Move over fauxtina, integrated bracelets are the new trend in watchmaking (or so it seems)! Hublot just dropped its very own Integrated bracelet watch, and it makes perfect sense. Hublot is one of very few brands that actually offer (very) innovative straps on its watches. They tend to be a well built hybrid between a strap and bracelet, featuring a blend of materials with some type of solidly integrated quick release mechanism. They also tend to feature high end clasps. The step to the integrated bracelet is therefore nothing that crazy at all for Hublot.
Looking at the Hublot Big Bang Integral, it all looks familiar and very Big Bang-ish – simply because Hublot mostly does the strap integration so very well on the Big Bang series. Also, as I mentioned, even their usual ‘straps’ are already hybrid bracelets if you ask me.
Now, seeing the integrated bracelet on the Big Bang, well it simply fits just as well – of not even better. I dare say, this could or should have happened a long time ago but for some reason we had to wait until 2020 for it to happen.
Not having had any hands-on time with this watch just yet, it is difficult to estimate how nice this will wear but I certainly look forward to giving it a go. The Big Bang does not exactly fly under the radar, and I’m sure the bracelet will not change that. The weight of the overall watch isn’t specified but I would assume this isn’t going to be a very light piece as a result of the addition of the integrated bracelet.
The Big Bang Integral is being released “in three materials lightweight titanium, hard-wearing, scratch-proof ceramic (500 pieces) and King Gold, a unique alloy of gold, copper and platinum which results in an intensely red 18-carat gold and is exclusive to Hublot”.
Specifications:
Big Bang Unico 42 mm
HUB1280 – UNICO proprietary manufacture movement – V2
• horizontal double clutch chronographChronograph A chronograph complication is a feature in a watch that allows the wearer to measure elapsed time in addition to telling the time. It works by having a separate set of gears and levers, called the chronograph mechanism, which is activated by pressing a button or a pusher. The chronograph mechanism starts and stops the chronograph's second hand, which is usually located on the watch's dial, separate from the regular watch hands. The elapsed time is usually displayed on a sub-dial or a register on the watch's dial.
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• column wheel visible from the dial
• 30 mm in diameter
• 3-day power reserveRéserve de marche Also known as Power Reserve. A watch's power reserve refers to the amount of time a mechanical watch can run without being wound. The power reserve of a mechanical watch can vary depending on the size of the mainspring, the efficiency of the gear train, and the rate at which the mainspring releases energy. If a watch has a Power Reserve 'complication' it simply means that the status of the power reserve can be seen on the watch itself (either on the dial or movement side of the watch).
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• flat automatic winding system
• 6.75 mm thick movement
• 14.5 mm thick case
• architecture designed to facilitate assembly and reveal more of its working parts
• technical innovations (4 patents): oscillating seconds clutch, chronograph friction system with ball bearing adjustment, ratchet retaining system with unidirectional gears, index-assembly fine adjustment system
• double ball bearing reverser
• 354 components and 43 jewelsJewels
Watch jewels are small, synthetic sapphire or ruby bearings that are used in mechanical watches to reduce friction and wear on moving parts. They are typically made from corundum. They are used as bearings for a.o. the pivots to reduce friction.
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More information, here.