Watch of the Week: Hublot Big Bang Unico Sang Bleu II

Hublot simply has a knack for partnerships. The brand is not afraid to share the spotlight with somebody else who contributes to a special watch. Interesting enough are these never people from the watch industry but outsiders, who made name and fame in a completely different field. Here also comes into play the other aspect what makes it that Hublot excels at watches created in a partnership; they go all in. Not just a different dial color, but a completely different watch, yet with a generous dose of the familiar Hublot DNA of course.

A great example of a successful collaboration is the new Unico Sang Bleu II. For this watch, Hublot teamed up again with tattoo-artist Maxime Buchi, whose tattoo studio Sang Bleu, located in London and Zurich, are among the most recognized in the world. In their first creation, they showed time in a very intricate way, as if the elaborate hands were part of an everchanging tattoo on the dial.  For the new version, they also integrated a chronograph function into the design.

The way that this is done is exceptional. Because the hands are much larger than they normally would be, yet completely skeletonized, they form a web that is constantly changing. In part, just because time passes, but the owners can add an extra element to this by simply starting the chronograph. What is perhaps the best part about this design is that all the functions can still be read with easy, so form and function are not at odds with each other.

The Big Bang Unico Sang Bleu II is offered in two varieties. The titanium version combines a brushed with a polished finish, which gives the watch a more industrial look. The one in King Gold has the same finish yet is much warmer, and also heavier due to the material it is crafted from. Both are limited editions, as Hublot will only make 200 pieces of the titanium version and 100 of the one in King Gold.

Again, Hublot treated the case as part of the design but even took this to the next level. It is made longer, and a portion of it now covers the black rubber strap. On the wrist, this results in quite a dynamic creation that combines great looks with superb wearing comfort. In that matter, it is indeed quite like a tattoo.