LVMH Watch Week 2026: For the first time, Hublot and Samuel Ross take the Big Bang SR_A all black, and this time, with Hublot’s Unico Flyback Chronograph movement inside!
The art of fusion for Hublot isn’t just a tagline; it is the philosophy that the Nyon brand lives by and how it creates all of its timepieces. And it isn’t just about materials either, fusing ceramic, titanium, sapphire, rubber or gold, etc. into a watch. It’s about how the brand works with its collaborators, allowing them artistic and creative freedom to bring to life their signature style in Hublot‘s watches.
This means when you see a watch from Hublot and one of its artistic collaborators, such as Samuel Ross, you instinctively know that the designeror artist has had a large say in how the piece looks and feels. It also means that Hublot can take the core DNA of each of the collections and really work within the bounds of this, and give the designer a way to express themselves within that collection.
For Samuel Ross, who is known for his artistic and geometric shapes, you can see these design signatures coming through the SR_A pieces from Hublot’s Big Bang collection. For LVMH Watch Week 2026, for the first time, Hublot and Samuel Ross have created a full Black Magic ceramic piece, but this time, rather than a Tourbillon, it has Hublot‘s iconic Unico flyback Chronograph movement inside, which takes this piece to a whole new level.
Who Is Samuel Ross?
Samuel Ross is a British fashion designer and artist, and he crossed paths with Hublot in 2019 when he was awarded the Hublot Design Prize. His artistic designs are very different and are not limited to any real discipline or object. This means he is more free-flowing, and the Big Bang SR_A is very much this.
His watch? Created the SR_A based on his sculpture, REFORM, done using granite and steel, and designed to encapsulate 40 years of Hublot.
Since Samuel Ross’s first collaboration with Hublot, they have gone on to create several pieces that take the design from his sculpture REFORM, but never have they done a piece in Black Magic, nor have they had the HUB1280 Unico movement inside. Until now.
A New Take On The Big Bang SR_A
For this watch, the design language has changed slightly. The honeycomb pattern that has traditionally been found on the case around the lugs is no longer, and has been replaced by the honeycomb pattern on the rubber strap in a more unique way than the previous SR_A models in titanium, perforating around the strap on the surface.
The brushed matte black ceramic gives this watch a highly industrial feel, not unlike some of Samuel Ross‘s work. Instead of having the honeycomb dial as has been done in previous models, this has been replaced by the dial of the Big Bang Unico, which showcases the column wheel at 6 o’clock, and the chronograph minutes hand, as well as the running seconds.
“Stealth, Strength – speed. Our first signature SR_A HUBLOT chronograph advances our design dialogue across London and Geneva. Deeply functional, robust and hard-wearing, we have envisioned a new wearable machine for the wrist built for a rugged, hands-on lifestyle. A completely new casing of toughened, blackened steel, filters across the crown, strap clasp, re-shaping Hublots Iconic Unico movement. We are deeply committed to advancing the expectations of what modern watchmaking represents through radical design and distinct precious metals ”
Samuel Ross, Hublot ambassador and British designer
72 Hours Of Smooth, Efficient Power
As mentioned, inside is the HUB1280 Unico movement. The buttery-smooth chronograph movement, developed from the ground up, features a double-clutch system, making it seamless and smooth to operate. In fact, this is the smoothest chronograph on the market, bar none. At least none that I have had in my hands, and I’ve had a lot from the low to the highest end of the spectrum.
The HUB1280 consists of 354 components, pivots on 43 jewels, and beats away at 4Hz, or 28,800 VpH. As customary, it has 72 hours of power reserve, meaning if this isn’t your everyday watch, you can take it off for three days before having to wind it again. The other unique feature the HUB1280 Unico movement has is that the minute counter is powered directly off the barrel, making it much more energy-efficient. This ensures the power is more evenly distributed, and you don’t get as much energy loss through the gear train as you would in a standard setup. So, for those who don’t think Hublot is a movement maker, think again.
Initial Thoughts
Up front, I’ll say that all-black watches are not really my thing. I’ve said this before, so this is nothing new. But, every now and then, one comes along that makes me pause and provides the exception to the rule. I think the Hublot Big Bang Unico SR_A may be just one of those watches. With plenty of blacked-out watches to choose from these days, if you’re adding one to the collection, my thoughts are, why not make it a little more unique?
The new Hublot Big Bang Unico SR_A is a 200-piece limited edition, slightly more than the previous models, thanks to their popularity. These will still sell out fast, as many Hublot models that are limited and collaborations are selling out, in some cases, before the boutiques even have any in stock to show. It’s a testament to how Hublot is playing the watch game, tapping into pop culture and trends, plus the appetite from collectors who just want to have something more fun and different on their wrists. And who can blame them? I certainly do these days…
Reference: 441.CX.1140.RX.SRA26
Specifications
- Dimensions: 42mm x 14.5mm thick
- Case: Satin-finished and polished black ceramic with “One-Click” System
- Dial: Matte black skeleton dial with blacked out hands, sub-dials and markers
- Movement: HUB1280 UNICO Manufacture self-winding chronograph flyback movement with column wheel.
- Power reserve: 72 hrs
- Water resistance: 100M / 10 ATM
- Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
- Case back: Satin-finished black ceramic and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Strap: Black structured honeycomb rubber strap with black ceramic and black-plated titanium deployant clasp