The Hublot Big Bang Unico Essential Grey Watch

As an industry leader in material innovation, we often see Hublot’s bold colours and designs. But in this limited edition, all this is done to reduce the look to its bare essentials.

Take a look at the titanium case, which is 42 mm in diameter, 14.5 mm thick, 52 mm from end to end, and water-resistant to 100 meters. It is mainly satin-finished, with a mirror effect on the bevelled sides of the bezel and lugs. When you stare at the copy watch from the front, you will notice a continuous vertical satin-brushed through line on the edge of the case. Only when you look at the case from an angle can you begin to see its polished decoration.
As the name of the watch implies, the dial, hands, sloping inner bezel outer minute track, floating applied numerals, registers and the movement visible below are all grey. There is a running second register at 9 feet and a 60-minute passing minutes register at 3 feet, which contains a date window. A grey disc surrounds the dial, and when each digit clicks into place, it’s easily identifiable against the white background. Speaking of readability, the applied numerals, the central hour and minute hands, and even the secondary hands have a super luminous coating. So when the lights go out, you’ll still be able to read all the information you’re looking for on the dial.
With the Hublot Big Bang Unico Essential Grey, you don’t just get one really nice strap – you get two, and you can switch between them with its easy-to-use one-touch exchange system. The first strap is a black and grey-lined rubber strap that’s perfect for warm weather and makes the most of its 100-meter water resistance.
Inside the watch, you can see the Hubot-made calibre HUB 1280 on the case back of the display, an automatic column-wheel flyback chronograph movement that offers a 72-hour power reserve. You won’t find traditional touches here as you would expect from a Hublot replica watch. But its clean, industrial aesthetic is very apt – not only for the brand but also for the Essential Grey name.
Ultimately, this watch is an approach that does more with less. This minimalist aesthetic departs from the bold style we usually find in Hublot and is more about delivering exactly what we need. The result is a handsome timepiece that offers comfort and sturdiness, with a welcome change from its quietly coordinated design.