After years of hype around stainless steel sports watches, Hublot is returning to its origins in coloured precious metal. As a part of the launch of its 2022 range at LVMH Watch Week, Hublot has announced the new Yellow Gold collection, which spans a quartet of classic Hublot designs.
At the beginning of the 1980s, when the Hublot name was first seen on the dial of a wristwatch, the watch industry was in turmoil. Following the advent of quartz-powered timepieces at the end of the ’60s, the Swiss watch industry was redefining itself on new terms, playing with new materials and designs.
While yellow gold was always considered the classic watchmaking material, it was the founder of Hublot Carl Croco who catapulted the metal into the modern age. Rather than using the elemental alloy to make conservative dress watches, he created a yellow gold sports watch with a rubber strap, which was the first time the materials had ever been used in the same watch.
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With this history firmly in mind, Hublot is seeking to celebrate yellow gold once more, with a new collection that spans almost the entire Hublot catalogue including the Classic Fusion Chronograph, Big Bang Integral, Big Bang Unico and Spirit of Big Bang. In line with the first-ever Hublot, the entire Yellow Gold collection embodies the striking contrast between gold and black, with all dials and straps executed in the inky shade. Let’s take a look at this precious metal collection, design by design.
Classic Fusion Chronograph
Perhaps the closest living relative of the original Hublot wristwatch, the Classic Fusion Chronograph presents a cleanly designed, almost minimal aesthetic on the wrist. I say almost minimal, because yellow gold might well be the least minimal material in the game, however, the two-register chronograph dial is charmingly balanced without being boring. Powered by the self-winding MHUB1153 chronograph movement, the 42mm watch is kept simple and svelte. Price: $37,400
Spirit of Big Bang
Next up we have the Spirit of Big Bang, which features a yellow gold tonneau case and skeletonized dial, executed in with a width of 42mm. Don’t let that number fool you though, as it packs a serious punch on the wrist both in its weight and looks. It’s not a small watch, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely comfortable on the wrist, with the ever so slightly curved case meeting the contours of your wrist better than you might expect. Price: $56,500
Big Bang Integral
In the Hublot catalogue, the Big Bang Integral is a relatively recent phenomenon, with the first expressions of the aggressively faceted timepiece only launched in 2020. This year, the collection has expanded into the Yellow Gold collection we see here, as well as another new 40mm time-only collection. The secret power of the Big Bang Integral, especially in yellow gold, is in the articulate blend of brushed and polished surfaces on the case and bracelet. The remarkable shimmering effect it creates is guaranteed to catch the eye of everyone in the room, so if you’re keen to keep a low profile, perhaps consider the Classic Fusion Chronograph. Price: $73,200
This watch has also been released in two other diamond-set versions, called the Pave and Joaillerie, featuring 5.4 cts and 17 cts of diamonds respectively. Check them out and their immaculate stone setting in the gallery at the end of the article. Price: $140,00 for the Pave and $294,000 for the Joaillerie.
Big Bang Unico
Last, but certainly not least is the Big Bang Unico, which is another bold, but beautiful chronograph from Hublot. The Big Bang Unico has always been a popular offering from Hublot, and has been used in recent years as the canvas for a number of wildly successful limited edition pieces. Now executed in 42mm of yellow gold, this new release is also sure to be a popular one, powered by the impressively capable self-winding MHUB1280 Unico 2. Price: $51,200
