Since its introduction, the Hublot Square Bang has been something of a dark horse in the brand’s lineup. Not as foundational as the Classic Fusion or as instantly recognizable as the Big Bang, the Square Bang nonetheless delivers the brand’s trademark visual spectacle in a bolder, more distinctive case silhouette. As part of its Watches and Wonders 2024 novelties, Hublot brings its proprietary, high-tech Magic Gold alloy to the Square Bang silhouette, delivering one of the punchiest, most opulent chronograph releases of the year thus far. The new limited edition Hublot Square Bang Unico Magic Gold and Hublot Square Bang Unico Ceramic Magic Gold showcase the strengths of the often-underappreciated Square Bang line, joining an eye-catchingly aggressive silhouette to an in-house movement and advanced materials.
Both the Hublot Square Bang Unico Magic Gold and the Square Bang Unico Ceramic Magic Gold share the same overall case design, measuring in at an unapologetically beefy 42mm wide and 14.7mm thick. While the overall design language of these sandwich-style cases is classic Hublot, from the raised H-screw patterned bezels to the sculptural integrated lugs, and the blacked-out case side flanges at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, the introduction of Magic Gold gives this familiar layout a new feel that rides the edge between sportiness and luxury in photos. Naturally, the Square Bang Unico Magic Gold nudges this design further in the direction of luxury, with the uniquely muted, darker polished gold alloy used for the entire main case body and bezel with the exception of the recessed black titanium inner case. By contrast, Square Bang Unico Ceramic Magic Gold confines its use of Magic Gold to the bezel but actually shows a greater variety of finishing in images with a mix of matte blasted planes and polished chamfers across its black ceramic components. What makes Magic Gold “magic,” precisely? According to the brand, this proprietary 18K yellow gold alloy made from both yellow gold and boron carbide ceramic is unique for its immense scratch resistance. Hublot claims this material offers nearly five times the surface hardness of 316L stainless steel, making it far more durable and hard-wearing than most traditional sports watch materials, let alone a material like traditional gold. Both models are topped off with sapphire display casebacks and are rated to a respectable 100 meters of water resistance.
Despite the other differences between the two models, both the Hublot Square Bang Unico Magic Gold and the Square Bang Unico Ceramic Magic Gold use identical sapphire dial designs. Open, complex, and ringed by monolithic gold dial hardware, this layout prioritizes showcasing the movement below over pure legibility in images. With that said, the bold, semi-skeletonized straight sword hands and the broad clipped-tip indices combine to make this at least reasonably readable, while also offering Hublot the opportunity to show off crisp transitions between brushed and polished surfaces. Hublot also clearly varies its priorities when it comes to subdial legibility here. The smaller 9 o’clock running seconds subdial has a minimalist scale along its outer chapter ring, allowing this nominally less important element to fade into the background. On the other hand, the 3 o’clock chronograph minutes display is broader, carries a far more detailed scale, and crucially includes a smoked sapphire main subdial surface to separate it from the movement below. This subdial also includes an impressively deft integration for the brand’s unique skeleton date when displayed, with the current stencil-style date displaying through a well-hidden cutout in the smoked surface. It’s a small visual touch, to be sure, but one that allows this date display to feel far more deliberate and holistically designed in images. Taken as a whole, this dial offers visual spectacle in spades but does temper this with a notably balanced, considered execution.
Hublot powers the Square Bang Unico Magic Gold and the Square Bang Unico Ceramic Magic Gold with its in-house UNICO 2 automatic flyback chronograph movement. In terms of performance, the UNICO 2 is solidly modern, with a robust 72-hour power reserve and a 28,800 bph beat rate. On the aesthetic front, the view of the UNICO 2 through the sapphire display caseback is decidedly simpler and more elemental than the view through the transparent dial. Much of this comes down to the fact that many key chronograph components (including the oversized column wheel) are front-mounted, but there are a handful of elements highlighted around back as well. The simple matte black-coated skeleton bridges are cut away to reveal a handful of gear train elements, the mainspring barrel, and the balance wheel, but compared to many of its rivals at this price point, the layout is downright Spartan. To complete these designs, Hublot fits both watches with integrated, textured black rubber straps featuring an exaggerated checkerboard pattern.
Although the Square Bang collection may not receive the consistent enthusiast attention directed at some of its stablemates, there are moments when it delivers an impressive level of watchmaking spectacle. Both the limited edition Hublot Square Bang Unico Magic Gold and the Hublot Square Bang Unico Ceramic Magic Gold lean into the sort of spectacle that Hublot excels in and offer some of the most compelling iterations of this silhouette yet as a result. Both models are available now through authorized dealers, and only 200 units of the Square Bang Unico Magic Gold will be made. MSRP for the Hublot Square Bang Unico Magic Gold stands at $42,700 USD as of press time, while the Square Bang Unico Ceramic Magic Gold is priced at $31,800 USD. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.
