The Big Bang Meca-10 Full Magic Gold by Hublot is a 200 limited edition run piece, which is part of their Meca-10 range that includes six models varying in different material finishes. The inspiration for Hublot to create the Meca-10 range began when they looked back into childhood days, where imagination was limitless. As a homage to all those that spent hours designing and building with Meccano, which is almost like a more sophisticated version of lego that includes plates, wheels and gears, Hublot created the Meca-10 range.
Hublot is known for combining the elements of industrial and contemporary design, which they have showcased in the Meca-10 range without compromising on performance. The Big Bang Meca-10 range showcases a complex yet striking open-work skeleton dial, which besides the 10-day power reserve is this watch’s main feature. The Big Bang Meca-10 has such a complex yet beautiful design that it won the “Red Dot Best of the Best” design prize back in 2017. This is after a jury which consisted of 40 professors, journalists and independent designers reviewed 5,500 different creations from 54 different countries across the world.
The futuristic design of the skeleton dial is equally matched by the innovative material used for the case. Magic Gold is the culmination of research and development conducted in partnership between
Hublot and EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne). Magic Gold is created by fusing gold with alloy ceramics, making it the only scratch-resistant 18-carat gold material.
The open-work dial comes packed with many features, thanks to Hublot’s in-house HUB1201 manufacture movement. A large portion of the dial on the Big Bang Meca-10 is taken up by the remarkable representation of the power reserve feature. To explain it, it first starts with a slide rack feature on the 12 o’clock position, which through the outer teeth on the rack connects on to the large black wheel at the 3 o’clock position. This large black wheel has six Hublot type screws and two larger shaped holes. It also has two sets of teeth on opposite sides, one of which connects to the 12’oclock rack position and the other which connects to the 6 o’clock “Power Reserve” indicator wheel. This power reserve indicator wheel has a ten-day reading. Once the reserve counts down to 3 days, one of the large holes on the large black wheel starts filling up with the red colour, indicating to the user that the watch needs to be wound. This is indeed a very impressive feature and a true testament to the Meccano toys. A small seconds window is located in the 9 o’clock position, which for the Big Bang Meca-10 Full Magic Gold, has a gold case around the sub-dial to match the casing, hour indexes and hands.
With the Meca-10 range, Hublot has shown great dedication and creativity to create a watch that shows an impressive complication on the dial. Although the base price for the Meca-10 range may be steep, the competition for such complex mechanisms costs considerably more (think Richard Mille). Donning a Full Magic Gold case for the Big Bang Meca-10 Full Magic Gold, the aesthetic appeal for the viewer has reached a new level while providing a level of toughness only diamonds can scratch.
Showing to everyone what the future of skeletonised mechanical watches will look like, Hublot’s award-winning Meca-10 Full Magic Gold is a real work of art.
