Among the numerous releases that Hublot unveiled this year at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2024 is a new version of the tourbillon-equipped Spirit Of Big Bang. At its core, this latest release is essentially a new limited-edition colorway for the existing model that can be found within the brand’s catalog, although the key detail that sets the new Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Carbon Orange apart from its siblings is its bright orange colorway, and it features the collection’s tonneau-shaped case constructed from orange forged carbon.
Aside from its bright orange colorway, the new Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Carbon Orange ref. 645.QO.4710.RX is the same watch as its Carbon Blue and Carbon Black siblings that we reviewed back in 2020. If you take the blue version, swap blue for orange, and then produce it as a limited edition of just 50 examples, then you (more or less) have the idea behind this latest new model. While some versions of the Spirit Of Big Bang Tourbillon have cases made from colored sapphire, the new Carbon Orange model for 2024 is one of the carbon fiber versions, and its case components feature asymmetric swirls of bright orange, which are achieved by combining carbon fiber with orange micro-glass fibers during the manufacturing process of the material.
Similar to its carbon fiber siblings from the series, the case of the new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Carbon Orange measures 42mm by 13.25mm thick, and it features a curved sapphire crystal above its dial, a winding crown at 3 o’clock, and a display-style caseback. Just like the other colorways of this model, water resistance for the new Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon Carbon Orange comes in at 30 meters to protect against daily incidental contact. Fitted to its case with the Hublot’s One-Click strap changing system is an orange and black rubber strap completed by a deployant-style buckle made from black-finished titanium and ceramic.
Just like other skeletonized Hublot watches, the new Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon Carbon Orange foregoes a traditional dial to showcase the mechanics of the movement and maximize the open space inside its case. The layout of its display is identical to what can be found on its tourbillon-equipped siblings from the collection, although the two scales for the time and power reserve now appear in a bright shade of orange, while the Hublot logo on the underside of the crystal is also printed in orange to match the rest of the watch. The five-day power reserve is represented by the smaller of the two orange registers, while the time is displayed by a pair of partially skeletonized hands against the larger off-center track that is partially cutoff by the 60-second tourbillon that sits at 6 o’clock.
Powering the new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Carbon Orange is the same manufacture Caliber HUB6020 manual-wind movement that can be found inside its siblings from the collection, which runs at a frequency of 21,600vph (3 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 115 hours. Aside from its 60-second tourbillon and rather lengthy power reserve, the most noteworthy feature of the 25-jewel Hublot Cal. HUB6020 is its highly open-worked structure, which is created by having its various components suspended by thin linear bridges inside the open cavity of the case.
The aesthetic similarities between Richard Mille’s various offerings and Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang series are undeniable (and intentional). While a skeletonized tourbillon in carbon fiber is inherently going to be a rather expensive purchase, these two brands ultimately exist at very different price points. Some may view the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang as just another RM-copycat, although this collection has a dedicated audience. A model such as this new Carbon Orange version of the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon makes a highly compelling option for the collector who wants an incredibly well-executed rendition of this popular style from a premier Swiss manufacturer, but who doesn’t want to pay over half a million dollars for a carbon fiber tourbillon from Richard Mille.
Given that the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Carbon Orange ref. 645.QO.4710.RX is essentially a new colorway for a model that already existed within the brand’s catalog, it costs the same as what the brand currently charges for its siblings, and this 50-piece limited edition is priced at $105,000 USD. While this positions the new model right near the very top of the Spirit of Big Bang collection, it’s also worth noting that these carbon fiber versions of the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon cost roughly half the price of their otherwise identical counterparts that have cases made from colored sapphire, which makes them the most affordable tourbillon-fitted models from the Sprit of Big Bang lineup. For more information on the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Carbon Orange, please visit the brand’s website.
