Given that Hublot and Veuve Clicquot are both owned by LVMH, the Swiss watchmaker’s role as the Official Timekeeper of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is a natural fit from a corporate partnership standpoint. For the non-drinkers out there, Veuve Clicquot is one of the world’s largest Champagne houses with a history dating back to 1772/ Since the popularity and distribution of the brand are truly prolific, Veuve Clicquot’s classic Yellow Label bottle (which actually looks more like a golden shade of orange) is typically one of the nicest Champagnes that you will find at the average grocery market or convenience store. Last year, to celebrate its role as the Official Timekeeper of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Hubot launched a limited-edition version of its Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon, and the brand has just created a follow-up Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic watch as its latest release of 2024.
Based upon the core foundation of the standard Spirit of Big Bang Chronograph, the new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic (ref. 642.QK.0110.LR.VCP24) features a tonneau-shaped case crafted from forged carbon with a matte frosted finish, and it measures 42mm in diameter by 14.1mm thick. Just like other models from the Spirit of Big Bang collection, this year’s Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic model has sapphire crystals fitted to both its bezel and caseback, while access to the movement is granted by a rubberized crown and a pair of angular oblong chronograph pushers located on the right-hand side of the case. Water resistance for the new Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic comes in at 100 meters, and the rim of the caseback is engraved with each watch’s limited-edition number out of 30 examples, along with the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic logo printed on the underside surface of the caseback window.
While I commend Hublot for individually numbering the new Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic watches (rather than giving all 30 examples the same generic limited-edition engraving), I’m personally never a fan of graphics or logos printed on display casebacks, and I always feel that a custom rotor is a much more elegant way of celebrating the collaboration. Aside from featuring Veuve Clicquot’s signature shade of yellow (which is actually closer to a golden orange) on its seconds hand and strap, the rest of the new Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic largely looks like an all-black forged carbon version of Hublot’s tonneau-shaped chronograph. However, it is worth noting that Hublot doesn’t currently offer a forged carbon version of the Spirit of Big Bang Chronograph, which makes the new Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic a bit more unique compared to its core-collection siblings.
The dial and hands fitted to the new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic offer an identical design to what can be found on other chronograph-equipped models from the tonneau-shaped Spirit of Big Bang series, although it features an all-black design with a bright orange centrally-mounted seconds hand. Just as you would expect, the dial consists of a transparent sapphire sheet surrounded by a chapter ring containing the hour markers and minute track. However, all of the various elements that form the chronograph registers and indexes (plus the frames for the hands) are finished in either black or dark gray to match the hues of its forged carbon case, and this allows Veuve Clicquot’s shade of “yellow” (aka orange) to vividly stand out against the otherwise entirely monochromatic appearance of its display.
Just like other Spirit of Big Bang Chronographs, the new limited-edition Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is powered by the brand’s Cal. HUB4700 automatic chronograph movement, which is based upon the fundamental architecture of the Zenith El Primero. Running at a frequency of 36,000vph (5 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, the Cal. HUB4700 doesn’t offer the bragging rights of being one of Hublot’s in-house designs, although it shares a design with one of the most celebrated chronograph movements of all time and should therefore be a solid performer. Lastly, the Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic comes as a set inside a Veuve Clicquot-themed box, and included with the watch are two straps made from rubber with bright orange or black alligator leather outer sections that are completed by deployant clasps crafted from titanium and black ceramic.
Although the Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is undeniably a rather niche offering, the watch itself feels like something that could easily exist (without the caseback inscription) as one of the brand’s standard-production models. However, the new Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will be produced as a limited edition of just 30 pieces, and some of those examples will inevitably be claimed by players, event organizers, and Hublot/Veuve Clicquot super-fans. With an official retail price of $33,600 USD, the new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic costs roughly the same as what the brand charges for its ceramic counterparts, and while this equals somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 to 600 bottles of Veuve Clicquot’s signature Yellow Label Champagne, it also represents about a one-third the cost of last year’s tourbillon-equipped Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic watch. For more information on the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, please visit the brand’s website.
