If you used to dance to the beats of Depeche Mode's 'Music for the Masses' or 'Personal Jesus' was your party anthem, then the Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode Steel Limited Edition ref. 311.SX.8010.VR.DPM14 is no stranger to you. This limited edition watch unveiled at the beginning of the year during a very special event at the Hublot boutique in the heart of the Place Vendôme in Paris, is the result of a fundraising project with Charity:Water, for which Depeche Mode's Delta Machine Tour is raising funds. The non-profit's mission is to ensure clean and safe water supply in developing countries.
This watch definitely targeted to all of us that were teens in the 80s —and most Generation X individuals— is available in a limited edition of 250 pieces that also includes 10 exceptional unique box sets, each containing a signed guitar by Depeche Mode and a special watch with a red chrono central hand, each engraved for one of the 10 cities with iconic meaning to Depeche Mode including Paris, New York, Basildon, Los Angeles, Milan, Warsaw, Moscow, Zurich, Berlin and Hamburg. Additionally this partnership also includes an exceptional unique timepiece called "Depeche Mode Tourbillon" which is a skeleton grand complication in a black titanium tonneau case with a nailed strap —a first at Hublot—, which was exhibited specially at Vendôme in anticipation of its auction on March 6, 2014 in Moscow at a private dinner ahead of Depeche Mode's scheduled concert the day after. The Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode Steel Limited Edition is fitted with a resplendent grey stainless steel case measuring 44 mm in diameter with a microblasted and satin finished stainless steel bezel with 'Clous Pyramide' —punk nail looking— decoration and featuring a tone-on-tone calfskin strap with thermo-moulded nail shapes. Definitely very Depeche Mode looking and quite Gen X.
This very unique looking watch is fitted with a metallic grey skeleton dial with microblasted rhodium-plated 'Clous Pyramide' hour markers, satin-finished rhodium-plated hands with black luminescent material and a 12-hour chronograph and date function. The Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode Steel Limited Edition is definitely a very unique looking timepiece. The dial layout features a running seconds register at 9, a 12-hour chrono register at 6, a 30-minute chrono register at 3 and a date aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock, all very visually appealing thanks to its silver outlines and its 80s punk nailed shaped hour markers.
The bezel, which happens to be one of our favorite elements in this watch, is secured with 6 H-shaped black PVD titanium screws and finished just like the case to bring out the irreverent shapes of its 'Clous Pyramide' top in full glory. Matching steel chrono pushers with black rubber inserts and the unmistakeable Hublot bezel lugs at 3 and 9 o'clock —made of a black composite resin that is very hard and shock-resistant— are also present.
To round out the very Depeche Mode post-modern 80s look of this timepiece, the watch features a light grey tone-on-tone calfskin strap with thermo-moulded nail shapes —'Clous Pyramide'. The strap is very nicely finished, somewhat shinny and quite comfortable. The look of the strap is definitely very 80s and a perfect match to those old Dr. Martens you have kept in your closet for decades. The strap is fitted with the traditional deployant buckle in stainless steel with rectangular Hublot signed clasp.
The Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode Steel Limited Edition is powered by the automatic calibre HUB1240 UNICO Flyback Chronograph composed of 330 parts, 38 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 72 hours when fully wound while oscillating at a frequency of 28,800 vhp —4 Hz. The display case back is decorated with the Depeche Mode Charity: Water logo but still allows for full view of the movement via its sapphire crystal.
On the wrist, the Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode Steel Limited Edition ref. 311.SX.8010.VR.DPM14 wears true to its size and quite comfortably. Due to its multi-layer case construction, the watch wears slightly high on the wrist. The Depeche Mode limited edition is a watch that is better paired with some old faded ripped jeans with matching Dr. Martens in grey and a vintage 'Personal Jesus' Depeche Mode t-shirt.
Sticker Price $19,400 USD. For more info on Hublot click here.
