Hublot’s latest release for Watches & Wonders 2022 sees them stepping into the square design watch market. Unveiling the brand’s own interpretation of the square watch, this is a completely new design. The inspiration for this piece was from Maison’s own iconic Big Bang collection, and fittingly this new collection has been named “The Shaped Collection”.
Hublot is known for creating unique timepieces all the while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with watchmaking. The brand’s R&D department is always looking for ways to innovate and create something better than the last. One area they haven’t touched till now is the square-shaped case. Hublot states that the “geometry bewitched Hublot because of the challenges it sets”. The first is the movement. Since every calibre has the wheel as its basic component, it, therefore, needs a round movement. If you are to place a round movement harmoniously in a square case, this requires a very specific style.
With the challenges in front of them, and not wanting to create just any normal square shaped timepiece, the brand decided to take a radical approach to the watch design. The brand has given the Square Bang a skeletonised dial, hiding nothing from the dial and letting the in-house Unico movement be seen to its fullest.
Design:
While the movement was one challenge, the modular construction of the case was another. The 43mm square case was designed in line with Hublot’s DNA, which features a central housing dressed with an upper-lower plate so that a myriad of combinations is possible. The square shape also makes it harder to design for water resistance. A challenge Hublot took on and succeeded, with the watch now being waterproof to 100m.
The size of the case was chosen to be 43mm, so that it sits on the wrist in balance, and is comfortable to wear. Hublot looked to their 42mm Big Bang as a reference for choosing the right size. As per the design of the Big Bang models, six (functional) screws are also placed along with the bezel of the Square Bang. The placement of the screws on the Square Bang is in roughly the same locations as the Big Bang models.
A total of five models of the 43mm Square Bang timepiece will be offered. There is an “All Black” timepiece which as the name suggests is completely black besides the movement. The All Black timepiece is in fact a collectors limited edition, which is produced in only 250 units. This is the only limited edition timepiece of this new Square Bang collection.
The other four models in this new collection are a solid titanium piece, titanium with ceramic bezel model, a King Gold with ceramic bezel model, and lastly a full King Gold timepiece. Each model in the Square Bang collection comes with a black rubber strap and a folding clasp that matches the material of the case. As customary with all Hublot timepieces, the finishing is up to the highest standard. The screws are sandblasted and polished, chronograph push-pieces are decorated with rubber ‘chocolate squares’ and polished hands for both rhodium-plated or 5N gold-plated models.
Movement:
The engine behind the Square Bang is the HUB1280 Unico Manufacture movement. This is a 354-component automatic chronograph movement that beats at 4Hz (28,800 VpH) and can give out a power reserve of approximately 72 hours (3 days).
Hublot has finally stepped into the square-shaped watch case arena, and their first collection is certainly something that will get the industry talking. It’s too early to tell how popular these models will be, but from first viewing, it’s no ordinary square timepiece. They have pulled out all the stops to make the Square Bang come out with a..well bang! Ricardo Guadalupe, the Hublot CEO, sums up this piece nicely by stating that “the square watch is a very specific object that most watchmakers dare not tackle. This is a divisive, disruptive and unconventional shape that no one has known how to rework for decades: it was just waiting for us! Hublot decided to get to grips with the shape in order to explore its power and create a totally unique timepiece. Like any Hublot, the Square Bang has no equivalent!”
References:
- Square Bang Titanium Ceramic – 821.NM.0170.RX
- Square Bang Titanium – 821.NX.0170.RX
- Square Bang King Gold Ceramic – 821.OM.0180.RX
- Square Bang King Gold Ceramic – 821.OX.0180.RX
Specification:
- Case: 43mm, 14.5mm thick
- Case Material: Titanium, Ceramic, King Gold
- Dial: Skeletonised dial
- Crystal: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Movement: Unico Manufacture, Self-winding chronograph
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Strap: Black Decorated rubber
Australian retail pricing:
- Square Bang Titanium Ceramic – 821.NM.0170.RX – $33,600.00 AUD
- Square Bang Titanium – 821.NX.0170.RX – $32,200.00 AUD
- Square Bang King Gold Ceramic – 821.OM.0180.RX – $55,600.00 AUD
- Square Bang King Gold Ceramic – 821.OX.0180.RX – $60,000.00 AUD
