Without a doubt one of the coolest looking GMT watches out there is the relatively new Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT. With its robust 45 mm case in either titanium ref. 471.NX.7112.RX or
carbon fiber ref. 471.QX.7127.RX, the Big Bang Unico GMT features a graduated bezel with its signature H-shaped titanium screws and a skeletonized home time arrow-shaped hand that allows the wearer keep track of a second time zone. This GMT timepiece unlike most GMT watches out there, utilizes two pushers conveniently located on the case in order to advance or move back the second time zone hand in increments of an hour.
Things You Need to Know
The Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT is equipped with a new patented proprietary module which enables the second time zone to be updated instantly using the two rectangular pushers and allowing for the local time to be read easily via the conventional main hand of the watch. The time at home is indicated using a second arrow-shaped hour hand, which integrates a day/night indicator and is set using the crown. However, one thing that this watch is missing —and that we feel it should've had being a dual time zone timepiece—, is a date function. One thing we need to admit is that the ingenuity of the module developed by Hublot brings the functionality of a GMT watch to a higher lever.
Thanks to its blue accents on the dial, on the lower resin bezel and on its blue rubber strap, both watches look very maritime and nautical. Without a doubt, these are some of the best looking Hublots recently released by the brand. While we really like both models, there's something about the combination of black and blue on the carbon fiber reference that makes it more interesting, nevertheless, we are not sure if the price difference against its titanium counterpart makes it worthwhile.
While the Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT Carbon Fiber features a 12-hour graduated bezel with white transferred numbers on it, the Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT Titanium sports the same type of bezel but in titanium and with engraved numerals on it. The latter is absolutely gorgeous and much better looking than the carbon fiber bezel on the carbon model.
When it comes to the dial, the Big Bang Unico GMT features an skeletonized dial where the local time is indicated via the main hand, the time at home is indicated via the arrow-shaped hand correlated to a day/night disc so that the user can quickly tell whether it is morning or evening. One thing we are confident about, is that the indication of both time zones would've been much better and easier to read, had the bezel featured a 24-hour graduation instead of a 12-hour one.
Regardless that the Big Bang Unico GMT is not equipped with a screw-down crown the watch is water resistant to 100 meters. One other thing worth pointing out is that the two rectangular pushers on the Big Bang Unico GMT are not the same as those typically seen on some Hublot chronographs. The shape of these pushers has been redesigned to ensure that they look relatively different and their current design evokes the pushers on the early Big Bang models. As mentioned earlier, pressing the pusher at 2 o'clock moves the time forward by one hour while the one at 4 o'clock moves it back. Additionally, there is a safety device fully integrated to the mechanism that prevents simultaneous activation of the two pushers.
Lastly, the case features the interchangeable strap system that allows for a quick and easy strap change in a matter of seconds. All it takes is a quick press on the push piece located at 6 or 12 o'clock on the case to then release the strap and swap it.
The Movement
The beating heart in the Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT is the in-house Unico movement that has been redesigned to transform it into a calibre with an integrated GMT function. This 41-jewel automatic movement calibre HUB1251 is composed of 358 components and beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph to provide a power reserve of 72 hours when fully wound. The movement is fully visible via the display case back and features a newly designed skeletonized rotor.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT wears true to its size and with ultra sporty wrist presence. This is by far one of our all time favorite Hublot Big Bangs. While we are not a hundred percent sold on the functionality of the watch and its two pushers that can be pressed inadvertently, as far as looks the watch is a stunner. Now, based on the overall look of the two models and their price, we think that the titanium reference 471.NX.7112.RX is the way to go.
Sticker Price $19,900 USD for titanium and $23,100 USD for carbon fiber. For more info on Hublot click here.
