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Whether you want bright and vibrant or dark and stealthy, Hublot now has two options in the Spirit of Big Bang collection with the introduction of an Orange Ceramic and Frosted Carbon models.

The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang collection has quickly grown on me. I’m not sure if it is the way they fit the wrist with the curved caseback and integrated rubber strap, or the way they look with the tonneau case shape, and openworked or skeleton dials, and movements, depending on the model. In any event, when I put one on the wrist, I can’t help but feel happy. The Spirit of Big Bang is a collection that makes me smile for whatever reason, and let’s face it, shouldn’t this be what watch collecting is all about? So, a few weeks ago, when in Geneva, Watch Advice had the chance to get a first-hand preview of the new collections coming out thanks to our friends at Hublot, and we’ve been waiting since to share them. And, here they are. Two new, and very different-looking Spirit of Big Bangs: One in a vibrant orange ceramic, a first for the collection, and one in a much more stealthy (and my favourite) Frosted Carbon.

Frosted Carbon

Frosted Carbon first made its appearance in the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon in 2019. Unlike the regular Spirit of Big Bang, the Tourbillon came with a 5-day manual winding calibre, made in-house, and with it, a unique look that both somehow stands out and flies under the radar at the same time. And while it hasn’t made its way into the collection (other than the special Veuve Cliquot Polo Edition of 30 pieces last year), it now has graced the Spirit of Big Bang Chronograph core collection.

For those wondering, Hublot’s Frosted Carbon is a carbon-fibre composite made by combining carbon fibre with an epoxy resin matrix and micro-glass inclusions. That mix is pressed and cured into blocks or sheets (a process close to “forged carbon”), then CNC-machined into case components and finished to produce the frosted look you see here. Because of the way the carbon-fibre and micro-glass inclusions form, no pattern is ever the same, so it effectively makes each watch “unique” in that sense. It is also lightweight and tough, so it makes a great material for watch cases in terms of durability.

The new Frosted Carbon Spirit of Big Bang comes on a fabric velcro strap as standard, but thanks to Hublot’s “One-Click” system, it can be swapped out easily for any other strap of your choice. We opted for the standard all-black rubber strap on this shoot, and probably the way I would wear it day to day.

Orange Ceramic

In addition to the Frosted Carbon, Hublot has introduced a vibrant Orange Ceramic model, limited to 200 pieces. This is the first time the colour has been used on the Spirit of Big Bang, and possibly thanks to the success the brand saw with the Orange Ceramic Big Bang Unico last year, when released at Watches & Wonders. Earlier in the year, the Nyon brand released three new ceramic Spirit of Big Bangs for LVMH Watch Week 2025, and all were limited in number, thanks to the difficulty of producing the colours, and this new piece adds to the choice.

Like these, the new Orange Ceramic, a colour which I’m told is not the easiest to make, and quite hard to get perfect at scale, is limited as well, so those who want some colour in their life need to get in quick. Made from zirconium sintered at extremely high temperatures, the material is essentially scratch-proof, unless you use a diamond to scratch it, and the shade of orange also makes it challenging to maintain consistent tones throughout all components, such as the flange and the strap. While the orange is not my preferred colour, there are others out there who will love this for being bold and out there, which a watch such as this is designed for.

Both pieces are in the 42mm case size, which is 14.1mm thick and are 100m water resistant, so you can take them anywhere. As you can see above in the photos, they fit well on my 17.5cm wrist, and still just as well on Champs’s 16.5cm wrist. I would say any smaller than about 15.5cm; however, you may start to find these on the larger side.

Inside each is the HUB4700 automatic chronograph movement, which is based on the Zenith El Primero and modified by Hublot (keeping it within the family, so to speak). It is a high-beat movement beating at 5Hz / 36,000 VpH, and has a 50-hour power reserve when not moving. I would love to see this collection move to the HUB1280 Unico Flyback Chronograph movement in the future, which, when the third Hublot facility opens up sometime next year (2026), we should see it make its way into other collections.

Initial Thoughts

As I started off in this article, the Spirit of Big Bang has caught my eye for a while. I think they are fun, cool watches that allow you to have something a little different on the wrist, which, let’s face it, is like most Hublot pieces. But this is the essence of Hublot. The brand isn’t for everyone, nor are the watches. But this is exactly what I like about the brand. Being different is good in a world of people who want the same thing.

The Orange Ceramic will be a piece that will appeal to collectors who want to show off some colour, want a vibrant summer style watch that stands out. The Frosted Carbon will appeal to those, like me, who want something a little more unique-looking and don’t want to have a piece that is too out there from afar, but has loads of character and nuanced detail close up. Either way, these are good additions to the Spirit of Big Bang line-up, and will be a sure-fire hit for those who want to mix up their collections a little from the same old!

References & Specifications

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Orange Ceramic: 642.CU.0110.RX

Retail Price: A$56,600 via Hublot Boutiques on online at Hublot.com

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Frosted Carbon: 642.QK.0110.NR

Retail Price: A$46,300 via Hublot Boutiques on online at Hublot.com