Since 2016, Hublot has had a collaborative partnership with the renowned Swiss tattoo artist Maxime Plescia-Buchi and his company Sang Bleu. While the original Hublot Sang Bleu models were based on the brand’s signature Big Bang series, the Sang Bleu collection has expanded since its introduction. Last year in 2023, Hublot created a series of limited edition versions of its tonneau-shaped Spirit of Big Bang infused with the geometric design language of Sang Bleu’s art. A full-sapphire version of the model appeared earlier this year at Watches & Wonders 2024, and for its latest new release, Hublot has created two limited-edition iterations of the Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu that are crafted from either blue ceramic or the brand’s proprietary King Gold alloy.
The first of the two new models is the Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu Blue Ceramic (ref. 648.EX.0151.RX.MXM24), which fully leans into its blue-themed colorway with a bright blue ceramic case, blue details on the skeletonized dial, and a matching blue rubber strap. Meanwhile, the other new model is the Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu King Gold Blue (ref. 648.OX.0151.RX.MXM24), which also features blue elements on its dial and the same blue rubber strap, although its case components are crafted from Hublot’s King Gold alloy, which is a proprietary blend of 18k red gold that has a warmer shade compared to traditional rose gold alloys. Aside from the difference in case materials, the two new Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu watches are fundamentally the same from a design and construction standpoint, and they simply expand upon the original Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu models that debuted in 2023 with new colorways and materials.
Just like previous Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu watches, the new Blue Ceramic and King Gold versions feature tonneau-shaped cases that measure 42mm in diameter by 15.7mm thick. Additionally, just like the rest of the series, the top of the watches are furnished with faceted sapphire crystals that match the angular lines of their cases, while the reverse side receives screw-on display casebacks made from either blue ceramic or King Gold to match the rest of their respective components. Similarly, both models feature signed winding crowns flanked by a set of angular chronograph pushers on the right-hand side of their cases, and water resistance for the new Blue Ceramic and King Gold models comes in at the same 100 meters that is offered by the other watches from the Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu series.
The dials of the new Blue Ceramic and King Gold Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu watches offer an identical layout to previous models from the collection, and they prominently feature the same style of avant-garde geometric handset that has characterized all of the brand’s Sang Bleu collaborations. Keeping the theme of their blue-oriented colorways, both models showcase a skeletonized display furnished by a pair of blue-colored chronograph registers and a matching blue hours track. Additionally, both models feature a date window set within the hours ring at the 4:30 position; however, while the Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu Blue Ceramic receives rhodium-plated hands with white printing on its dial elements, the Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu King Gold Blue is fitted with rose gold-plated hands, and the printing on its dial components is executed in a matching shade of rose gold to complement the warm hues of its King Gold case.
As the new Blue Ceramic and King Gold Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu watches are essentially just novel material variations of the original model that debuted last year in 2023, both of the new Sang Bleu Spirit of Big Bang watches are powered by the same Hublot Caliber HUB4700 automatic chronograph movement, which is based upon the core architecture of the legendary Zenith El Primero. Running at a higher-than-average frequency of 36,000vph (5 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, the Cal. HUB4700 expands upon the blueprint of the El Primero with a skeletonized design that can be admired through both sides of the watch, and the latest version of the HUB4700 has been updated with a silicon regulating element to provide superior performance and greater levels of consistency.
Despite their different case materials, both of the new Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu are fitted with the same style of integrated rubber strap, which offers the same shape and structure as the straps fitted to the various other Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu models. With that in mind, rather than being constructed from a single color of rubber, the straps for this latest duo of Sang Bleu watches feature a two-tone layered design with a black underside structure and a blue upper section fused to its outer surface. Additionally, while the Blue Ceramic model features a deployant-style clasp made from black-plated titanium and black ceramic, the clasp for the King Gold edition swaps out the black ceramic components of its sibling for equivalents in 18k King Gold to create a more cohesive appearance between the case and its strap.
Just like the inaugural Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu watches that first introduced the series last year in 2023, the new Blue Ceramic and King Gold models will both be produced as limited editions. While the Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu Blue Ceramic (reference 648.EX.0151.RX.MXM24) will be produced as a limited edition of 200 examples with an official retail price of $31,800 USD, the more luxurious Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Sang Bleu King Gold Blue (reference 648.OX.0151.RX.MXM24) will be offered in half the quantity of its sibling as a limited edition of just 100 pieces. As you would expect, the King Gold version is naturally the more expensive option with an official retail price of $52,600 USD. While Hublot’s Sang Bleu collaboration models aren’t going to win any awards for legibility, they easily rank among the brand’s most striking designs (which is saying a lot), and they offer a captivating aesthetic that is tangibly different from anything else found within the industry. For more information on the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Sang Bleu lineup, please visit the brand’s website.