At Baselworld last year, Hublot bolstered its popular Big Bang collection with an all-new model called the Big Bang MECA-10. I actually feel like it didn’t receive as much attention as it should have, so I’m glad to see a fresh version out this year. Until now, Hublot has offered two variants of the MECA-10: the non-limited titanium version and the limited-edition “all-black” version that comes with a full ceramic case. Now, there’s a third variant that comes in “Magic Gold” called the Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 Magic Gold watch, offering a compelling aesthetic for a technically interesting watch.
Magic Gold is a special gold alloy developed especially by Hublot. As anyone who has owned a gold watch can attest, gold is actually a very soft metal that is prone to scratches and nicks. However, by blending gold with ceramic, Hublot was able to create an alloy so strong that it can only be machined by diamond. In fact, Hublot’s Magic Gold alloy has a hardness rating of 1,000 Vickers, which is easily twice that of regular 18k gold and also substantially more than the hardest stainless steel. What this all means is that, with Magic Gold, Hublot is offering the prestige and status of gold with none of its usual drawbacks.
The new Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 Magic Gold watch shares the same 45mm-wide case as the other two MECA-10 watches. In short, it looks like a Big Bang watch without the chronograph pushers. It is big, bold, and brash, and exudes tons of wrist presence, especially as it is now in gold. The bezel and case are both polished, and the case back is made of micro-blasted black ceramic with a sapphire display. Water-resistance is a very adequate 100 meters.
What is unique about the MECA-10, however, is the movement. The Hublot HUB1201 is a brand-new, skeletonized, hand-wound movement created especially for this watch that looks as if inspired by the Meccano construction toys. A highlight of this movement is its twin mainspring barrels that offer a power reserve of 10 days.
There are also two power reserve indicators, the first of which is shown at 6 o’clock using a disc with stencil-cut numerals. The second is part of the rack-style system above the mainspring barrel that has two toothed sections. As the mainsprings are wound, the rack moves to the left of the dial; as the movement winds down, it moves gradually to the right. And as the power reserve reaches its last two days, a red marker appears through a cutout in the gear telling the wearer that it is time to wind the watch.
Long power reserve aside, the architecture of the Hublot HUB1201 is also visually very interesting. Since it is skeletonized, it gives the dial a lot of depth, with a very three-dimensional look and feel. It is almost as if you are gazing down on a miniature city.
But most of all, what I like about this watch is that with the added toughness of Magic Gold, its long power reserve, and adequate water resistance, the Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 Magic Gold can actually be a very practical daily wearer. The new Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 Magic Gold watch is limited to 200 pieces and is priced at $34,600. hublot.com
