of the aesthetic characteristics from its predecessor that are so loved by collectors – the highly technical and illustrative open worked design, and the signature "H" for Hublot.
The Big Bang Unico Full Magic Gold is limited to 200 pieces only.