Galloping gallantly into the new lunisolar year
The tonneau at Hublot is one of the most iconic shapes in the brand; it represents vitality, extreme sportiness and a truly classic shape. The Hublot Spirit of the Big Bang becomes the most desired shape and the best seller among its siblings in the family. Its success with customers is rather unusual, where it has succeeded, many others have failed to woo theirs. Perhaps how Hublot does with its aesthetics has a lot to do with it. The shape might be classic, but what Spirit of Big Bang has a lot more going on with its design and aesthetics.
It's powerful, and it does not apologise for its heft and its striking good looks, and all bold, but yet it’s super light, thanks to its carbon fibre body. One look, and you know it’s not for the faint-hearted. The design of the case is one complex system of construction layered between different materials to give it those extra technical effects, and its bezel is screwed down onto the caseband with its iconic six ‘H’ screws. On top of that, it has a rather convenient and clever ‘One-Click’ quick-release integrated strap, which is rather robust in comparison to others.
Every Chinese New Year or Lunisolar New Year, Hublot tries to come out with something unique to celebrate the auspicious new year, and this year, there is no exception. Unlike other watch brands, Hublot wants each of the Chinese Zodiac animals to be given its unique design and totally different from one another, instead basing them on a variation on the same theme.
For the upcoming Chinese New Year, the fifth Zodiac sign shall reign over us, the Year of the Horse. Hublot kicked off with a uniquely designed timepiece. The watch is entirely black, with a black frosted carbon bezel and six ‘H’ screws held in place by a black-plated titanium caseband, which is layered all the way to the sapphire caseback. The pièce de résistance is the polished frosted carbon dial, decorated with an appliqué hand, sculpted in gold champlevé, of a horse, reminiscent of ancient depictions from the early formation of the Chinese nation. This is one of those rare occasions where the dial is left unmarked, with hour and minute indexes. The frosted carbon adds a layer of randomness to the entire aesthetic, unique because of the formation of shards of varying shapes and sizes, placed at random, creating a one-off pattern in which no two are alike.
The time is told via black-plated hour and minute hands in the centre, with the central seconds sweeping over the dial. A simplicity that we don’t often see, sophisticated at the same time, chic. That just adds a full dose of desirability to the timepiece, without making it too simplistic, thanks to the carbon fibre nature, and yet allows it to the discreetly enough to catch glances darting its way. The watch is powered by a manufacture automatic Calibre MHUB1710, with all its plates and bridges plated black, completing the ‘Bete Noire’ which made it so powerful and handsome. And it comes with a 50-hour power reserve.
If you’re looking for that special gift this coming Chinese New Year to celebrate the prosperous year ahead, this Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Horse is just the one for the smooth ride.
