During the Milan Design Week 2023, Hublot unveils the new Spirit of Big Bang Sang Bleu, the result of a collaboration with renowned tattoo artist Maxime Plescia-Buchi.
This world-renowned artist, who previously collaborated with the Swiss maison on two watches presented in different variants, decided this time to reinterpret a model launched in 2014, the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang.
Let’s now go through all the details of this exclusive new collection.
Hublot and Maxime Plescia-Buchi
The beginning of the collaboration between the Nyon-based maison and the celebrated Swiss artist, founder of Sang Bleu, dates back to 2016, when the two decided to start what has turned out to be a lasting collaboration with the intention of uniting the world of tattoos with haute horology.
The first watch idea between Hublot and Maxime Plescia-Buchi resulted in the Big Bang Sang Bleu presented in 2016. A watch featuring the artist’s three-dimensional geometry inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Vitruvian Man.
In 2019, the second collaboration between the artist and the Swiss maison was unveiled, namely the Big Bang Sang Bleu II. A watch that, unlike the first models, was entirely covered with a tattoo of the famous artist that extended from the case and hexagonal bezel to the sapphire crystal, passing through the hands and strap.
For the third collaboration presented in Milan at the Salone del Mobile 2023, Hublot and Maxime Plescia-Buchi decided to reinterpret the three-dimensional style that characterized the previous two collections and apply it to the model launched in 2014 by the maison, the Spirit of Big Bang.
This tonneau-cased model from the maison, inside which are all original features of the Big Bang, is now offered in three different limited editions each featuring the world-renowned tattoo artist’s touch.
Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe had the following to say about this new collaboration:
“This third collaboration sees Maxime infuse the watch with a new energy but without changing its soul, thus creating the Spirit of Big Bang Sang Bleu III. He accomplished this transformation by taking the concepts of the first two Big Bang Sang Bleu models and reinterpreting the lines of the Spirit of Big Bang. This third collaboration thus takes on a new identity without losing the distinctive features of the tonneau style: the design now plays with space in the almost architectural dimension conferred by Sang Bleu’s typical geometries and symmetries.”
New Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Bang Sang Bleu
Hublot’s new Sang Bleu collection features 3 different versions made from 3 different materials. Made with a 42 mm diameter case, this new watch can in fact be chosen in titanium, All Black ceramic, and King Gold. If you don’t know what King Gold is, here is the link to our factory visit where we explain it.
Both the titanium and King Gold versions feature two additional variants each embellished with 180 exclusive 2.4-carat diamonds. Above the octagonal bezel can be seen satin-finished finishes that contrast with the polished finishes of the remaining parts of the watch, forming a contrast that highlights the artist’s hallmarks.
In addition to the three-dimensionality of the case, the watch undoubtedly stands out for the special way information is displayed on the skeletonized sapphire dial.
Both the hours and minutes of this chronograph are in fact indicated by curved hands that recall the geometries proper to the watches born from the collaboration with Sang Bleu. Same for the counter at 9 and 3 o’clock that go to recall Maxime Plescia-Buchi’s iconic tattoos.
On the rim of the 15.7-mm-thick case are chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, along with the winding crown located in the center.
In perfetta sintonia con l’intera architettura dell’orologio troviamo la particolare massa oscillante del calibro automatico HUB4700 visibile attraverso l’apertura in vetro zaffiro sul fondello dell’orologio.
Complementing these new models is a smooth black rubber strap with a folding clasp made of the same material as the watch case.
Price and availability
The new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Sang Bleu will be made in a limited edition of 200 pieces except for the King Gold version which will be made in 100 pieces.
The All Black ceramic version will be sold at a list price of EUR 31,800, the titanium version at a price of EUR 29,600, and the King Gold version at a price of EUR 52,700.
The two diamond-enriched versions, on the other hand, will be sold at a list price of EUR 50,500, for the titanium one, and at a price of EUR 73,600, for the King Gold one.
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