Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Sapphire Watch

 Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Sapphire Watch

Even after nearly 20 years of practice, and sometimes even mastery of its "Art of Fusion" approach to watchmaking, Hublot still doesn't get enough credit for its achievements in the practical application of materials science to horology. In other words, it’s as if the community is used to Hublot leaving others in the dust in this important area. If it says "Hublot" on the dial, it's obviously normal for us to see puzzling materials and their use in high quality copy watches, but should it really be like this? Wearing the $500,000 Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Blue Sapphire at Watches & Wonders 2023 reminded me of this conundrum.

Flipping through my Watches & Wonders 2023 photography archives, one brand stands out (and has a considerable edge) for its presentation and application of radically modern materials in watchmaking, and that brand is Hublot. We've seen full Texalium and carbon fiber cases and bracelets, full ceramic watches in saturated colors (someone else hasn't figured it out yet), multicolor sapphire crystal cases and bracelets, and more coming later this year. Meanwhile, Rolex has finally introduced a rather underwhelming grade 5 titanium in all two references. Most of what's left is old-fashioned steel, gold, and platinum.

That's not to say that everything Hublot does is a success, especially if you measure success by the watch's appeal to the conservative, traditionalist segment of aristocratic watch enthusiasts. However, if all you want is some utterly ridiculous wrist entertainment, they've hit the mark. For example, the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Blue Sapphire is as ridiculous a watch as any, for three reasons.

First of all, it has all the design elements of a Wholesale replica watches suitable for everyday wear, but the official claim is that it is quite fragile. Three years ago, Hublot introduced the one-piece bracelet as a sturdy alternative to the main rubber strap that comes with almost all watches. Until recently, it was called "Integral" and appears to be changing its name to "Integrated" in 2023. The Hublot metal bracelet is your usual three-piece link, with some jagged edges and a steep vertical link profile, nothing really to rave about. However, presenting this perfectly functional and ubiquitous design in full sapphire, of course it is. It's like an SUV, but with lambswool floor mats. Just as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan can opt for those fluffy "rugs underfoot," the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon and its bracelet can be all sapphire.

Second, you really need to love every inch of the bracelet attachment screws, spring bars, and forearm, because you're going to see a lot of that in this luxury watch with a sapphire bracelet. While most metal bracelets have the three left and right links closest to the case permanently fixed without any visible screws, on this blue sapphire crystal bracelet each link is individually set and held in place by screws, so Easy to replace. This will certainly come in handy when any of these links shatter from being hit by a sharp object or a hard floor. An interesting little detail that may be overlooked by many is how the bracelet appears to be a three-piece link design (like the metal and ceramic Integral bracelets on other Hublot watches), when in reality, these are long And the intricate U-shaped links, each link covering the entire width of the bracelet.

The official guidance we have received on sapphire's shock and impact resistance is this: Ceramic bracelets may shatter if dropped from a height of 1 meter (3 feet) onto a hard floor. This can happen to sapphire crystal bracelets after being dropped from half the height. We then asked if the Shopping replica watch would crack if it were hit while being worn. In contrast, this is extremely unlikely, and the watch can be worn with peace of mind.

Despite the durable and sturdy connotations of the integrated bracelet and porthole design, none of these will survive diving. Water resistance is still limited to 30 meters, partly to keep the gaskets slim and barely visible throughout the display, and partly because sapphire components can't be squeezed together as tightly as metal components because, you guessed it,

So why is it so expensive? We've covered sapphire crystal cases extensively before, so here's a quick rundown of what you need to know. Sapphire is challenging, time-consuming and expensive to machine due to its density and enormous hardness (which gives it good scratch-resistant properties). Once machined — if not hundreds of hours — each part required tens of hours of manual labor to completely remove the opaque finish left after machining and give each face a translucent brilliance.replica luxury watches

Speaking of tourbillons, the Hublot Sapphire is powered by the skeletonised movement HUB6035, a self-winding movement with a tourbillon. Undoubtedly impressive, especially with the covered tourbillon and sapphire disc with hour markers, it's still subpar compared to what you'll find in some other half-million dollar watches. That kind of money will buy you three times or more complications than this HUB6035 component, all done better. Buying this watch for the movement certainly misses the point entirely, but it is an interesting indicator that the emphasis has shifted in terms of preference when it comes to justifying this purchase.

On the wrist, the 43mm-wide Sapphire Big Bang Integrated feels light, smooth and top-heavy—it swings from side to side. With its smooth translucency, especially in this blue, it looks like a prop from a dated '80s sci-fi movie, and like one of those, it just might cheer you up.Buy replica watches