Hublot Samuel Ross Big Bang Unico SR_A

Hublot and British designer Samuel Ross join forces again and present the Big Bang Unico SR_A. Building on Ross’ previous collaborations with the Big Bang Tourbillon, the multi-talented designer, creative director and artist applies his particular design codes to a limited edition of 200 Big Bang Unico pieces. Tamer than the tourbillons, Ross’ vision for the new Big Bang Unico involves a dark monochromatic palette with finishes that draw on his industrial design background.

Hublot’s Big Bang Unico line was launched as a distinct product line from earlier ETA-powered Big Bangs and specifically designed to showcase the brand’s fully integrated, in-house Unico chronograph movement with its skeletonised dial. While many of its traits were modelled after the original Big Bang – signature sandwich construction with protective lateral bumpers and 6 H-shaped screws in the bezel – the Unico featured rounded pushers and the handy One-Click strap change system.

Born in Brixton, London, Ross’ artistic domain encompasses painting, sculpture, furniture, industrial design, and fashion. Founder of A-Cold-Wall and SR_A, his design language brings a millennial edge to luxury goods and has resulted in countless awards, including an MBE for his services to fashion. The robust 100m water-resistant case, with a 42mm diameter and a thickness of 14.5mm, is crafted in black high-tech ceramic. Lending the watch a more industrial edge, the surfaces are satin-brushed, and the titanium screws on the bezel, lateral bumpers and lug attachment are black-plated.

The matte black skeleton dial exposes key components of the Unico movement. This Unico is a rare breed of chronograph movements, featuring its column wheel on the dial side just above the 6 o’clock position. Also visible on the openworked dial is the calendar disc, which circles beneath the counters and appears in the 60-minute chronograph register at 3 o’clock, with its integrated date window. Like the chronograph counter, the smaller sub-dial at 9 o’clock for the running seconds is reduced to a ring.

Bringing his industrial design touch to the dial, the Arabic numerals and indices have been replaced with round applied markers filled with black luminescent material, matching that used on the openworked hour and minute hands. The hour and minute hands, as well as the two hands in the counter, have also succumbed to Ross’ design and have rounded tips.

A central feature of Ross’ design language is the honeycomb motif now used on the black rubber bracelet. Developed specifically for this watch, the black rubber strap features a series of hollowed-out hexagons that reinforce its industrial character. Visible on the caseback, other components of the 354-part HUB1280 Unico integrated flyback chronograph with a column wheel can be appreciated, including the openworked black-plated rotor. Beating at 28,800vph, the movement delivers a robust 72-hour power reserve.

Easier to wear than the highly limited runs of the Big Bang Tourbillons, the Big Bang Unico SR_A is a limited edition of 200 pieces and retails for CHF 25,900 / EUR 30,600. More information at hublot.com.