HANDS-ON: Hublot flex their collab muscles with the Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross
Ricardo SimeWatch collaborations have become a large part of the watch industry. In the last decade, numerous brands have come together in the hopes of maximizing their reach and customer base. Some of these pairings have lead to remarkable watches while others have been feeble and downright lazy attempts. Today’s example, the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross is what happens when the stars align in perfect harmony.
The Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross is a collaborative piece with British fashion designer, creative director and artist Samuel Ross, who has been an ambassador for Hublot since 2020. He heads the fashion brand A-COLD-WALL, which can be described as a place where streetwear and mould-breaking menswear meet.
Let’s take a look at what Ross and Hublot have created.
The case
The Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross comes in at 44mm wide with a thickness of 13.75mm. It’s case is a mixture of titanium and an eye-catching bright orange rubber skin. That rubber wraps around the titanium main case, which has both polished and satin-brushed surfaces.
One interesting part of the case design is the use of curves. It’s a departure from the angular designs we’ve grown used to on the Big Bang. But that makes sense when you see that Hublot uses their familiar angular hexagon shape in the titanium honeycomb cutouts they’ve placed all around the watch. From the comfortable rubber strap to the lugs of the case. Even the caseback joins in on the titanium honeycomb action.
The dial
The dial on the Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross expands on the cutout theme by incorporating sapphire crystal. This puts the insides of the watch on full display. Add to that the decision to “float” the hour markers on the dial as well as cutting out portions of the minute track, and the sense of harmonious design continues.
One design choice I really like on the dial is the flipping of the micro-rotor so that it becomes the logo of the watch. It’s something different and fun.
The strap
Comfortable and bright, the strap on the Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross goes well with the overall sporty vibes of the watch. And though it would have been all too easy for Hublot to not incorporate the titanium cutouts we saw in the case, their addition here is very much appreciated. Because beyond just the cool aesthetic, these cutouts will allow the wrist to breathe in warmer environments.
The movement
Powering this watch/art piece/ complete design is the manufacture calibre HUB6035 Automatic Tourbillon movement. It’s skeletonized and features a micro-rotor at 12 o’clock and a tourbillon at 6. It beats at 3hz and on a full wind, should provide a weekend-ready 72 hours of power reserve.
Hublot and Ross’ decision to set the honeycomb titanium cutout as a background to the movement is a nice touch.
The verdict
Overall, the design cues of the Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross make it a complete package and you can tell how successful the collaborative process was between Ross and Hublot. A major reason for that can be seen in how whenever Hublot does a collaboration, they seem to give the creative on the other end room to devise something new and interesting. Add to that their experience dealing with non-standard materials, and creatives can really push the limits of their designs while still having a smooth transition from concept to reality. That’s exactly what we see here and the result speaks for itself.
Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross pricing and availability:
If you’re interested in the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross, rush over to Hublot as this is part of a limited-edition run of 50 pieces. Price: A$162,000
| Brand | Hublot |
| Model | Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross |
| Case Dimensions | 44mm x 13.75mm |
| Case Material | Orange Rubber and Titanium |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Dial | Sapphire |
| Crystal | Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment |
| Strap | Orange Rubber Strap with Titanium Deployant Clasp |
| Movement | HUB6035 |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$162,000, US$116,000 |