A watch for fans of Gordon Ramsay (who should also get that reference!).
Limited to 999 pieces, this piece isn’t really named after the sweary Scottish philanderer chef; rather a locomotive of the Union Pacific Railroad. Hence the badge.
It’s a big boy sized 46mm, in stainless steel.
There’s an AR-coated sapphire crystal and water resistance to 100 meers.
Movement is the ETA caliber 2836-2 with 25 jewels.
It struck me, looking at the IWC Big Pilot DFB, that we don’t see enough watches in this colour combo (silver dial in a silver coloured case). I think it looks really good, don’t you?
Whilst I love this piece I couldn’t buy one though. And not just due to financial sensibilities. As an English/Australian I’m not sure I should be sporting a watch made in support of Germany’s Euro 2012 hopes!
Only 250 lucky Deutschlanders will be able to get their hands on one anyway, it being a limited edition.
It’s a rather large 46mm piece, in stainless steel. There’s an AR-coated sapphire crystal and water resistance to 60 meters (so no taking a dive then Germany. Haha!).
The dial is rhodium-plated, in a sun-pattern finish.
Power comes via the automatic IWC in-house caliber 51011. This has 42 jewels, beats at 21,600 vph and holds a power reserve of 168 hours (7 days) – shown on the dial.
Really very nice.
Can I have one for anyone else but Germany though please? :-)
A marriage between Hublot and Ferrari, not known as understated brands, could easily have turned into a horrible car crash (pardon the pun).
Instead, the pieces released so far seem to be finding the right balance between cool and outrageous: exactly where they should be landing. The titanium version of this Big Bang Ferrari is particularly nice: Richard Mille-esque in some ways.
[Press Release] In Italy last November, Hublot and Ferrari announced their partnership that would make the Swiss ‘Maison’ the exclusive watchmaking partner of the Maranello-based Italian automobile manufacturer. This is not a simple agreement for supplying watches, licensing or sponsorship, but truly a 360° partnership that encompasses all key activities pertaining to brand image and sales activities, including production of a “Ferrari Official Watch” and a “Scuderia Ferrari Official Watch” as well as Hublot’s taking on the role of “Ferrari Official Timekeeper”, “Scuderia Ferrari Official Timekeeper” and “Ferrari Challenge Official Timekeeper.”
Announced by Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot, and Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, President of Ferrari S.p.A. on the Mugello circuit, where the finals of the Ferrari Challenge are played out to close the Prancing Horse’s racing season, the partnership marked the beginning of a truly collaborative effort on the foundation of shared values. As part of the BaselWorld, the world’s premier event watchmaking and jewellery industry, Hublot has unveil the first watch designed in partnership with Ferrari.
The Big Bang Ferrari marks an evolution the iconic Big Bang design – the first since the watch was launched in 2005 – that fuses style and materials and mechanics in way that uniquely addresses the respective DNA of Hublot and Ferrari: innovation, performance, technology and exclusivity.
The Big Bang Ferrari sports a larger case (45.5 mm in diameter) with a cylindrical bezel that dramatically showcases the movement visible through the sapphire dial. An indexed crown (with Hublot’s ‘H’ logo automatically positioning itself to remain in line) features elongated push buttons, fixed along a rotating axis like 
the pedals in a car whilst carbon inserts give the case distinctive look. The watch comes with two interchangeable straps with an innovative quick-change system inspired by the safety seatbelt mechanism. The tone on tone stitching is a nod to the signature upholstery craftsmanship typical of Ferrari. The minute counter, whose hands and indices recall a Ferrari dashboard, is positioned at 3 o’clock and complemented by date window in ‘Modena’ yellow. The legendary prancing horse is featured discreetly in relief at 9 o’clock.
The absence of superfluous accessories brings out the fusional and rational aspects of the Big Bang Ferrari’s unique design, a pure expression of the values that characterize the sports spirit of Ferrari and at the same time the inimitable Hublot style.
