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INTRODUCING: The Hublot Big Bang Camo Yohji Yamamoto is everything that’s great about the brand, in a watch INTRODUCING: The Hublot Big Bang Camo Yohji Yamamoto is everything that’s great about the brand, in a watch

INTRODUCING: The Hublot Big Bang Camo Yohji Yamamoto is everything that’s great about the brand, in a watch

Thor Svaboe

Hublot’s Big Bang series this autumn is like an unstoppable tank, with this last month being marked by strong new editions of Big Bang and the Spirit of Big Bang. But no watch has quite captured all that the brand has become quite like this urban warrior, with an almost imperious level of quality and finishing. The Hublot Big Bang Camo Yohji Yamamoto is dressed to kill in full camouflage, and their second collaborative project this year with the enigmatic Japanese designer, this time with only 200 watches available in Hublot boutiques.

Hublot dials up the toughness a considerable notch with this matt ceramic version of the Big Bang Unico in camo and black, on a seemingly indestructible rubber strap. The Hublot Big Bang Camo Yohji Yamamoto is cutting-edge modernity with a Japanese twist, while proving the face of a camouflaged warrior is a decidedly fresh take on a classic sports watch.

The matt ceramic is a tough yet calm companion to the green, grey and black details – making this a clearly recognisable Hublot with a dark twist. The camouflage pattern — even with its battle-ready connotations — creates a soft organic structure within the dial, setting a perfect juxtaposition with the dark rehaut, large Arabic numerals and bold sword handset. The registers for the chronograph are openworked and sharp, with delicately bevelled rings and black hands sized for good readability within the complex dial.

Black Super-LumiNova application makes legilibity superb in low light, but as with many Big Bangs, openworked details are enough to distract from even the most important timekeeping enabled by the chronograph complication. The sweep of the Yohji Yamamoto signature at 6 marks this out as one of 200 special editions sure to be gone rather quickly from Hublot boutiques.

The strap has a bold, textured structure and a camouflage pattern more intricate than you might think. The constituent parts of the camouflage coloured rubber are cut individually and fused together in a vulcanisation process, a first for Hublot and a small pointer to the work behind a typical collaborative project such as this. There is also a tough second strap in black high-tech fabric should you feel in a darker mood.

This is one of the best dark versions of the Big Bang Unico this year, and the last surprise becomes apparent when you strap it on. A large 45mm warrior of a watch with more than 15mm in thickness has no right to feel this light but, believe me, you’ll be surprised by the flyweight ceramic case and comfortable hug of the Hublot quality rubber, leaving you in disbelief at the 45mm outline, and ordering bespoke shirts with the left cuff specially wide to fit this large sports watch … now that’s a contrast to savour. Inside sits the Unico calibre with its solid 72 hours of power reserve – and in this dark guise is another superb example of Hublot’s sharp-edged modern take on haute horologerie.

The Hublot Big Bang Camo Yohji Yamamoto, pricing and availability:

$31,260 AUD, available from Hublot boutiques.