Wearing the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari is a comfortable, albeit bold, experience. With pretty much anything from Hublot, you are constantly reminded that people are noticing your watch. Wear most Patek Philippe pieces, and all but people with horological radars will miss what is on your wrist altogether. Hublot watches by design call attention – and whether or not you agree with that lifestyle philosophy, it is what they are meant to do. The question is, what do you then do with that attention?
From an ergonomics perspective, I like the crown which does not screw in but rather locks down and opens with a simple spring-loaded twist. The angular chronograph pushers are, in many ways, far cooler than simple round ones, and the dial is quite legible on most Hublot Big Bang Ferrari models – although this Beverly Hills boutique edition’s blue lume colored hands against black hour markers do not epitomize that ideal particularly well. On the right models, the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari is quite easy to read – which is an asset to the collection.
Inside the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari is an in-house designed and manufactured movement from the “UNICO” family. Hublot spent more years than they initially anticipated working on finally releasing the UNICO, and I’ve always liked the result. Not only does the aesthetic design of the UNICO meld well with Hublot’s theme, but it doesn’t look like the movements from other watches. Hublot was criticized for a long time when most Big Bang watches used versions of the Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750, so it was a long priority for Hublot to have something a bit different in their more prestigious Big Bang watches.
Specifically, the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari has the UNICO caliber 1241 automatic movement inside of it, which blends some interesting aesthetic features with some functional trade-offs. Visually, the execution of the movement is really nice. It offers just enough “industrial” appeal to feel modern, and yet just enough “traditional” appeal to keep it feeling “Swiss.” The detailing on the movement is great, but don’t go looking for things like traditional Swiss finishing and polishing. Going with the modern theme, the movement is all about intricacy, but preserving a fit and finish that looks better with cars than antique furniture.
The dial of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari has just the time, date, and chronograph counter for the seconds. The counter has been designed to track 60 minutes, but that means no chronograph hours or running seconds. That isn’t a big deal, but I can see it being annoying for some people who like as much information as possible on their dials. What you get in return for less functionality is an artistic palette of skeletonization and the Ferrari logo. For all the flamboyance of Ferrari, its name only shows up twice on the watch (not on the dial), and its logo is relatively tastefully offered on the dial. I think Hublot understood that putting both brand names on the dial was an unwise decision.
While the blue and red Hublot Big Bang Ferrari watch would not be my first choice, the overall collection is attractive and enjoyable. Hublot knows that it isn’t trying to reach every consumer with it, and there is a degree of “excessive volume” when a Hublot walks into the room. This is part of the emotional experience with the brand, and one that does not appeal to all collectors, or even to all Hublot owners every day. Having said that, there are few brands like Hublot that have been so able to capture the sense of owning a traditional mechanical watch in such a boldly contemporary way – and for that, praise must be given. I don’t think Hublot is the brand for everyone, but if it is for you, the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari is certainly a piece to look at. Price for the limited edition of 50 pieces Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Beverly Hills Boutique watch is $29,900. hublot.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Hublot
>Model: Big Bang Ferrari
>Price: about $29,900 USD
>Size: 45.5mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: An actual Ferrari owner or guy that can actually afford a Ferrari.
>Best characteristic of watch: Consider mashing up Hublot watches with the Ferrari lifestyle – this is the best result possible. Great details and useful features as well.
>Worst characteristic of watch: This particular model isn’t the most legible. No running seconds hand. Expensive price.