The UNICO movement can be compared to the best possible engine to power a racing car, and that it was selected, then designed and developed by Hublot to power the Big Bang Ferrari. With no fewer than 330 components, oscillating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the column wheel and dual horizontal coupling on the dial side appear in a new constellation reminiscent of Ferrari alloy wheel rims. The timepiece has a 72-hour power reserve, and is water resistant to 100 metres.
Finally, the Big Bang Ferrari incorporates Magic Gold, the product of extensive R&D unveiled barely three months ago. Magic Gold is scratch-resistant 18-carat gold. The innovation and sophistication that went into the Big Bang Ferrari make it a new sign of recognition, different to the core from any watch presented before. This concept has even been extended to the presentation case for each watch – a true showcase inspired by an engine valve support, made from aluminium, with a built-in rotary system.
Case Diameter: 45.5 mm – polished Magic Gold or satin-finished Titanium
Bezel: Polished Magic Gold or satin-finished Titanium
6 H-shaped black PVD titanium screws, countersunk, polished & locked (Magic Gold)
6 H-shaped countersunk, polished & locked screws (Titanium)
Crystal: Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective coating
Bezel: lug Black composite resin
Lateral inserts: Black composite resin with carbon insert at 9 o’clock
Crown: Micro-blasted and polished black PVD titanium (Magic Gold)
Micro-blasted and polished titanium (Titanium)
Black rubber insert with Hublot logo
Push-buttons: Micro-blasted and polished black PVD titanium (Magic Gold)
Micro-blasted and polished titanium (Titanium)
Black rubber insert on the push-piece at 2 o’clock
Engraved Ferrari logo with red lacquer on the push-piece at 4 o’clock
Case-back Micro-blasted and polished black PVD titanium
Sapphire crystal with interior anti-reflective treatment
Water resistance: 10 ATM, i.e. approx. 100 metres
Dial: Sapphire with white Hublot logo transfer
Rhodium-plated Ferrari prancing horse applique
Satin-finished rhodium-plated or 2N gold-plated indexes
Hands: Satin-finished rhodium-plated white SuperLuminova™ (Titanium) or 2N gold-plated black SuperLuminova™ (Magic Gold)
Minute counter hand with Ferrari red coating
Movement: HUB 1241 Unico movement, developed and manufactured in-house by Hublot, self-winding chronograph
Date: Yellow window at 3 o’clock
Oscillating weight: Satin-finished and micro-blasted black coating, imitating the shape of a wheel rim
Power reserve: Approximately 72 hours
Straps: Black rubber strap with central rubber decoration, alcantara and tone-on-tone stitching
Or black rubber, scedoni leather and tone-on-tone stitching
Clasp: Deployant buckle in satin-finished black PVD titanium with carbon insert (Titanium) or satin-finished titanium with carbon insert (Magic Gold)
This is such a brilliant but simple concept I’m surprised this hasn’t been done before. Perhaps it has – got any other examples?
Sorry, the concept … at the press of a button this piece transforms from watch to alarm clock by virtue of its pop-up case.
Beautiful!
It’s a 40mm piece, in stainless steel. You get double sapphire crystals and water resistance to 30 meters.
Movement is the Russian caliber 2612AS with alarm complication. The bridges are gold or rhodium plated, and the screws are blue-dyed.
Do want :-)
Things have been a little quiet on the Hublot front since the Dear Leader moved upstairs (no, not that Dear Leader .. our favourite French one).
Thankfully they haven’t completely lost their sense of mad: here’s their perfect-for-global-economic-uncertainty Big Bang special.
$5million worth and featuring 1,282 diamonds – including six stones which are more than three carats each.
Youch!
Apparently it took 17 people more than a year to set all the diamonds on the watch’s white gold bracelet.
Hello Oris Big Crown Date Stealth Grey.
*puff*
The watch is a 44mm piece, in stainless steel grey PVD.
