Hublot Big Bang Portocervo Men's Watch 301.PE.230.RW.114

Here we are, three and a half years since the Hublot manufacture opened at Nyon in Switzerland.
Presenting the BIG BANG UNICO!
Unveiled today, this new piece is the first in a new line of products designed to house all future incarnations of the UNICO movement.
The iconic design of the Big Bang has evolved to contain the UNICO, a column wheel chronograph movement with a dual horizontal coupling visible on the dial side, designed, developed and produced entirely within the Hublot manufacture workshops. The result, presented here in its 4 best-selling versions - will mark the start of a new line of Hublot products designed to complete the Big Bang, Classic Fusion, King Power and Masterpieces ranges.
The design of the Big Bang Unico features a powerful 45.5 mm diameter case for a stylish mechanical look, and a bezel secured by 6 H-shaped screws with a new, subtle and more technical design (the head of each screw is now in relief, allowing the application of alternating polished and matt finishes). A notable feature is the new design of the crown, which is screw-down with overmoulded rubber and decorated on the end with the famous H from the Hublot screw. For the very first time since the creation of the Big Bang in 2005, the push-buttons are round. Each one is protected by a push-button guard integrated in the middle and finished like an engine piston. The sharp angles and intelligent sandwich system have been retained in the case design, but the strap attachment has been significantly optimised: It features the now famous "One click" system which allows the wearer to switch between a wide choice of straps - each watch is supplied with a structured and ribbed natural rubber strap (also new) which perfectly matches the endpieces of the middle. Finally, the movement is revealed thanks to a skeleton dial featuring the famous indexes and Arabic numerals, redesigned to give them more volume (and hollowed out and filled with SuperLuminova™), as well as two counters "encircled" by a polished ring, one for the minutes positioned at 3 o'clock and the other at 9 o'clock for the small second; the date window is visible at 3 o'clock. The hands have also been reworked, facetted on two levels and filled with Superluminova™.

The UNICO manufacture movement is brand's signature chronograph movement. And that is why it was chosen. It has been entirely designed, developed, machined and assembled by micro-mechanics, engineers and watchmakers at Hublot. The movement is a flyback chronograph which can be reset at any time, and which is unique in the watchmaking industry, two push-buttons, with date indicator, and featuring a uniquely positioned mechanism with dual coupling and the famous "column wheel" visible on the dial side.
Its development required a completely original approach and thinking outside the box: For example, the hour counter is driven directly by the barrel, and there is no jumper in the chronograph mechanism. This simplification boosts reliability and robustness. Its pallet fork and escapement wheel are fixed to a removable platform and are made from silicon, whose lightness provides a guarantee of performance. Its construction, which incorporates just 330 components, has been simplified as much as possible in order to further increase robustness. This result is the fruit of continual adjustments made since 2009, the year it was launched, which have been carried out jointly by the technical office, the laboratory and the after-sales service in the manufacture. Its frequency of 4hz/28,800 vibrations per hour and its immaculate finish are also a guarantee of high chronometric quality. Finally, its automated production, which includes automation of the machining, stone fitting, oiling and numerous assembly operations also ensures consistent, controlled quality. Its power reserve is around 72 hours.
In short, the entire piece has been conceived and designed to reflect Hublot's pure DNA: sport, performance and technology. No useless gadgets. The design is stylish, practical and rational.