On December 3-4, the Ferrari Finali Mondiale, one of the most prestigious events in the Ferrari racing season, took place at Daytona International Speedway. The event, which was held for the first time in the United States, also provided the ideal stage for Hublot — the Italian luxury automaker’s watch partner since 2011 — to unveil three all-new, redesigned versions of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Unico in three case materials: titanium; Hublot’s proprietary precious-metal alloy, King Gold; and a unidirectionally grained carbon fiber.
The second-generation Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Unico models feature several notable design changes that give them a more streamlined look than the originals. Chief among these is the bezel, whose contours have been reworked with countersunk notches for the six H-head screws that anchor it to the case. This more ergonomic, automotive-inspired form better protects the screws and appears as if it was taken directly from an integrated control unit. The case material now has a red-line detail that resembles the groove at the rear of the LaFerrari model. The elongated chronograph pushers are fixed to a rotating staff like a car’s pedals. The crown, marked with a Hublot “H,” has a much more integrated and ergonomic crown guard than in previous editions, echoing the look of the TPE (Turbo Performance Engineer) set in the center of the Ferrari dashboard. The name “Ferrari” is emblazoned in bright red across the watch’s three-part case construction.
On the dial, the hands have been redesigned for improved legibility and the applied hour numerals are positioned at angles, in line with the hour indices, rather than horizontally, as on the originals. The dial’s “3-D look,” as Hublot describes it, is enhanced by the appearance of the numerals floating above the dial. Ferrari’s iconic rearing horse logo has been moved from the 9 o’clock subdial — which is now in the shape of an air extractor — to a more discreet position at 6 o’clock. At 3 o’clock, the minutes-counter subdial has been redesigned to resemble a car’s tachymeter, while the date window now is styled to look like a Ferrari’s speed dial.
Like their predecessors, the new Big Bang Ferrari models are powered by Hublot’s in-house Unico movement, with automatic winding and an integrated column-wheel chronograph with flyback function. The column wheel is visible on the dial side, and the winding rotor evokes the star-spoke shape of Ferrari wheel rims. Visible from the front and back, the movement’s mainplate, bridges, and rotor are coated with black PVD. The Unico movement stores a power reserve of 72 hours.
The straps on the new Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Unico models are in black Alcantara on black rubber — evoking a Ferrari’s seats — with a red overstitching like that used on a Ferrari’s interior upholstery. The straps are also equipped with Hublot’s patented, seat-belt-inspired quick change system.
The watch’s 45-mm case is available in King Gold (with faceted, polished 5N gold hands and indices and black PVD titanium and King Gold clasp, $42,000); titanium (with faceted, polished, rhodium-plated hands and satin-finished titanium clasp, $26,200) and black unidirectional carbon (with faceted, polished black nickel hands and black PVD titanium and matte carbon clasp, $28,300).
I wish Hublot would make a Ferrari watch without the open tourbillon movement. It is far too cluttered. I want to make a very quick glance at my watch for time, especially when driving my Ferrari on winding roads.
When will Hublot start making watches that are not ugly, when…..
They will stop making ugly watches when people stop buying them. Too bad.