Despite constant interaction with precious metals in almost every conceivable form and alloy, the watch industry very rarely showcases gold in its rarest and purest natural form. Only a small percentage of natural gold veins worldwide create conditions for the formation of gold crystals with a delicate fractal geometric structure, which visually differs greatly from the familiar polished appearance of processed 24-karat gold. Hublot has a long and varied history of experimenting with gold and advanced gold alloys, and in its latest release, the avant-garde luxury brand brings the raw look of 24-karat gold crystal to a dramatic all-black background. With a stark black-and-gold color scheme and minimalist execution, the new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Gold Crystal offers one of the most unique and striking interpretations of gold to date.
Available in sizes 39 mm and 42 mm, the black ceramic case of the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Gold Crystal is crafted in a tonneau shape from black ceramic in line with the brand's complex multi-faceted design language. The multilayered “sandwich” style case construction is highlighted by a wide range of finishes in the images: from the deep inky polished black of the main case and caseback to the grained coal-matte finish of the crown and case flank sides. Hublot complements this with strong vertical brushing on the top surface of the rectangular bezel and the center of the integrated lugs, while the bezel receives additional nuances with polished chamfers and recessed matte segments. Overall, the brand extracts an impressive amount of texture and visual depth from the black-on-black design in the images, and in keeping with the sporty ultra-modern look, both case sizes are rated for 100 meters of water resistance with a sapphire caseback.
The dial is the natural centerpiece of the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Gold Crystal design. The other parts of the watch form a deep monochrome background, allowing the 24-karat gold crystals presented here to shine freely, showcasing the complex multilayer dial finishing process. In a patented process developed by the brand over more than a year, 24-karat gold is heated to a melting temperature of over 1,000 degrees Celsius and evaporated into a superheated gaseous mixture, which is then cooled. As the gold vapors cool, they coalesce into completely unique branching fractal structures composed of thousands of individual crystals.
Only 20 percent of the crystals created by Hublot in this process are used for dials, as each crystal is hand-selected for aesthetic qualities. The crystals are then placed on a black dial blank and hand-coated with 20 thin layers of clear lacquer in climate-controlled conditions to prevent air bubbles. The final effect is truly impressive, conveying the depth and layered structure of each crystal beneath the smooth glossy surface.
The rest of the dial design is entirely minimal to keep the visual focus on the gold crystals, interrupted only by broad black matte hands and the Hublot emblem at 12 o'clock, applied on the underside of the crystal. However, with such a pared-back approach, “black on black” legibility is a genuine concern, but the visual spectacle presented on the display is a compelling argument in itself.
Hublot equips the Spirit of Big Bang Gold Crystal with the automatic HUB1710 movement based on the Zenith Elite 670. (Unfortunately, the brand was unable to provide images of the movement of this watch before going to press). The HUB1710 offers solid performance, including a 50-hour power reserve at a frequency of 28,800 beats per hour. For both case variants, the brand offers a sporty tapered black alligator leather strap with a rubber lining.
With the unique crystalline structure of each piece and a futuristic minimalist look, the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Gold Crystal presents a stark and stunning demonstration of some of the brand's most impressive work in materials.
The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Gold Crystal is now available at authorized dealers for $28,400 USD. For more details, visit the brand's website.