HANDS-ON: The Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Sapphire
James RobinsonUnlike Ferrari’s frankly dismal efforts in Formula 1 this year, 2019 has been a great 12 months for the Italian supercar manufacturer in terms of their commercial and creative partnership with watchmaking vanguards, Hublot.
The curvaceous and inimitable Classic Fusion Ferrari GT was not only one of my personal favourites from the provocative Swiss marque, it was one of my favourite watches of 2019. Period.
However, the other big standout wristwatch to bear the famed Prancing Horse badge this year – the Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Sapphire – is by no means something forgettable.
On the contrary, this leviathan of a watch perfectly demonstrates why Hublot is talked about time and time again as one of the industry leaders when it comes to material innovation.
The gargantuan case, which measures 45mm across, is formed from solid sapphire with a polished finishing, and if that wasn’t impressive enough, the case is capped by a carbon-ceramic bezel.
What makes the bezel not only interesting, but just downright cool, is that it’s been shaped to look like a Ferrari’s brake disc, and carbon-ceramic is the actual material the Italian marque uses for said brake discs.
The dial is another standout of the timepiece, with the openwork movement, Hublot’s flagship chronograph Calibre HUB1241 (more on that later), presenting an industrial aesthetic that’s very reminiscent of the mechanical nature of the automotive world.
The automotive themes are continued on the dial, with the chronograph’s bright red sub-dial located at three o’clock, a 60-minute counter, being stylised to mimic that of a Ferrari’s tachometer. Even the date aperture, which sits snugly inside the rev-counter sub-dial, has been made to look like a gear indicator you’ll find on Maranello’s finest.
The 6, 8, 10 and 12 numerals that cap the edge of the dial also utilise the exact same type font as what you’ll find on Ferrari’s speedometers, and of course there’s the supercar maker’s famed badge, which sits just above the six o’clock numeral. Another charming nod is the seconds hand, which, at its tip, features the red, white and green of the Italian flag.
Just like one of the finely tuned engines you’ll find slotted under the bonnet of one of these automotive machines of wonderment, the aforementioned in-house manufacture Calibre HUB1241 is a real performer.
The skeletonised UNICO manufacture movement features self-winding, flyback chronograph complication with column wheel, date complication, 72 hours of power reserve and an operating frequency of 28,800 (4Hz) vibrations per hour.
Another uniquely automotive feature is the strap attached to the avant-garde case. It’s made from woven kevlar, which is another material heavily used in the motorsport industry.
The kevlar top of the strap caps a natural rubber backing, a signature of most Hublots, and it’s interacted with via a lightweight titanium deployant clasp.
As the name of this timepiece would suggest, the Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Sapphire has been made to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Scuderia, and, rather expectedly, it’s limited to just 90 pieces worldwide.
But if you’re a well-to-do member of the Tifosi or just a diehard fan of the greatest supercar manufacturer on the planet, this could be the ultimate timepiece.
Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Sapphire price and availability
Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Sapphire, limited to 90 pieces, $89,000 AUD
Made in partnership with Hublot. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.