WWD Digital Daily

Hublot Brings In 2024 With a Bang

- — LUIS CAMPUZANO

Hublot’s latest release, the Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon, fuses watchmakin­g and sculpture, a testament to the brand’s stated commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and functional­ity.

The design is being launched to mark the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar, symbol of luck, strength and wisdom. To commemorat­e the imperial icon, Hublot has enlisted Chinese artist

Chen Fenwan to combine traditiona­l Chinese “sculpture in the round” with contempora­ry art, resulting in a 3D silhouette of a dragon, which blends traditiona­l Chinese art, represente­d by the revered paper- cutting technique, with contempora­ry watch design.

Crafted in a 42mm satin- finished and polished titanium case, Hublot transposes the layered effects of paper cutting to each element, including the hands, wheels and its H- shaped screws, into a multilevel dial constructi­on overlaying a base panel with several levels of appliqués that incorporat­e the aesthetic codes of Hublot’s components.

The dragon motif extends onto the strap, featuring Hublot’s first rubber marquetry design, with each scale on the dragon being individual­ly colored and nanovulcan­ized, taking around eight hours per strap to complete.

An additional strap, made from gray fabric with Velcro and a black ceramic buckle, offers versatilit­y.

The timepiece is powered by the brand’s Hub1710 movement, with automatic winding and providing the watch with a 50- hour power reserve, which is visible through the open case back, and with a water resistance of 100m.

Only 88 of the limited- edition timepieces will be available for purchase with a price tag of $ 29,500.

 ?? ?? Hublot's Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon.
Hublot's Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon.

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