Hublot Big Bang Boa Bang

TECHNICAL DETAILS

References 341.PX.7818.NR.1978 (gold/green version)

341.PX.7918.NR.1979 (gold/brown version)

341.PX.7817.NR.1978 (steel/green version)

341.PX.7917.NR.1979 (steel/brown version)

Series Limited edition of 250 numbered pieces for each of the 4 versions

Case Big Bang – Diameter 41 mm – Steel or 18K red gold, depending on the version

Bezel Steel or 18K red gold (gold version) set with:

48 baguette andalusites, dark smoky quartz, smoky quartz and transparent smoky quartz (brown version)

48 pale green baguette tsavorites, tourmalines and pale green sapphires (green version)

Crystal Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective coating

Bezel Lugs Black composite resin

Lateral inserts Black composite resin

Crown Steel or 18K red gold with black rubber inserts

Push-buttons Steel or 18K red gold with black rubber inserts

Case-back Steel or 18K red gold

Water resistance 10 ATM, i.e. approx 100 metres

Dial Green or brown Boa print

Indexes set with 8 diamonds, with total weight 0.14 carats

Hands Steel version: polished, rhodium-plated

Gold version: polished, gold plated

Movement HUB4300 Automatic mechanical chronograph

Date Trapezoid aperture at 4:30

Oscillating weight Openworked with black PVD coating, tungsten segment

Power reserve Approximately 42 hours

Strap Denim fabric with green or brown Boa print, stitched onto black rubber

Clasp Steel or 18K red gold deployant buckle

Pioneering the art of “fusion”, Biver basically resurrected Hublot from the ashes to become one of the hottest and most innovative brands on the market today.  Biver’s many successful exploits — from Blancpain (1980′s) to Omega (1990′s) to Hublot (2000′s) — are largely highlighted on Biver’s Wikipedia page, though numerous interviews can be found via Google.

Congrats on all your achievements Mr. Biver.

Jean-Claude Biver (l) and Ricardo Guadalupe (r)

From Hublot:

All of us at Hublot are very pleased to inform you that Mr. Ricardo Guadalupe, former Managing Director of the Company, and personal friend of Mr. Jean Claude Biver with whom he has been working since nearly 20 years, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer effective January 1st 2012.
This  step was  planned a long time ago in consideration of  Mr.  Guadalupe’s significant and instrumental achievements together with Mr. Jean Claude Biver since joining Hublot in 2005.  Mr. Jean Claude Biver will continue to serve Hublot as the company’s Chairman of the Board, and as in the past give his precious insights into business strategy and product development.

As the official spokesperson of Hublot, Mr. Biver will also coordinate communications activities
with the press, collectors as well as trade and industry.

“There is a time for learning, a time for doing, a time for handing over, and a time for moving on. I’ve happily made it safe and sound to the hand-over stage. With the gratification of being able to hand over to a friend and colleague of more than twenty years. And happiness at the prospect of remaining part of the team on matters relating to strategy, products and corporate relations.”

This said, I must admit I’ve been waiting for something like this from Hublot — it is now clear to me that now that it has its own in-house movements ( the “Unico” series) and some new in-house talent (BNB and others), we are finally starting to see Hublot diversify its product lineup.  This is a very good thing for Hublot and also for the many of us who have been feeling a bit of “limited edition” Big Bang fatigue lately.  But at the same time, I would like to see Hublot would start offering some more modest case sizes (42-44mm range), as these 48mm monsters are just too big for most wrists.  Perhaps we will see something to this effect in 2012, so stay tuned in.

Hublot King Power Unico GMT Watch

48mm gold or black ceramic case, automatic mechanical Hublot Caliber 1220 (GMT function)

Look carefully and you can see that there are four GMT discs attached together by arms that form ” + ” shape — these discs are all linked and they move/rotate centrally with the main time.   As they do so, you are able to tell time in each of the 24 time zones which is marked off by little red lines and city names around outer edge of the dial.

Hublot Big Bang Jet Li Watch

Limited Edition 200 pieces

44.5mm black micro-blasted ceramic case, ceramic bezel, automatic mechanical movement, black rubber and black gummy alligator strap with red stitching

 Yin-Yang crystal and the signature of Mr. Jet Li

Ref. 311.CI.1130.GR.JLI11

Jet Li went on the record saying:

“As a world-renowned creator of premier timepieces, Hublot’s fusion of traditional watchmaking art and modern high technology is second to none. I truly admire that as a luxury brand, Hublot also remains incredibly active in its support of charity initiatives worldwide with its “Sharing and Caring” philosophy, sharing its success with individuals who need caring most. “