It comes equipped with a sapphire crystal and water resistance to 100 meters.
Power comes courtesy of an automatic Oris caliber 733, with 26 jewels.
Ah, Mr Biver, what a funny fellow you are.
Perfectly capable of producing some really great pieces, Hublot are also not shy about throwing some shockers into the mix!
Welcome then the Big Bang Boa Bang.
We’ll see more of this one in January in Geneva, but until then here’s some tech specs.
You know, for those crazy stylish people who might quite like this one :-)
Case:
Boa Bang Steel Brown and Green: Diameter 41mm
Polished and Satin-finished Stainless Steel
Boa Bang Gold Brown and Green: Diameter 41mm
Polished and Satin-finished 18K Red Gold
Crystal: Sapphire with Anti-reflective Treatment
Bezel: Lug Black Color Composite Resin
Lateral Inserts: Black Color Composite Resin
Case-back: Steel Brown and Green Stainless
Steel Satin-finished with Sapphire Crystal Interior
Anti-reflective Treatment
Case-back: Gold Brown and Green
18K Red Gold Satin-finished with Sapphire
Crystal: Interior Anti-reflective Treatment
Crown and Pushers: Steel Brown and Green
Stainless Steel with Black Rubber Insert
Crown and Pushers: Gold Brown and Green
18K Red Gold with Black Rubber Insert
Screws: Titanium
Water Resistance: 100m or 10 ATM
Bezel:
Steel Brown and Green:18K White Gold set with 48 Fine Precious Baguette of Andalusite, Dark Smoked and Transparent Quartz
Gold Brown and Green: 18K Red Gold set with 48 Fine Precious Baguette of Light-green Tsavorit, Tourmaline and Light-green Sapphire
DIAL AND HANDS:
Steel Brown and Green: Boa Bang Color Dial with Rhodium Plated Appliques set with 8 Diamonds for 0.14ct Polished Rhodium Plated Hands
Gold Brown and Green: Boa Bang Color Dial with Gold Plated Appliques set with 8 Diamonds for 0.14ct Polished Gold Plated Hands
Movement:
HUB4300 Self-winding
Chronograph Movement
Date Trapezoid Window at 4.30
Oscillating Weight Hublot designed Tungsten
Openwork Rotor Coated in Black PVD
Escapement Swiss Lever Escapement
No. of Components: 278
Jewels: 37
Fréquency: (Hz) 4 (28’600 A/h)
Power Reserve: 42 hours
No, Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver hasn’t been caught in some bizarre Benjamin Button incident.
This fella is 104-year old Brazilian legend of architecture, Oscar Niemeyer.
Niemeyer is probably most well-known for the UN buildings in New York, but he also designed the Brazilian National Congress along with a series of other ‘futuristic’ buildings in his native Brazil and overseas.
Read more about Niemeyer on Wikipedia.
As for the watch: in the Brazilian national colours this 44.5mm piece in micro-blasted tantalum is limited to 104 pieces.
The dial is skeletonized (mostly) and round the back you’ll find an engraving of the aforementioned Congress building.
Rock on Mr Niemeyer!
Reference 311.AI.1149.HR.NIE11
Series Limited to 104 pieces numbered from 01/104 to 104/104
Case 44.5 mm Big Bang, in micro-blasted tantalum
Bezel Micro-blasted tantalum
6 H-shaped black PVD titanium screws, countersunk, polished & locked
Crystal Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective treatment
Bezel Lugs Black composite
Lateral inserts Black composite
Crown Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert
Push-pieces Black PVD titanium, rectangular, with black rubber inserts
Case-back Open tantalum, with circular satin finish
Case-back crystal Transfer of the Square of Three Powers, one of Oscar Niemeyer’s legendary works in Brasilia
Water resistance 10 Atm, i.e. approx 100 metres
Dial Matt black openworked skeleton.
