The Hublot Big Bang Unico Azur is nautical but nice
Fergus Nash- Hublot extend their “Hublot Loves Summer” campaign to the Hublot Big Bang Unico Azur
- The blue and white ceramic case evokes a classic sailor’s outfit
- Limited to 50 pieces, it’s only available at the Monaco and St Tropez boutiques
The French Riviera tends to get a lot of love from watchmakers. From the TAG Heuer Monaco to the Baume & Mercier Riviera, using these names conjures a certain frame of mind which oozes luxury, style and leisure. Hublot don’t need much help in that regard, however their latest self-set challenge within The Art of Fusion is to evoke that summer-loving feeling in a ceramic case form. The Hublot Big Bang Unico Azur is the next evolution of the Hublot Loves Summer range with a preppy twist.
There’s certainly nothing revolutionary about blue and white being used in an aquatic theme, but the proportions Hublot used between the blue ceramic case and white ceramic bezel perfectly captures the stereotypical sailor uniform. It may seem cheesy to some, but it instantly communicates the ideals of sipping cocktails on a yacht, jumping in and out of the glistening water whenever the sun gets too scorching. That glaring white bezel also increases the impact of the watch on the wrist, visually expanding the 42mm diameter which is actually fairly compact for a watch in this style. The 52mm lug-to-lug may be pushing your limits if your wrist is smaller than average, but this isn’t exactly a dainty dress watch. Paired with either the blue rubber strap or the braided white fabric strap, Hublot ensure that you’re not going to try and dress it up beyond its casual nature.
Further into the French Riviera tradition of losing track of time, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Azur sacrifices some legibility for the sake of visual complexity. It’s quite a gamble for a timekeeping device, but in this case it definitely pays off. Behind the military stencil-like applied numerals and skeletonised hands, a mechanical cacophony of movement components can be seen mingling with pieces of a navy blue dial. The Big Bang Unico Azur is certainly proud of its analogue roots, and wants to show off as much of its technical prowess as possible. Plus, the fusion between Hublot’s industrial aesthetic and a carefree, holidayers attitude is really what makes this release sing. The Unico movement which powers it is the HUB1280, complete with a flyback chronograph complication and a three-day power reserve.
The Hublot Big Bang Unico Azur pricing and availability:
The Hublot Big Bang Unico Azur is limited to just 50 pieces, and will be exclusively sold at Hublot’s boutiques in Monaco and St Tropez. Price: US$25,800 / EUR26,900
| Brand | Hublot |
| Model | Big Bang Unico Azur |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm x 52mm x 14.5mm |
| Case Material | Ceramic |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Blue skeletonised |
| Strap | Blue rubber and white fabric straps |
| Movement | HUB1280 |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Availability | Limited to 50 pieces, exclusviely at Monaco and St Tropez boutiques |
| Price | US$25,800 / EUR26,900 |