Hublot continues to prove itself as one of the most innovative names in horology, this time creating the first ever watch made of what it calls ‘SAXEM’ – meaning ‘Sapphire Aluminium o(X)ide and rare Earth Mineral.’
Founded in 1980, Hublot is never a brand to rest on its laurels, it is continuously striving to innovative the industry in some fashion. Whether that be crazily shaped watches like the Ferrari collection, pioneering use of sapphire as a case material, or using the same materials for its watches as scientists use for their satellites.
The latest Big Bang MP-11 in emerald green achieves its deep colour thanks to the combination of a variety of rarely-utilised materials. The watch is crafted not only from sapphire crystal, which is already unimaginably complex and time-consuming to shape, but also a mixture of rare-earth elements such as thulium, holmium and chromium.
Hublot explains its SAXEM material has a greater brilliance (brightness) than sapphire, as well as being easier to shape and better at showing off the intensity of the green colour at any viewing angle.
Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO, explains that: “With this new Big Bang MP-11, Hublot once more asserts its regal mastery of innovation, at both a technical level and in terms of aesthetics. By offering those that seek accomplishment a state-of-the-art material used in very high-tech applications, particularly in satellites, and by combining it with a manufacture movement with levels of performance that will go down in history, we are changing the face of our Art of Fusion.”
The green MP-11 builds on the existing selection of transparent Hublots, with pieces already coming in clear, black, yellow, blue and red. The brand assures this is the first time it has achieved a transparent green watch due to the difficulties of showcasing the colour within sapphire. Similarly, the new timepiece sits alongside other MP-11s which also use crazy materials such as carbon fibre.
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Beyond its ambitious material choice, the MP-11 collection is also characterised by its futuristic horological design. Where most high-end watches teeter around the 72-hour power reserve mark, the MP-11 has a 14-day power reserve, equal to 336 hours.
The Hublot HUB9011 calibre achieves this feat thanks to use of seven interconnected barrels along the movement. For reference, most watches have one barrel, these are responsible for housing the mainspring which provides power to the watch. Naturally, add in more barrels, you have more mainsprings and therefore more power in the watch. This power can be used to both increase a power reserve or to power more complex functions in a watch.
The watch shows all this off in a 45mm casing and a skeletonised dial allowing the wearer to see the hours and minutes, as well as the mechanism responsible for the two-week power supply. The watch is finished with touches of titanium and rubber, chiefly on the oversized crown and the screws of the case.
Limited to just 20 pieces, the green MP-11 clocks in at around US $127,000, presented on a sporty rubber strap.
