Okay, so it’s not officially Gulf livery, but this watch is called the Big Bang Unico Summer 2025, pinpointing it to a hyper specific time for all of history to enjoy. With a name like that, a big personality had better deliver, and Hublot does exactly that with a mixture of baby blue and orange from the bezel, to the case, to the strap. Hublot has been taking inspiration from Mediterranean hot spots since 2017, and this time, it’s Mykonos taking center stage. 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Unico movement, which began life as a drop-in replacement for the Valjoux 7750, and has since blossomed into its own, and these days, it’s more expressive than ever thanks to watches like this.
Whatever your thoughts on Hublot, there’s no denying that it’s been an interesting brand to follow over the years. I’d argue that, with the placement of Julien Tornare at the helm, that’s more true now than ever before. Tornare most recently led Zentih to something of a resurgence, though there he was surrounded by people who understood what the brand was, and where it needed to be. When it comes to Hublot, the path ahead seems less bound to history, and consequently, a bit trickier to nail down in a sensible way. That fact can be a net positive at the end of the day, with more freedom to innovate and shape with an eye toward the future.
Whatever the case, it’s a sure bet that the Unico will be a part of those plans, and watches like this Summer 2025 are a showcase of the platform’s versatility. Plus, it’s just a fun reminder that not all watches need to take themselves so seriously. To that end, Hublot is using microblasted orange ceramic pieces for the 42mm case of this watch, with a sky blue ceramic for the bezel piece. These colors are followed through into the dial, which is largely openworked, and the rubber strap for maximum visual impact. That strap, btw, can be changed out with the press of a button. A pretty slick system that Hublot takes advantage of with a variety of colorful straps included with the watch.
Hublot is using their HUB1280 Unico automatic movement here, which features a flyback chronograph set under a partially opened dial, revealing the column wheel and portions of the gear train, as well as the full date disc, which can be read via the aperture at 3 o’clock which is nested, somewhat oddly, within the minute totalizer. A closer look at the dial reveals something of a mess, if I’m being completely honest, but legibility remains staring thanks to a pair of super chunky hands tracking against floating hour markers. There’s a lot going on here, but getting a read on the time shouldn’t be an issue.
This feels a bit like one of those watches that’s swinging hard for a very particular impression, but doesn’t quite stick the landing when viewed up close. However, taking a step back, this is also a watch that captures a great summery vibe, and for that I kind of love it. I’m not sure who watches like this are for, if I’m being perfectly honest, but seeing ceramic used in such a vibrant manner is a win in my book. Even if it is priced at $31,300. Hublot
Leave a Reply