Hublot are as goth as it gets with the Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode
Buffy Acacia- Hublot’s latest collaboration with Depeche Mode depicts a skull hourglass on the dial.
- The black sand within the hourglass moves with your wrist, as it’s made from ceramic spheres.
- Raising money for charity and including a limited 10” vinyl single of Wagging Tongue, it costs US$34,100.
Given that I’ve written about the best gothic watches and will gladly wear a Victorian cameo at my throat, it’s probably fair to say that I’m Time+Tide’s resident goth. Well, that list is probably due for an update now, because Hublot have just released what may be the most goth watch of all time. Depeche Mode are one of the most quintessential dark and moody bands even when their style ventured into the bright and poppy, but their 2023 album Memento Mori witnessed another dive into the morbid. The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode follows them down in despair, dressed all in black.
Hublot and Depeche Mode have collaborated before with a few Big Bang models, but those watch captured more of the English band’s rebellious and industrial messages. This Spirit of Big Bang really embraces the meaning of Memento Mori, or the art of remembering death. The dial explores multiple shades of black across its deep, polished background and a relief of a skull inside an hourglass, serving of the reminder that our time will someday run out. There’s even black sand made from tiny ceramic spheres which drifts around sections of the skull, adding to the dynamics of the dial. Although black-on-black-on-black isn’t the most legible of combinations, the way the light catches the hands do make them visible enough to read the time.
The tonneau case is usually only seen among luxury watches, and with Hublot it’s reserved for their most exploratory watches. The Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode has an aggressive hobnail bezel, echoing the belts and other accessories you can see on the average goth club attendee. They’re also used as the hour markers, and their sharp, pyramid shape helps them catch light and give off a subtle sheen, if not a dull sparkle. The case itself is made from black ceramic, ensuring that no coating can ever wear off, and it will live on into black eternity. This model measures 42mm across, with a lug-to-lug distance of 52mm. It comes with a black rubber strap echoing the hobnail motif, and a recycled fabric strap.
Many Spirit of Big Bang watches have high-end complications, but aside from the moving sand on the dial, the Depeche Mode edition is time-only. The HUB1710 which powers it is based on the Zenith Elite 670 movement, running at 4Hz over a power reserve of 50 hours. You can see the calibre from the sapphire display caseback, and everything has been given a dark coating to accentuate the moodiness. There’s also the Depeche Mode logo printed on the sapphire, alongside the Conservation Collective logo as part of the watch’s promise to raise funds for a large group of charities. If you’re a Depeche Mode fan, you’ll also be glad to hear that the watch comes with a 10” vinyl single of Wagging Tongue from Memento Mori.
The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode pricing and availability
The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode is a limited edition of 100 pieces, and is now available from Hublot retailers. Price: US$34,100
| Brand | Hublot |
| Model | Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode |
| Reference | 646.CI.0110.RX.DPM24 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 13.8mm (T) x 52mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Black ceramic |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Black with moving sand in a skull hourglass |
| Bracelet | Black rubber and recycled fabric strap |
| Movement | HUB1710, Zenith Elite 670 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 50 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Limited to 100 pieces, available now |
| Price | US$34,100 |