Hublot: Spirit Of Big Bang Meca-10

In the spirit of the great art of watchmaking, where a “barrel” frame must hold a calibre with the same shape, the engineers were tasked with revising the whole construction of the movement so that it would fit in the new space available as efficiently as possible from a technical aspect—and as harmoniously as possible on an aesthetic level.

The new HUB1233 calibre retains the basic principles of the manual-winding skeleton Meca-10 factory movement, with its parallel twin barrel and exceptional 10-day power reserve displayed in an unusual way. At 12 o’clock, there are two racks sliding on a line between 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock with an innovative new rack and pinion, whilst the opening at 3 o’clock shows the number of days left on the power reserve. Another technical and aesthetic feature is also reflected in the round movement: the usual plate is replaced by bridges with a fixed length on either side of a ring that serves as a base for the movement—a highly original architecture that brings to mind the perforated “joists” of a construction set. Clever skeletonising of the components draws the eye to the heart of the mechanism, with a fascinating effect of depth, whether you look from the side of the dial or through the transparent back cover. The technical appearance of the whole is lifted by the contrast between parts made from crude steel with satin or polished finishes and parts with blackened finishes. The central display of the hours and minutes is completed by a small second hand at 9 o’clock, next to the balance and the hairspring.

The new Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Meca-10 is available in three versions, each with their own personality. The first is in 18-carat King Gold “an exclusive alloy of gold and platinum” €.43.500, the second version is in high-tech black ceramic €.26.900, whilst the third is dressed in ultra-robust and ultra-light grade 5 titanium €.22.700. The watch is combined with a rubber strap with a lined texture, with a deployment clasp.