This year is The Year of the Snake and Hublot is once again celebrating the Chinese New Year with the limited edition Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake chronograph. The snake holds a special place in the Chinese zodiac system and is associated with wisdom, charm and transformation.
Since 2016 Hublot has celebrated each Chinese New Year with an artfully rendered special edition of the Spirit of Big Bang. Every year the Swiss luxury watchmaker cleverly and creatively reinterprets these symbolic animals in a contemporary way to create something rather unique.
This year the new timepiece features an ornate rendition of the snake that extends from the dial to the case, even extending to the strap.
The signature open dial of the Spirit of Big Bang reveals the inner workings of the timepiece’s movement which is inhabited by a golden snake. The three-dimensional gold-plated snake is crafted with lifelike engraved details that have been created with impressive precision which can be credited to the latest advancements in laser technologies.
The 42mm black barrel-shaped ceramic case features Hublot’s patented One-Click strap changing mechanism and is water resistant to 100 metres. The screwed ceramic bezel is engraved to reveal a pattern of snake scales which also extends to the black velvet finished rubber strap that shimmers like a snake and is made from a single piece of rubber with an innovative embossing technique.
At the heart of the Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake is the Hublot automatic skeleton chronograph calibre HUB4700, which is a modern version of the historic and highly prized El Primero, considered to be the first Swiss high-frequency integrated chronograph calibre ever made.
The movement can be seen from both the open dial and sapphire display back and has a number of technical innovations and advancements over the 1969 original, including a low-friction silicon escape wheel.
The Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake is a limited edition of just 88 pieces and is available at Hublot boutiques and authorised retailers around the world, priced at £30,100. For more information please visit: www.hublot.com.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based travel and motoring journalist and editor, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photograph courtesy of Hublot
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