The Hublot Square Big Bang was the brainchild of savvy marketer Jean-Claude Biver. Launched in 2005, its burly case, extroverted personality and fusion of different materials have consolidated the Big Bang as the brand’s flagship model. Last year, the Big Bang welcomed a sibling known as the Square Bang Unico, with, as you have intuited, a square case. During Watches & Wonders 2023, Hublot unveils three new editions of the Square Bang Unico in black and white ceramic cases and an impressive transparent sapphire crystal case.
Judging by the popularity of the Hublot Square Big Bang, taking the genetic traits of the Big Bang and reallocating them inside a square-shaped case seems to have worked. All the manifest personality quirks of the Big Bang are featured on the Square Bang: the six H-shaped titanium screws in the bezel, the modular sandwich construction of the case with its lateral protective bumpers, rubber-clad chrono pushers and crown, and the mandatory ‘fusion’ of high-tech materials. Although the press pictures don’t reveal this detail, it would seem that the pushers of the sapphire case do have a protective rubber coating, but the crown does not.
The new Hublot Square Big Bang trilogy has slightly smaller dimensions than the 2022 models, and the water-resistance has been decreased from 100m to 50m. With its 41mm diameter and thickness of 12mm (compared to the 42mm x 14.5mm of 2022 models), the ergonomic case is now reworked in three flavours – black ceramic, white ceramic and sapphire crystal. The ceramic cases feature contemporary microblasted surfaces combined with polished bevels, while the contours of the sapphire crystal case are polished.
The openworked dial offers a partial view of the mechanics, including the column wheel in an aperture at 6 o’clock and an entirely exposed date wheel. With a running seconds ring at 9 o’clock and a sapphire disc at 3 o’clock for the 60-min chronograph register (tinted in the two ceramic models), the date window magically materialises beneath the chrono register at the 15-minute position. The indices are applied to a peripheral flange and, like all the hands – except for the central chronograph seconds – are treated with Super-LumiNova. The central chronograph seconds has a Hublot logo-shaped counterweight and a skeletonised oblong tip.
The curved ergonomic caseback reveals Hublot’s HUB1280 Unico manufacture automatic flyback chronograph calibre with a column wheel. With a frequency of 4Hz/28,800vph, the 354-part movement delivers a robust 72-hour power reserve.
The new Hublot Square Big Bang models are fitted with structured rubber straps and a titanium deployant clasp. Hublot’s simple One Click interchangeable system makes it possible to personalise the watch.
