Celebrating the Chinese New Year are the mad scientists at Hublot HQ. This year, they showcase an uncommon case material like never before!
Leave it to Hublot to knuckle down during a major holiday. Always at the forefront of contemporary watchmaking, the LVMH brand has gained mass popularity through its dedication to the Art of Fusion. Committed to unconventionality at every turn, it has developed some of the industry’s most disruptive timepieces since its arrival in the late 1980s.
With that in mind, it is hardly surprising that Hublot has chosen to continue this ambitious quest throughout Chinese New Year. Last year, the brand released a Spirit of Big Bang chronograph commemorating the Year of the Snake. Though outfitted in ceramic, the craftsmen under Hublot’s employ evidently felt it was not enough and have decided to outdo themselves this year.
At LVMH Watch Week 2026, Hublot unveiled the new Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Horse Frosted Carbon Limited Edition. Limited to just 88 pieces, this new timepiece not only gets ahead of the celebrations before they begin, but also demonstrates the brand’s mastery of materials on a new scale.
The wearing dimensions remain unchanged. The new Spirit of Big Bang borrows the same case proportions as its predecessors, with a 42 mm-wide, 50 mm-long, and 14.1 mm-thick tonneau case. Where it differs, however, is in its construction. This iteration has been crafted from frosted carbon, a lightweight yet technically demanding material within the watchmaking industry.
Most commonly associated with motorsport, the material’s matte black finish gives the case a strong, modern toughness, with enough visual interest to catch the eye. Each fragment of carbon is meticulously cut, aligned, and assembled by hand, extending all the way to the bezel, where it is secured by Hublot’s signature six H-shaped screws. Enhancing its lightness and comfort is a calfskin leather strap with a rubber interior, allowing the watch to wear comfortably on the wrist.
The dial is constructed entirely from hand-laid carbon marquetry, depicting a powerful horse in motion, outlined with 3N gold-plated brass appliqués. With its flowing mane and dynamic posture, it evokes the silhouette of the Datong horse, famed in China for its endurance.
Inspired by the intricate embroidery found on ancient Chinese ceremonial robes, the dial gains depth from a polished black lacquer base. This allows the sculptural elements of the horse to stand out with striking clarity. To preserve the integrity of the artwork, Hublot has omitted hour and minute indexes and tracks entirely, even skeletonising the hands to provide the most unobstructed view possible.
At the mechanical heart of the Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Horse is the Calibre HUB1710 automatic movement. Operating at 4Hz (28,800VpH), the movement is based on the architecture of the ever-reliable Zenith Elite 670. With a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, the HUB1710 offers dependable performance and consistent precision.
It distinguishes itself from its conglomerate cousin through a black-plated main plate and bridges, as well as an openworked tungsten rotor bearing Hublot’s signature design. Visible through the smoked sapphire caseback, the movement reinforces both the watch’s horological credibility and its aesthetic intent.
My Thoughts
Sometimes it feels as though event-based limited editions are far too easy a trap for brands to fall into. Too often, I come across “special” or “limited” edition watches that merely swap a dial colour, add an engraved caseback, and call it a day. It is always disappointing when these releases surface, as they make a brand’s lack of ambition painfully clear.
Hublot sits firmly at the opposite end of that spectrum. Rather than becoming a one-trick pony, no pun intended, the Nyon-based brand has consistently found new and inventive ways to challenge itself during Chinese New Year. By combining carbon marquetry, gold detailing, and cultural symbolism within a bold, contemporary framework, Hublot delivers a limited edition that feels genuinely expressive and purposeful.
Ultimately, the Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Horse Frosted Carbon underscores what many are beginning to realise about Hublot. The brand is not going anywhere, and it continues to get better with each passing release. And, with only 88 pieces available, this is one commemorative watch for collectors born in the Year of the Horse that will most probably scramble to get, especially those fans of Hublot and those collectors who want a bold statement piece in their collection.
Reference: 646.QK.1230.VR.CNY26
Specifications
- Dimensions: 42mm case diameter x 50mm lug-to-lug x 14.1mm thickness
- Case Material: Frosted carbon fibre
- Dial: Black with gold accents & frosted carbon fibre horse applique
- Movement: Automatic Cal. HUB1710
- Power Reserve: 50h
- Beat Rate: 4Hz (28,800VpH)
- Water Resistance: 100m (10bar)
- Strap: Black calfskin/rubber leather strap with black ceramic/titanium deployant buckle