Even though Hublot was founded in 1980 the company has evolved most significantly since the appointment of Jean-Claude Biver in May 2004. Seven months later the Big Bang was launched & subsequently won the prize for Best Design at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Now with a new CEO at the helm & forming part of the very successful LVMH group the brand has gone from strength to strength. In my opinion the Big Bang is synonymous with style & epitomizes the very essence of Hublot. Admittedly this is probably the most ubiquitous watch around. There are literally hundreds of different versions available in a myriad of design configurations & material choices.
The version I was fortunate enough to wear was the Big Bang Tantalum Mat. Tantalum is a pretty fascinating choice of material for a watch. Not only has it got a gorgeous blue/grey appearance it’s also very hard, has excessive heat tolerance & is resistant to acid corrosion. Personally I’m a huge advocate of brands experimenting by utilizing different materials in watch production. Ultimately this has invigorated the market by offering the consumer some really exciting cutting edge designs.
The watch itself feels very comfortable & lightweight to wear. This is probably down to the choice of material & the intuitive design. At 44.5mm it isn’t a particularly large watch & feels deceptively smaller on the wrist. The Big Bang TM is a beautifully understated timepiece that could easily be worn for any occasion. Aesthetically I love the microblasted finish with a clear PVD coating on the bezel & case. This gives the watch a unique Matt hue that looks absolutely exquisite. This theme is replicated on the uncluttered dial displaying hours, minutes, seconds & chronograph functions. Also the satin-finish numerals and appliqué index markers accented in black act in perfect balance with the light tones of the Tantalum.
The engine powering the watch is the Hublot HUB44 calibre developed in conjunction with La Joux-Perret. It’s a mechanical automatic 27-jewel movement comprising 252 components delivering a respectable 42-hour power reserve. All the mechanics including a tungsten rotor can be viewed through sapphire crystal exhibition case back. An adjustable natural smooth black rubber strap with Hublot logo & Black PVD coated steel clasp accompanies the Bing Bang TM.
The price for the Big Bang Tantalum Mat is: $22,900
http://www.hublot.com/en_US/
