Hublot’s new Spirit of Big Bang models are equipped with the acclaimed El Primero movement by 150-year-strong watchmaker Zenith. A new inductee under the LVMH umbrella, the storied brand decided to pick the brains of technically forward sister brand Zenith to endow its new range of timepieces with a different kind of soul.
An intrepid champion of horological advancement in its own right, Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang honours the namesake Big Bang collection through the brand’s signature lugs. This memorable look is further professed and venerated through trademark H-shaped titanium screws that adorn its bezel.
Zenith embarked on its ambitious El Primero foray in the early 1960s. At the height of the race to produce the world’s first automatic chronograph, hot favourite Zenith aspired to trailblaze its competition with an invention that would simultaneously celebrate the brand’s centenary.
Unfortunately, the grandiose El Primero took a whole seven years to realise and was not in time for Zenith’s 100th birthday. Nonetheless, the storied movement is still one of the first automatic chronographs released. The final product included a column wheel, central rotor and a stylish date mechanism to boot. It is considered one of the most accurate chronographs known to man thanks to its rapid vibrations of 36,000 oscillations an hour. It has accompanied many a sportsman and explorer on numerous endeavours, including tagging along on the wrist of “French Spider-Man” Alain Robert as he conquered various manmade erections around the world.
The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang enthrones its El Primero movement in a case of beautifully contrasted satin-finished, micro-blasted and polished surfaces. Its variants employ a tasteful mix of titanium, ceramic and King Gold, which is 18k gold alloyed with 5 per cent platinum to achieve a more regal red. Three chronograph sub-dials at the ‘3 o’clock’, ‘6 o’clock’ and ‘3 o’clock’ positions calibrate the minutes, hours and seconds elapsed respectively. This 50-hour power reserve, 100m water-resistant watch’s date display revolves with all 31 days visible along the circumference of its dial, while classic Hublot rhodium or gold-plated hands distinctly point out the time.
