Big Bird energy is the first thing I thought of when I saw the sunny-colored Hublot Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinksi released at LVMH Watch Week 2024. Aside from the obvious bright yellow pigment that’s shared between Sesame Street’s lovable muppet and Hublot’s newest Yellow Magic watch, it’s the childlike approach of both beasts that really shines through — and I mean that in a good way. I’ve probably said this too often, but the very serious Swiss watchmaking industry could benefit from more fun. And fun is what Hublot always strives to deliver, despite the constant catcalls from self-proclaimed very serious watch enthusiasts. But don’t mistake youthful energy with amateurism; Hublot is a leader in colored ceramics, and its commitment to making the most head-turning shades possible involves the type of R&D that’s so out of the realm of most watch brands that it might as well be magic. Yellow Magic, the name Hublot has given to its yellow ceramic watches, burst onto the scene in 2021 like a sun at dawn. Funny enough, one of Pantone’s Colors of the Year for 2021 (there were two) was a bright yellow shade called Illuminating — we were in dire need of some extra sunshine that year.

The first Yellow Magic watch Hublot gave us in 2021 was a Big Bang Unico followed by a Spirit of Big Bang two years later. The Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski is the third Hublot Yellow Magic model and, I’d argue, the best silhouette out of the trio to showcase the richly pigmented ceramic. The faceted details on the case amplify the already intense yellow hue and, in turn, the vivid glossy tone allows the angles to stand out and accentuate the contrasts between the brightly lit areas and those in the shadows. Yet, the angles don’t appear as sharp as let’s say on a metal Orlinki Hublot watch, they’re softer on the slick material. Think more Twizzler and less bar spoon. In short, shape and shade play very nicely together.

All this talk about Yellow Magic, and I’ve almost neglected to say that Hublot didn’t just release one but two new Hublot Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinksi watches. Compared to the hyper Yellow Magic model, the Sky Blue variant is way more chill. Hublot’s Sky Blue ceramic debuted in 2020, also on a Big Bang Unico, and the serene shade has found its way to other models including the Big Bang Integrated Time Only. Again, the multitude of edges of the Orlinski case serves the color well, although the differences between dark and light aren’t as obvious as in the yellow version.

At 45mm in diameter, these are big watches. As you can see from the pictures of Ariel wearing them, they are expansive on the wrist, both vertically and horizontally. Thickness is 12.05mm, which looks and feels quite slim, especially when considering the diameter. The color-matched, smooth rubber straps not only tighten the overall look — as monochromatic ensembles tend to do — but the material is comfortable and light to wear. There are, however, noticeable gaps where the rubber meets the case, which seems like an odd choice on watches that are clearly going for sleekness.

In terms of dial legibility, the Yellow Magic wins. Hublot opted to furnish that one with matching yellow hands, indexes, and a power reserve indicator, all placed on top of black PVD-coated skeletonized bridges. On the other hand, the Sky Blue edition uses the same tone for its displays as the silver rhodium-plated bridges of the visible movement, which gets points for color continuity but at the expense of readability. Another noticeable difference between the Yellow Magic and Sky Blue is the color of the six bezel screws, winding crown, and clasp  moody — black for yellow and cool silver tone for blue.

Although Hublot is responsible for making rubber straps on luxury watches mainstream, it’s arguably skeletonization that’s become the signature style of the brand. Powering the new ceramic Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski watches is the hand-wound HUB6021 skeleton tourbillon movement, the same one that the preceding Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski watches ran on. It has a five-day power reserve, 184 components, 25 jewels, and operates at a frequency of 21,600 beats per hour. Looks-wise, it’s, as expected from Hublot, dramatic. Open-worked bridges radiate from various spots creating a series of lines shooting in all directions, juxtaposing with circular details such as overlapping gears, pink jewel bearings, and most importantly, the whirling tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock. It’s a well-executed, modern-styled movement that can be inspected in detail from both sides of the case.

Overall, the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinksi watches in Yellow Magic and Sky Blue are charismatic additions to the Hublot lineup. I prefer the yellow version for its sunny disposition and superior legibility but the more subdued baby blue iteration has its charm too. Hublot will no doubt continue to serve up delicious candy-colored ceramic cases and I imagine the market has the appetite for even more flavors. The Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski Yellow Magic and Sky Blue watches are limited to 30 pieces each and priced at $95,000 USD. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.