Hublot has recently presented a new Big Bang 38 mm collection equipped with a Sellita SW300-based HUB 1110 automatic movement. There is also a more practical -albeit not as *ahem* classy- “Swiss Made” quartz caliber. The HUB 1110 is a very basic mechanism that is only slightly refinished and fine-tuned above the basic specs to meet the stricter standards of the ultra-luxury segment. Yet, you may still want to consider acting fast if you are interested in this gadget. Luxury wristwatches featuring self-winding movements (instead of, you know, quartz) are rare species in this niche and, something tells me, the collection won’t stay in production for long.
Four days ago, we had presidential elections here in Belarus.
As always, it was a one-man show with the rest of the candidates singing on back vocals. As always, the vote was rigged. As always, the persons at the top suppressed the independent media. As always, peaceful manifestations (yep, no cars were burned, no Molotov cocktails were thrown, we are peaceful people here in Belarus) were infiltrated with agents provocateurs and then dispersed by riot police with brutal force. As always, right?
At least six hundred men and women, including five alternative candidates, are still in jail after an unfair trial that normally lasts about five minutes. Just enough to read you your rights, ask a couple of formal questions and then give you a standard sentence of 10 to 15 days in a local jail with horrible food, heavily chlorinated water that makes you want to puke, no medical help, and, if you are lucky, only a dozen of persons in a cell designed for six.
When our local strongman decided to crush down dissent, yours truly happened to spend there some time, too, so I know.
That’s what you get when you want to protect your choice. Because freedom is always about you making choices, not choices made for you.
Well, as a maker of luxury watches, Hublot knows a thing or two about choices.
Their 38-millimeter pieces designed for ladies rarely sport anything more impressive than a simple quartz movement. This time, however, the Swiss brand widens your options with a model equipped with a Sellita SW300-based HUB 1110 automatic movement (no, it’s not a Unico movement as I said in an initial draft of the article, so please excuse me if you felt mislead on this one.)
As usual, Hublot has presented the Big Bang 38 mm in several versions that differ from each other not only with the material of the case (it may be steel or rose gold or rose gold set with 320 diamonds,) but also with their bezels.
According to the company, the bezels are available in scratch-resistant ceramic, or 18-karat rose gold or steel.
Some models are coming equipped with 126 diamonds with a total weight of 0.87 carats.
As usual, the case features the bezel lugs and lateral inserts made of composite resin. The same elastic material is also used as an insert in the setting crown, which is made either of steel or gold depending on the material of the case.
Visually, this is just another Big Bang that differs from the previous 38 mm version only with its caliber: previously Hublot tended to equip this kind of timepiece with quartz movements.
Is it good or bad? You decide. It’s your choice after all.
See also: Alfex Extends Big series Big Adventure
WWR Verdict
Originality 4/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Overall Legibility: 4/5
Nighttime Legibility: 4/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Photos: Hublot
Hublot Big Bang 38 mm specification
Price: $25,000 (MSRP, a version in rose gold with diamonds and rubber strap, powered by Swiss quartz caliber ref. 361.PC.3380.RC.1104)
Movement: Caliber HUB 1110 (based on Sellita SW300), automatic, modified in-house, Swiss Made / Swiss quartz
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case: Steel / Rose gold
Bezel: Steel / Rose gold / Ceramic
Shape: Round
Size: 38.00 mm
Case height: 12.00 mm
Dial: White, Black, or Cappuccino, with applied hour indexes every 5 minutes
Hands: Steel or gold, luminous, open-worked
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Rubber or alligator strap, 18K red gold or steel bracelet
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid in 18-karat rose gold or stainless steel