W&W 2025: Hublot presents the “Master of Sapphire” set to mark the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang
Marking two decades of the Big Bang collection, Hublot is introducing the “Master of Sapphire” set – a limited edition of five watches that demonstrate the brand’s ongoing focus on case innovation and material experimentation. Each model features a coloured sapphire case, showcasing Hublot’s continued work with transparent materials in watchmaking.
Case: A Spectrum of Sapphire
The “Master of Sapphire” set comprises five watches, each with a 44 mm polished sapphire case in a distinct colour: Transparent, Water Blue, Deep Blue, Purple, and Neon Yellow Saxem. At 15.30 mm thick and water-resistant to 5 ATM, the cases are equipped with anti-reflective sapphire casebacks and feature a “20 YEARS” engraving on the crown.
Hublot “Master of Sapphire” Set: Dial
The dial of each Big Bang “Master of Sapphire” is a polished transparent skeleton, offering a window into the intricate workings of the HUB1201 movement. This design choice not only highlights the technical prowess of Hublot’s watchmakers but also enhances the visual appeal of the timepiece. The colour accents on the hands and applied markers are matched to the case, creating a cohesive aesthetic.
Movement: The MECA-10 Marvel
Powering each Hublot “Master of Sapphire” Set model is Hublot’s HUB1201 manual-winding movement. Operating at 3 Hz (21,600 A/h), the calibre consists of 223 components and 24 jewels. It includes a silicon lever escapement, a rhodium-plated balance wheel, and a rack-style power reserve indicator showing a full 10 days of power reserve.
Strap: Seamless Integration of Colour and Comfort
Each timepiece in the set is paired with a transparent lined silicone strap that complements the hue of its sapphire case. Whether it’s the Transparent White, Water Blue, Deep Blue, Purple, or Neon Yellow, the strap ensures a seamless integration of colour and comfort. Secured by a titanium deployant buckle, it complements the design while ensuring comfort and wearability.
Price & Availability
Limited to just five sets, the Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary “Master of Sapphire” Set is something of a Hublot collector’s dream. Each set is presented in a unique display case, featuring a backlit panel with vertical lights and a frosted sliding glass panel, complete with an engraved plaque marking “Master of Sapphire XX/05”. The price for the set is EUR 629,000.
Sapphire: 424.JX.4820.RT
Water Blue Sapphire: 424.JL.4890.RT
Deep Blue Sapphire: 424.JE.4890.RT
Purple Sapphire: 424.JM.4890.RT
Yellow Neon Saxem: 424.JY.4890.RT
CASE MATERIAL
Polished Sapphire Crystal and Saxem
DIMENSIONS
Diameter: 44mm
Height: 15.30mm
WATER RESISTANCE
5 Bar (50 metres)
DIAL
Polished Transparent Skeleton
STRAP/BRACELET
MOVEMENT
HUB1201
MOVEMENT TYPE
Manual winding
POWER RESERVE
10 Days (240 Hours)
FREQUENCY
3 Hz (21,600 vph)
FUNCTIONS
Hours, Minutes, Small Seconds, Power Reserve Indicator
With the introduction of the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller, Rolex has opened a new chapter in the history of watchmaking. With an impressive 32 new patent applications, 18 of which are exclusive to this model, the Land-Dweller showcases the innovative spirit of Rolex. 16 patents have been filed for the new calibre 7135 movement alone, which is…
The Bulgari Octo Roma Central Tourbillon Papillon tells the time with a mechanism that has never been seen before. Inspired by a butterfly, two retractable hands travel along a graduation to indicate the minutes. Meanwhile, an aperture at 12 o'clock shows the current hour. The watch appears in a rose gold case and is powered…
First appearing as a diver's watch in the 1960s and quickly becoming an icon, the modern-day Polaris watch from Swiss horology house Jaeger-LeCoultre was revived back in 2018. The adventurous yet elegant chronograph model, designed with everyday use in mind, is now appearing in two new iterations. Both versions showcase new artisanal dials and come…
Norqain’s Wild One Skeleton 42 mm Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition marks the brand’s latest release in a series of watches created in collaboration with Swiss wildlife ambassador Dean Schneider. This limited edition of 200 pieces was designed in collaboration with industry legend Jean-Claude Biver and combines advanced materials with a charitable cause. Ten percent of…
Panerai presents two new special editions with an original dial, inspired by one of the pendulum clocks which was offered in the windows of the historic store in the Piazza San Giovanni in Florence in the last century. Since it was founded in 1860, Florence’s Orologeria Svizzera – as the Panerai family’s historic store was…
The new collection of the Swiss brand Audemars Piguet was firstly presented in Geneva on the SIHH 2019. In total six new models were introduced, among others the Tourbillon Openworked and the Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon. Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet – Tourbillon Openworked Ref. 26600OR.OO.D002CR.01 The models of this new collection have a round case with an octagonal…
At LVMH Watch Week 2021, Hublot presented not only the Big Bang Automatic Tourbillon, but also three new models from the Integral range. When the first generation of the model was launched in 2020, Hublot offered a variant with a ceramic case. Now the Swiss manufacturer is expanding the color palette: the Hublot Big Bang…
September is coming up and the first autumn highlights are about to be released. One of them is the cooperation between the online magazine Monochrome and watch manufacture Armin Strom. Together they are ringing in the next season with the Armin Strom x Monochrome Montre de Souscription 3 Gravity Equal Force Maillechort. The monochrome timepiece with…
Earlier this year, IWC Schaffhausen introduced a new version of the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph. Now, the Swiss watchmaker is introducing three new variations into the collection. Dial options now include a choice of either a burgundy or green dial. Furthermore, the brand is introducing a Boutique Edition with a 18-carat 5N gold case with…
The A. Lange & Söhne LANGE 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR integrates the eponymous complication into the iconic decentralised dial design. Accordingly, the watch offers displays for the date, day of the week, month and leap year, as well as a moonphase. There is a choice between a pink-gold case with a solid silver dial and a…
Atelier Greubel Forsey is presenting the third edition of the GMT Earth. While the two predecessors were still made of precious metals, this new version has a titanium case. It features a rotating globe that immediately shows the wearer which hemisphere is in the daytime and which is at night. In addition, the manufacture has…
Jean-Claude and Pierre Biver, the father-and-son duo behind the Biver brand, launched their journey into watchmaking with the Carillon Tourbillon Minute Repeater in 2023. This complex watch set the stage for the brand’s design language and approach to horology. Now, they introduce the Biver Automatique, a three-hand automatic watch designed for daily wear. This timepiece…
Two new sizes, radiant mother-of-pearl dials, lab-grown diamonds, and actress Charlize Theron heading the new campaign: say hello to the new Breitling Navitimer 32 and 36 mm. A whole army of the manufacture's most popular and iconic pilot's watch are joining the collection in a range of new designs, from red-gold and steel to two-tone…