Hublot presented the Big Bang Unico Gourmet has a price of CHF 22,900. Designed to celebrate gastronomy, it is crafted from Damascus steel.
Hublot has distinguished itself for daring to combine different materials like gold and rubber in the same watch and today is a recognised master in the “Art of Fusion”. The fusion of traditional, modern and pioneering materials. The fusion of crafts requiring the entire range of talents and skills within the Manufacture. The fusion between conventional mechanisms and their unique construction.
It is only natural that Hublot loves gastronomy, an art whose protagonist, the chef, knows how to fuse ingredients to make them unique and reveal new flavours through endless combinations.
A chef's knife is without a doubt the most essential piece of equipment a chef will own and, among the different materials used to shape these knives, Damascus steel is the most iconic.
This storied steel, historically known as Wootz and originating in the Damascus region in 300 BC, was known to forge the most resistant and cutting swords. Today, Damascus steel refers to a technique of hammering and folding steel to make it more resistant. This steel is often used to forge the kitchen knives prized by Michelin-starred chefs.
The material’s unique pattern is now reflected in the Big Bang Unico Gourmet, a model designed to celebrate the special partnership between Hublot and worldwide renowned chefs like Anne-Sophie Pic, Yannick Alléno, Paul Pairet and Eneko Atxa, all of them holding 3 Michelin stars.
The 42 mm x 14.5 mm case of this model and its bezel are crafted from Damasteel, a metal composite created from two types of steel made by the Swedish company Damasteel, which has mastered the fashioning of this material since 1876.
The first steel, 304L, is dark and made primarily of carbon; the other, 316L, is lighter – the two are forged, folded and folded again like a flaky puff pastry, then pressed. A matrix rendering that sees the two materials welded into each other, producing a patterned weave that is unique every time. In fact, these moiré patterns, like a fingerprint, are never identical.
In addition to its highly recognisable aesthetics, Damascus steel is also renowned for being more durable than traditional steel.
Surrounded by this beautiful frame, the openworked dial showcases gears, the chronograph column wheel and the date disc. The chronograph 60-minute counter at 3 o'clock is visually balanced by the skeletonised sub-dial displaying the running seconds at 9 o'clock.
The large hands and indices are filled with Super-LumiNova for enhanced readability in poor light conditions or underwater (the watch is water resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar, approximately 100 metres / 330 feet).
Beating at the frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with a 72-hour power reserve, the automatic HUB1280 calibre and its openworked oscillating weight are visible through the transparent sapphire crystal case back secured with six screws.
The spirit of gastronomy extends to the bracelet which itself is cut from the fabric of cooking aprons. A Velcro fastener secures it to the wrist. The watch is delivered with a second strap in black lined rubber.
A limited edition of 200 pieces, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Gourmet ref. 441.DS.1170.NR.GAS22 has a suggested retail price of CHF 22,900 / Euro 25,200 / US$ 24,100. hublot.com
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