Summer 2020 has already been a colorful time for Hublot. The past few months have seen an all-black interpretation of the Big Bang GMT along with the“Millennial Pink” Big Bang chronograph, and for its latest release the brand has complemented this soft pink titanium offering with a summery baby blue ceramic. The limited edition Hublot Big Bang Unico 45 Sky Blue makes a compelling “his and hers” pairing with the previous release, interpreted in a larger size and a clean, eye-catching new colorway.
Colored ceramic has been one of Hublot’s most prominent innovations since its introduction to the line in 2019, and the 45mm ceramic case of the Big Bang Unico 45 Sky Blue shows off the brand’s capabilities with the material well. The complex, angular case shape is executed in a dynamic mix of brushed and polished surfaces, layered around a white ceramic central case for some dramatic contrast. The two-tone approach serves well to accentuate the intricacies of this beefy, ultramodern design, with a harsh industrial undertone that keeps the powder blue and white combination from feeling too delicate. Of course, at 45mm wide and a full 16.3mm thick, there’s very little that could truly make the hefty Big Bang Unico 45 case feel delicate or dainty. Hublot finishes off the case design with a polished blue ceramic caseback for a reasonably sporty 100 meters of water resistance.
The skeleton dial design of the Big Bang Unico 45 Sky Blue should feel familiar to those following Hublot’s releases of the past few months, as it more or less presents as an upsized version of the Big Bang “Millennial Pink” dial with a new blue color scheme. That said, the overall package feels stouter and far more legible than most of its skeleton dial chronograph contemporaries, helped along by a mix of bold brushed Arabic stencil numerals and indices integrated into the skeleton latticework. Coupled with an easily legible blue rehaut and a 3 o’clock chronograph subdial almost completely filled in the namesake sky blue, the end result is as colorful and legible as it is aggressive and modern.
The in-house HUB1242 Unico automatic chronograph movement inside the Hublot Big Bang Unico 45 Sky Blue has become a staple in 45mm Big Bang models in recent years but remains a technically impressive achievement. Not only does it include a flyback complication, the coveted combination of the column wheel and double clutch system are both visible through the skeleton dial, making this a chronograph geek’s dream. Performance for the HUB1242 Unico is equally impressive, boasting a robust 72 hour power reserve at a 28,800 bph beat rate.
Hublot offers the Big Bang Unico 45 Sky Blue with a pair of straps, both accentuating the overall design in different ways. The more eye-catching of the two is the tapering white Velcro fabric strap, providing a bright visual contrast with the case and a hard-wearing, streetwear feel. For a more integrated overall look, a blue ridged rubber strap with white lining is also provided.
The trend of colorful cases for Hublot shows no signs of slowing down, and the Big Bang Unico 45 Sky Blue offers one of the brand’s lightest, most playful takes on the concept to date. Production of the Hublot Big Bang Unico 45 Sky Blue will be limited to 100 units, all of which are available now through authorized dealers at an MSRP of $21,500. Please visit the brand’s website for more information.