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Dubai Watch Week: Hublot and Seddiqi and Sons partner for the release of two new regional exclusive Big Bang models, celebrating the Big Bang’s 20th Anniversary, and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ 75th Anniversary.

With Dubai watch week underway, it is no surprise that Hublot, a brand that is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its iconic Big Bang models, has decided to partner with one of the UAE’s leading retailers, Seddiqi & Sons, to bring two brand new Big Bang models to life. Today, Hublot has released an all black ceramic and a grey titanium Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Collection.

Each of these models is limited to just 10 pieces for the black ceramic and 25 pieces for the grey titanium, and each pays tribute to the region via the use of Arabic numerals on the dials and in colours that evoke the Middle East culture.

The more exclusive of the two, the microblasted black ceramic Big Bang, features the same case and dial that we saw in the 20th anniversary models, crafted out of microblasted black ceramic. All the elements on the dial are also blacked out: the numerals and hands are black-plated and satin finished, and the stamped dial has a satin-finished “Carbon Effect”, a feature that was present in the original Big Bang models.

The second of the two models, and my personal favourite, is the polished and satin-finished titanium model. In contrast to the all black ceramic model, this has been done in a beautiful satin-finished titanium case, highlighted with 18-carat red gold chronograph pushers, crown, and screws. The dial has also been created with a stamped satin-finished carbon effect, with the hands and indices gold-plated to finish the aesthetic off.

Each of the new models comes in Hublot’s 20th Anniversary, Big Bang cases, sized at 43 mm and 13.2 mm thick. Each model has a rubber strap that is interchangeable via Hublot’s One Click system, and each is colour matched with the case, either in full black or black lining and silver outer.

These new models have the HUB1280 Único movement inside, the same found in the Big Bang Único collection and now in the 20th anniversary limited editions, which were released at Watches & Wonders. This HUB1280 Unico calibre has been designed from the ground up, incorporates a flyback chronograph and features a 72-hour power reserve. On these models, however, the gold rotor is fashioned from 4N 22 carat gold and engraved with “Amhed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary” on the rotor.

Initial thoughts

It feels like Dubai Watch Week is getting bigger every year, or should I say, every two years, as this is a biannual event. And this year it’s bigger than ever, having moved to Burj Park near the foot of the Burj Khalifa. So it makes sense that Hublot, which has a strong presence in the UAE, has partnered with Seddiqi & Sons to bring us these limited edition models for this year’s Dubai Watch Week.

The introduction of the 20th anniversary Big Bang by Hublot was a good move as it brings back an icon, and reinvents it in a slightly smaller size, in addition to this, adding the Unico movement inside, which, as I’ve said many times in the past, is one of the best flyback chronographs on the market today.

I’ve said many times I’m not a huge fan of stealth or blacked out watches, and I think that still stands, as cool as they are, so in this instance, I personally gravitate towards the grey titanium model, with its gold accents on the dial, pushers and crown.

References & Specifications

BIG BANG ALL BLACK SEDDIQI 75TH ANNIVERSARY – 431.CI.1340.RX.SDQ25 

BIG BANG TITANIUM GREY SEDDIQI 75TH ANNIVERSARY – 431.NO.4280.RX.SDQ25 

International Retail Price: All Black – CHF 24900 / Titanium Grey – CHF 21900

Availability: Available via Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.