At the digital Watches & Wonders 2021 show, Hublot has revealed the jaw-dropping Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire timepiece. The transparent wristwatch features not only a virtually scratch-proof sapphire crystal case but also a matching integrated sapphire crystal bracelet, which is absolutely mind-blowing. Now, we understand that sapphire crystal watches aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But one has to take a moment to understand and admire the complexity of the horological engineering feet achieved with this timepiece. It all started with the Big Bang Unico Sapphire, the first sapphire watch by Hublot that came out in 2016. Over the last six years, the Swiss luxury watchmaker has perfected its expertise to create head-turning pieces crafted out of sapphire.
The newest timepiece is based on the Big Bang Integral watch that we have already seen in different variations. For the Full Sapphire version, Hublot had to completely reengineer and reconstruct the watch in its entirety to house the Automatic Tourbillon movement to achieve as much transparency as possible. The 43mm case of the watch is made of 37 components, five of which are made solely from sapphire, while all the visible screws were removed. Even the bridges and the main plates were reworked to give the illusion of being suspended in the air. Housed inside the case is the Hublot caliber HUB6035 micro-rotor-based automatic movement that operates at 3Hz (21,600 vph) with a power reserve of 72 hours. The ultra-complicated bracelet alone comprises 165 components, 22 of which are made from sapphire. Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot’s CEO, said: “For such an exceptional creation, we opted for the new Automatic Tourbillon calibre with its sapphire bridges, the transparency of which creates a stunning spectacle. The act of creating an integrated case and bracelet from sapphire was, however, deemed impossible. But we were the first brand to gain perfect mastery of sapphire, industrializing it and making it reproducible in series production. It took us five years to bring our first sapphire cases to life – and almost as long for the bracelet. Producing both from sapphire and integrating them is the pinnacle of Hublot’s teams’ in-depth work. We are proud to be the ones writing the first lines in this new chapter in the history of materials.” The Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire is limited to 30 examples and is priced at $422,000.