Green varnished indexes, with yellow SuperLuminova™
Hands Polished black nickel, with yellow SuperLuminova™
Chronograph hand with H counterweight
Movement HUB4214 – Mechanical chronograph with automatic winding
Components 252
Jewels 27
Bridges Satin-finished, bevelled & polished
Screws Black PVD titanium
Calendar Trapezoid window at 4.30
Oscillating weight Openworked and coated in black PVD, tungsten segment
Main plate Micro-blasted black chromium
Barrel Reinforced spring
Escapement Glucydur hairspring
Power reserve Approximately 42 hours
Strap Adjustable black rubber and black Crocodile Porosus Hornback strap, with grey stitching
Clasp Big Bang black PVD deployant buckle, titanium screws and satin-finished tantalum plate
Hublot are well on their way to ensuring every ‘famous’ person on the planet has their very own Big Bang model (although they’d be hard pushed to beat the ‘Nastie Bang‘ for a memorable name).
This time around it’s action star Jet Li who gets the honours.
Li is a brand ambassador for Hublot in Asia.
He was presented with his Big Bang model in Dalian China as part of Hublot’s ‘Art of Fusion’ event.
200 pieces will be made overall – available at Hublot boutiques worldwide.
At 44.5mm, it comes with a black micro-blasted ceramic case (titanium features in here too I believe), a ceramic bezel, automatic mechanical movement, black rubber and black gummy alligator strap with red stitching.
The watch also features a matte black open-worked skeleton with Chinese screen decoration on the watch face.
There’s a Yin & Yang symbol and the signature of Li on the back.
That didn’t take long.
Soon after announcing their union, Hublot and Ferrari have given birth to their first love child, the snappily named ‘Big Bang Chrono Tourbillon Ferrari’.
For a watch that combines Hublot and Ferrari DNA it’s surprisingly understated (ok, it’s not really understated per se – these things are all relative – but the Ferrari design elements are nice and subtle).
This piece is meant to commemorate Ferrari’s 20 years in the Chinese market, but to be honest that just sounds like the quickest and most convenient event they could pick in order to get something out as soon as possible following news of the partnership.
At 44mm and in an all carbon fibre case (nice), there’ll only be a limited run of twenty pieces made.
Movement is the Hublot caliber 6300 column-wheel chronograph.
It comes with a tourbillon and power reserve meter.
What do you think?
I must confess – I’m pleasantly surprised :-)
Reference 308.QX.1110.HR.SCF11
- Series 20 pieces numbered from 01/20 to 20/20
- Case Big Bang – Diameter 44 mm, made from carbon fibre
- Bezel Carbon fibre
- Crystal Red sapphire with Hublot transfer
- Bezel Lugs Black composite resin
- Lateral inserts Black composite resin
- Crown Ǿ 8.40 satin-finished, with black rubber insert
- Screws Black PVD titanium
- Push-pieces 2 o’clock satin-finished black with red lacquer
- Case-back Carbon fibre with red inscriptions
- Case-back crystal “20th Anniversary of Ferrari in China” transfer, with Ferrari Horse in the centre
- Water resistance 10 ATM, i.e. approx 100 metres
- Dial Matt black with black nickel indexes
- Ferrari Horse in the centre of the Chrono minute counter at 2 o’clock
- Hands Faceted & polished hands + red 60-min counter
- Movement HUB 6300 Column-wheel chronograph, clutch Tourbillon escapement coupled directly to the cage, with power reserve indicator on the dial side
- No. of components 269
- Jewels 35
- Bridges Carbon fibre
- Screws Polished steel
- Main plate Circular-grained black gold
- Barrel Reinforced spring
- Escapement Glucydur hairspring
- Power reserve Approximately 120 hours
Strap Adjustable black rubber and black Porosus Hornback crocodile strap, with red stitching
Clasp Big Bang micro-blasted black PVD titanium deployant buckle, micro-blasted black PVD titanium cap, micro-blasted black ceramic decorative plate, black ink engraving and polished black PVD screws.