Hublot Ferrari Big Bang Chrono Tourbillon (Live Looks)

damn the Prancing Horse is a beauty, ain’t she?

can’t take my eyes off of the Prancing Horse emblem…reminds me of time me and a ‘mate were doing 150+mph on a West Texas highway in a 360 Modena Spyder (or perhaps my man will recall more fondly the land speed record we set in the 550 Maranello (right, Harris? )

More Hublot F1 Watches >>> Hublot F1 King Power Abu Dhabi, Hublot F1 King Power Gold, Hublot F1 King Power Ceramic, Hublot F1 King Power “Suzuka” Watch, Hublot King Power F1 – the Official Watch of Formula 1, F1 King Power Monza (red sapphire), F1 King Power India

 Hublot F1 King Power Interlagos Watch

Limited, Numbered edition of 250 pieces

48mm carbon fiber case, ceramic F1 “brake disc” style bezel, automatic mechanical chronograph movement, horback alligator strap with cobalt blue stitching

 (Ref. 703.QM.1129.HR.FIL11)

close-up:

Did you Know?

Formula 1

Formula One™, which began in 1950, is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition and is the world’smost popular annual sporting series. In 2010 it was watched by 527 million unique television viewers from 180 countries.

Interlagos F1

The Sao Paolo circuit is notorious for, among other things, the fact that unlike other F1 courses it is run counterclockwise.

Girard-Perregaux disappointed.  Panerai  fared only slightly better.  And now Hublot becomes the third fourth (five if you count the highly limited Cabestan Scuderia) high-end watch brand to try its hand with Official Ferrari-themed watches.  Live from Guangzhou, China, Hublot unveiled the first genuine Ferrari-Stamped Hublot watch – a pure collectors’ item of just 20 pieces.   This watch was expected given Hublot’s recent announcement of its global partnership with Ferrari, but rest assured that it is only a teaser — we can expect one if not multiple Hublot-Ferrari watches to be unveiled next March at Baselworld 2012 (I’ll be bringing You the first looks, of course).

As far as this piece goes I like the carbon fiber case, red sapphire-tint crystal, and the hornback crock strap with red stiching.  However, I will definitely expect much more than this in March 2012 and beyond.  After all, there is really nothing new in terms of design or functionality from Hublot (not even the red-tinted sapphire crystal — it debuted in the Big Bang Monza).  My bet (and hope) is that the Hublot-Ferrari pieces will evolve off of Hublot’s F1 watch series (see ‘em all here), which are quite impressive and distinct.  Stay tuned…

Hublot Big Bang Chrono Tourbillon Ferrari Watch

20 pieces LE for the 20th Anniversary of the First Ferrari in China

44mm carbon fiber case, automatic mechanical column-wheel chronograph movement with tourbillon, red tinted sapphire crystal

up close you can see the red-tinted sapphire crystal — nice!

Hublot, the Official Watchmaker of Formula 1, has introduced a new model in its popular but limited “F1″ series.  The newest Hublot F1 King Power was unveiled at the penultimate Grand Prix of the Formula 1 season, Abu Dhabi.  While TAG Heuer ambassador Lewis Hamilton raced to the checkered flag, Hublot’s JC Biver was seen with with F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone showing off this new piece.  Like all Hublot F1 pieces, this one is a limited edition (250 pieces) and sports a light blue color inspired by the Yas Marina Cicruit in Abu Dhabi.  The brake-disc style ceramic bezel, the Nomex strap and F1-inspired pushers are all there, too.

More Hublot F1 Watches >>> Hublot F1 King Power Gold, Hublot F1 King Power Ceramic, Hublot F1 King Power “Suzuka” Watch, Hublot King Power F1 – the Official Watch of Formula 1, F1 King Power Monza (red sapphire), F1 King Power India

Hublot F1 King Power Abu Dhabi

48mm carbon fiber case, black ceramic bezel, automatic mechanical movement (split seconds), Nomex strap

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Hublot Dwyane Wade Watch (Live Look)

Here’s the first live looks at the Hublot Antikythera mechanism, courtesy of Hublot.  In the ~3 minute video below, you also get a glimpse into the history of the Antikythera mechanism and why Hublot has decided to recreate it scaled down to wristwatch size.  Listening to Hublot Chief Jean-Claude Biver, it sounds like Hublot will make four, and only four, Antikythera wristwatches — one for the Athens Museum, one for the Musee des Arts de Metiers, one for the Hublot museum, and one piece that will be auctioned for charity (supporting the Athens Museum and the Musee des Arts de Metiers).  See our prior coverage of the Antikythera mechanism here and here.

Hublot Antikythera Mechanism Video

Hublot Antikythera Mechanism Pics

(c) Hublot