Cosmic Fusion
With the limited-edition Big Bang Camo, the result of a partnership between Hublot and Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, watch aficionados are being treated to a unique meeting of minds that defies classification
Brand collaborations have resulted in some of the most memorable and noteworthy moments in the worlds of fashion and luxury over recent years. From Louis Vuitton x Supreme to Palace x Ralph Lauren, “x” marks the spot when it comes to pinpointing the zeitgeist of art and commerce today.
The logic behind it is straightforward. Brands with contrasting legacies borrow each other’s cultural capital; meanwhile, the clashing of aesthetics and customer bases makes a noise and keeps things fresh, especially when it’s amplified through social media. Conveniently, it can also be a creative short cut. No wonder, then, that so many watch companies have got in on the act.
Offbeat collaborations, however, don’t always work. For every Vetements x DHL – a masterstroke of ironic yet enduring appeal, not to mention a licence to print money – there is the Hundreds x Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Yes, you read that correctly. Quite how anyone could have calculated that a coming together of the Cats composer and a Californian streetwear brand might yield a lucrative new demographic remains beyond comprehension.
Thankfully, the meeting of minds that is Hublot x Yohji Yamamoto represents something altogether more fruitful and attractive. It helps, of course, that both parties have a track record in this arena. The luxury Swiss house has, for some time, been exploring the power of collaboration with its Art of Fusion project, an exploration of new and innovative technologies, aesthetics and materials. Previous hook-ups have included power-coupling with the likes of Ferrari and Berluti. Meanwhile, renowned avant-garde designer Yamamoto has built a career out of crossing the streams with other creatives – the most recent case being Supreme.
Earlier this year, Hublot and Yamamoto joined forces to release the Big Bang GMT All Black, featuring a black micro-blasted ceramic case, a black dial and a black rubber strap (black is Yamamoto’s signature colour). Now, we have the Big Bang Camo, another of his motifs, picking up the mantle. The 45mm ceramic case remains, though here the sapphire dial features superimposed outlines, with green, black and grey shapes creating a veiled, masking effect. Consequently, the digits and components become camouflaged within the face itself. The effect is echoed on the strap, though here each biomorphic shape is cut out individually, assembled and then fused together by vulcanisation – the first time such a process has been used in watchmaking.
The result is a unique timepiece that captures your attention by avoiding the limelight; one that is wholly individual while never approaching gimmickry. Sleek, smart, yet robust and versatile (it is water-resistant to 100m), the Big Bang Camo defies classification. Fittingly, it’s a model limited to just 200 pieces. If you can find one, it’s a long-view investment worth making.
“It’s a timepiece that captures your attention by avoiding the limelight”