Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon

The brand with the most explosive collection in the history of watches presents a loud and stunning model Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon. Supporting the brand’s preference to combine disparate materials in bold shapes, Hublot offered Chinese artist Chen Fenwan the Spirit of Big Bang as a blank canvas for her creativity. Using a thousand-year-old Chinese art form of paper cutting, Chen Fenwan’s original paper design has been interpreted into a layered dial and serpentine marquetry bracelet that come to life through the dynamic shapes of a dragon.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is marked by the year of the Dragon; more precisely, the year of the Wooden Dragon. Unlike the fire-breathing and destructive dragons of Western mythology, Chinese dragons were originally revered as imperial symbols and associated with wisdom, strength, prosperity, and immortality.

The 42 mm diameter titanium case of the Spirit of Big Bang became the basis for Chen Fenwan’s colorful and dynamic interpretation of lung. Retaining its signature features – 6 H-shaped screws on the bezel, rubber side bumpers and contrasting satin, polished and sandblasted finish – the 13.8mm thick case is combined with its curved ergonomic design.

The multi-layered sandwich dial is decorated with impressive flowing dragon shapes. Traditionally, lung embodies the features of nine different animals: the eyes of a shrimp, the horns of a deer, the mouth of a bull, the nose of a dog, the whiskers of a catfish, the mane of a lion, the tail of a snake, the tail of a fish and the claws of an eagle.

Simultaneously with the invention of paper, the art of papercutting originated in China about 2,000 years ago. And since 2024 is the year of the Wooden Dragon, choosing paper and the natural wood fibers it consists of was the right choice. Chen Fenwan is known for using the ancient Chinese art of papercutting in new, more modern ways.

Artfully integrating the components of the dial and mechanism into her composition, including gears and H-shaped screws that now form the dragon’s eyes and form part of its flowing mane, Chen’s vision is interpreted through five different layers of applications. The dragon’s head, made in bright pink, blue and matte gray colors, rises up with a three-dimensional relief.

The dragon’s snake-like tail is depicted on a black rubber strap with bright marquetry scales matching the scales on the dial. For the first time for Hublot, each dragon scale is hand–painted and then nanovolcanized on a strap, an operation that takes up to eight hours. To add a more restrained look, the watch comes with a second grey Velcro strap with a black ceramic clasp.
The movement of the watch, the HUB1710 automatic, is based on the Zenith Elite 670 Caliber. Reliable, modular and slim automatic calibre with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of 50 hours.

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon released in a limited edition of 88 copies

WATCH

HUB1710 automatic movement (Zenith Elite base, Caliber 670), 28,800 vibrations per hour / 4 Hz, 166 components, 27 stones, power reserve of 50 hours

HOUSING

Diameter 42 mm, thickness 13.8 mm, titanium, satin, sandblasted and polished, black rubber side bumpers, 100 m water resistant

DIAL

A multi-level dial based on a paper-cut work by Chinese artist Chen Fenwan depicting a dragon – five layers of pink, blue and matte gray appliques forming a dragon’s head, skeletonized hour and minute hands, a central second hand with a counterweight in the form of an H-logo.

STRAP

Black rubber strap with dragon scale inlay and titanium folding clasp, additional strap made of grey fabric with velcro closure and black ceramic clasp.

REFERENCE

646.NX.6600.RX.CHF2

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