The new Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic weighs less than a tennis ball
Russell SheldrakeSustainability is becoming a bigger and bigger thing in watchmaking, with sustainably sourced metals, up/recycled materials, reduced packaging, and renewables powering manufactures, all making their way into the press packs handed out by brands. But I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a watch made from objects and clothes used by the brand’s ambassador, and perhaps the only other time this happened was when Hublot made a strap from the running spike Usain Bolt wore to break the 100-metre world record. Hublot has outdone itself by taking 25 racquets and 32 polo shirts used by Novak Djokovic during the 2023 season, and combined them to create the case of the ultra-light Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic limited edition.
As you may know, Hublot is a front-runner in the cool ambassador game, and this watch pays close tribute to a tennis great. The considerations for weight saving don’t stop at this new composite material either; the movement is formed of aluminium, and standard sapphire crystal has been swapped out for lighter Gorilla Glass. No corners have been cut here, unless you count the skeletonised lugs.
The case
As mentioned above, the case of this watch is made from a composite that comprises of 25 Head racquets, 17 dark blue, and 15 light blue Lacoste polos that Djokovic wore during his 2023 season. It was during this season that Djokovic broke the record for men’s singles Grand Slams with his 24th win. He is now also the fifth player to achieve the “Golden Slam” of winning all four major Grand Slams and an Olympic gold in singles in the same year.
These disparate materials, which would never normally make up a watch case, have been combined with an epoxy resin reinforced with quartz powder and glass fibre. These binding elements help maintain the structural integrity of the case, while the pieces of Djokovic’s kit create a camo-like effect. This makes the case look like it’s been given a camo skin straight out of Call of Duty, while the cutouts on the lugs, bezel, and ears help keep the weight to a minimum.
Where this colourful composite would make less sense to use, such as on the caseback, pushers, crown, and sub-bezel, Hublot has opted for lightweight aluminium, the same material as the movement – more on that later. As mentioned above, the crystals, both on the front and back, are made from Gorilla Glass, a highly scratch-resistant glass that is two times lighter than sapphire crystal, though not as tough. It’s the same stuff you’ll find covering the screen of your iPhone.
This is, of course, not a small watch, with the case measuring 42mm across and 14.5mm thick- the unapologetic size seems fitting with the attitude Djokovic has always brought to the tennis court. But thanks to the lightness of this watch, the size isn’t too much of a factor when on the wrist. The lugs slope downwards, where you find the brand’s proprietary One Click system for straps, of which this watch comes with four.
The dial
Whether in an effort to save even more weight or to show off the blue aluminium Unico movement, I can’t say for certain, but the dial here has been completely skeletonised in the standard Hublot fashion. The blue movement is completely visible through the dial that has had as much cut away as possible. You have the large 60-minute counter at 3 o’clock and the running seconds at 9, with cut-out, lumed markers around the edge. There is a small cutout on the edge of the minute counter for the date window, and you can see the entire date wheel running around the inside of the minute track.
The dial is pretty much entirely shades of blue and white, apart from the odd yellow accent at the end of the chronograph seconds and minute hands, and the scales from which they are read. This is coupled with the yellow pusher to start and stop the chronograph. The counterweight for the large seconds hand is Djokovic’s logo, a subtle nod to the tennis star, which can also be found in the domed and curved-slot bezel screws, made to look like tennis balls.
The straps
A mentioned above, this watch comes with four different straps. This is an excellent way of making use of Hublot’s One Click system, which is one of the best quick change systems on the market. The strap options are: a rubber strap with a titanium deployant buckle, a Lacoste tennis wristband, a Velcro strap with a blue aluminium sports buckle, and an elastic strap, which gives a total weight to the watch of 49.5 grams, or as Hublot likes to point out, lighter than a tennis ball. Having such a wide variety of strap options is not only a great way to display the One Click functionality, but for a watch like this where it has the ability to do so many active things, you might be in need of different straps for different activities.
The movement
Inside is the 1280 Unico movement, Hublot’s in-house chronograph that debuted in 2010 featuring a column wheel, double horizontal clutch and flyback functionality. While the movement itself is a great showcase of what Hublot is able to achieve in terms of high-end movement manufacturing, here they decided to take it one step further and create it entirely out of aluminium – it would normally be made from brass. This makes the movement 27% lighter, but could cause issues if you were to take the unadvised route and have this watch serviced outside of a Hublot-accredited workshop. You will notice one final nod to the Serb with the letter ‘D’ incorporated into the openworked rotor.
The verdict
Like any ultra-light watch, this piece will make you pull a face and bob your hand up and down when you first pick it up. Yes, it really is that light. And because it’s not in the standard matte look of titanium, it can come as a bit of a shock. And thanks to this lightness and its shaping, it wears remarkably well.
The many, many strap options made me feel a little indecisive at first. I’d never been given so many choices with one watch, but once you find the one that suits your needs and wrist the best, it can be easy to stick with it. Do make sure you give each one a proper road test, there are no duds in this pack.
The speckled case material was a bit of a first for me, it’s somewhere between a forged carbon and a ceramic case in how it looks, and given Hublot’s specialisation in materials, you can imagine this will last a long time. But this feels a fitting tribute to Djokovic, the Serb has a certain flair when he’s out on the court and this watch certainly matches that. Is this watch worthy of 24 Grand Slams? Well, only time will tell on that front.
Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic pricing and availability
The Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is available now, limited to 100 pieces. Owners of the watch will also notably receive a Lacoste wristband and t-shirt signed by Novak Djokovic himself. Price: US$52,700
| Brand | Hublot |
| Model | Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 14.5mm (T) |
| Case Material | Recycled composite of Djokovic’s polos and racquets |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Gorilla glass front and back |
| Dial | Skeleton |
| Strap | Blue velcro fastener fabric, blue elastic band |
| Movement | Unico 1280 in aluminium, automatic, column wheel chronograph |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited to 100 pieces |
| Price | US$52,700 |