The Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon gets its second coloured carbon timepiece, this time in stunning orange.
Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon featured the brand’s first automatic tourbillon movement. The watch is a signature model in the Hublot Big Bang collection and stands out from the other pieces thanks to its tonneau case shape design. Over the years, the luxury Swiss watchmaker has given the Spirit of Big Band Tourbillon many different looks, ranging from different-coloured sapphire cases, gem-set cases, and carbon fibre cases.
Hublot never shies away from experimenting with different case designs, which has led the brand to be a pioneer in creating some truly unique materials. We already know that Hublot is the master of sapphire; however, what they have also achieved in creating different-coloured carbon-fibre cases should also be applauded. Carbon fibre as a material is extremely popular, especially in the world of motor racing, as it possesses unrivalled mechanical qualities. This high-tech material is ultra-lightweight, resists torsion and comes in the form of a fibre mesh embedded in an epoxy resin. Hublot also uses 3D carbon, where the fibres are woven on three planes. Other models use a “frosted” carbon with coloured inclusions.
The Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon has already been shown with different “frosted” carbon fibre cases, from the carbon black model to carbon white, carbon blue, and, more recently, carbon sky blue. Personally, I believe the carbon blue and sky blue creations are works of art. The models are not only aesthetically pleasing but also unique, as each individual timepiece will vary from another due to the nature of the movement of the fibres during creation.
Now, for Watches & Wonders 2024, the brand has introduced a new “frosted” carbon colour to the mix: orange carbon! Like the previous other carbon editions, the 42mm case and bezel of this timepiece have been created with carbon fibre with orange micro-glass fibres, giving a vivid camo-print style aesthetic look to watch. While the blue version of this Spring of Big Bang Tourbillon looks stunning, this new orange by far stands out the most. To colour match the case nicely, Hublot is offering this Orange Carbon timepiece with a black and orange structured lined rubber strap.
The skeletonised dial construction remains unchanged, bar the aesthetic colour difference from previous versions. We still get the three-quarter design time dial at 3 o’clock, the tourbillon at 6 o’clock and the 5-day power reserve indicator at 8 o’clock. The minute ring on the time dial and the power reserve indicator ring are the only colour-coded elements on the dial, which in this case is done in orange to stay in theme.
The movement providing this impressive 5-day power reserve is Hublot’s in-house Manufacture manual winding power reserve skeleton tourbillon movement, MHUB6020. The movement is comprised of 183 components, with anthracite grey-plated bridges. As it is a manual wound timepiece, the frequency sits at 3hz (21,600 VpH). The case back of the watch shows the beautifully designed architecture holding the MHUB6020 movement in place.
Final Thoughts
Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon is a testament to stylistic innovation. The skeletonised base model has had many different variations already, showcasing the brand’s knowledge of materials and their ability to push past the boundaries. While the carbon variants of this model may seem like simple colour changes, the intricately woven coloured micro-glass fibres are an unparalleled level of technical sophistication.
This new orange carbon version is bolder and more vivid than the previous coloured carbon variants. Not that we couldn’t in the previous models, but with the orange micro-glass fibres, we can clearly see the nature of carbon fibre and how its design is unique from one model to another.
The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon Orange Carbon is limited to a production of 50 models worldwide.
Reference: 645.QO.4710.RX
Specification
- Case: 42 mm x 13.25mm thickness
- Case Material: Carbon Fiber with Orange Micro-glass Fibers“One-Click” System
- Dial: Sapphire crystal showing skeletonised MHUB6020 movement.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 30m (3 Bar)
- Movement: MHUB6020
- Movement Frequency: 3Hz (21,600 VpH)
- Power reserve: 5 days
- Bracelet: Black and Orange Structured Lined Rubber Strap with black Ceramic and Black-plated Titanium Deployant Buckle Clasp
