9 April 2024

BIG BANG UNICO ORANGE CERAMIC: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

A new ceramic colour is making its appearance at the heart of the Big Bang Unico: a vibrant orange, the result of a unique alchemy and a flawless resistance to shocks and scratches.

If there is something Hublot excels at, it is disruption and unbridled creativity. But, sometimes, it is also known for those little touches that quietly and profoundly change the landscape of watchmaking. Such is the case today, after vivid red and yellow, the Manufacture introduces the first vivid orange ceramic.

Historically, ceramics were first available in unobtrusive colours: black and white. Hublot has gradually changed the game by exploring other shades. The Big Bang has introduced different variations of blue, grey and green. Then, in 2019, it presented a world first when the first brightly coloured ceramic was released: a vibrant red. The second of these achievements came in 2021, with a stunning yellow piece. But the Big Bang collector is not someone who is content with the status quo. Far from it! Hublot has therefore continued to innovate and develop new colours, the very latest of which is this orange.

Developing an original ceramic colour is as simple to say... as it is complex to achieve. The workload should not be underestimated: it requires in-depth research & development. Which additives are needed? In what proportions? What type of firing, at what temperature, and for how long? How can it be machined? Should it have a satin finish? Or polished? How resistant is it to impacts? What about scratches? What pressure? What chemical recipe?

This is just a small part of the specifications that govern the development of a new ceramic. And every single aspect is exacting, as the standards guaranteed by Hublot for its ceramic are among the most stringent on the market. 100% internal expertise, patent-protected.

“Ceramic is part of Hublot history, but it's a history that is still being written. We've never stopped innovating. It's in our DNA. From our first ceramic bezel in 2005 to the 100% ceramic cases – which we are currently the only company to master in such a wide array of colours. And that's just the beginning. We've got a lot more to come! ”

RICARDO GUADALUPE

HUBLOT CEO

The new Big Bang Unico Orange Ceramic follows in the footsteps of its predecessors. It offers a unique, perfectly uniform colour, whatever exterior component it is used to adorn. It is finished to a very high watchmaking standard, with a perfect mirror polish all over. A blend of high technology and savoir faire were necessary to achieve this level of excellence on all the components, due to their diverse shapes, thicknesses, and angles.

Hublot has recreated the exact colour of the ceramic for the counters on the dial and the hands, as well as for the integrated rubber strap. This strap features the patented "One-Click" system for quick, tool-free changes.

This series is limited to 250 pieces. At its heart beats the UNICO Chronograph Manufacture calibre. This is the very latest generation of the automatic flyback chronograph movement developed by Hublot. Guaranteeing a three-day power reserve (72 hours), it retains the same aesthetic signature: column wheel at 6 o'clock, bicompax layout (small seconds at 9 o'clock, 60-minute counter at 3 o'clock with integrated date), silicon escapement, and the always demonstrative and powerful skeleton architecture. The UNICO sits inside the iconic Big Bang case. This version is 42 mm in diameter and features the famous 6 titanium 'H' shaped bezel screws and lugs on either side of the case that echo the design of a ship’s porthole.