Hands-On: Hublot Big Bang Integrated Ceramic Bracelet Chronograph Watches In Four Colors For 2022
This slew of four Hublot Big Bang Integrated watches is just charming to look at and wear in a way that makes them feel very much like an interesting combination of an authentic luxury item and a colorful well-designed toy. In fact, during all of 2022, Hublot probably released the most spirited and prolific number of high-end colorful watches, including various rainbow models and a purple aluminum Big Bang UNICO. These four colorful limited-edition ceramic Big Bang Integrated watches are perfect examples of not just highly colorful timepieces, but ones that you can really see wearing on a regular basis.
The story here begins a few years ago, in 2020, when Hublot originally debuted the Big Bang Integral, which combined a 42mm-wide version of the Big Bang UNICO with a fully integrated bracelet. This started with metal but quickly included ceramic when, in 2021, Hublot debuted the Big Bang Integral Ceramic. The current releases are mostly just new ceramic colors, but they are particularly handsome and very fun. We also see a move away from the “Hublot Big Bang Integral” name to the “Hublot Big Bang Integrated” title for this collection. The new colors for the watch include two more blues (added to two existing blues): a new light sky blue and a darker indigo blue. The other two new colors are jungle green and sand beige. Each of these tones is not only quite hip right now, but actually very well-suited to being matched with a host of fashion style choices and complementary colors.
The 42mm-wide size is a great size for a Big Bang — a bit under the more common 45mm-wide size of most of the larger Big Bang UNICO watches (though a 42mm Big Bang UNICO is also available). The case is adapted a bit in order to work with an integrated bracelet and is produced from mostly ceramic with titanium parts, such as screws and some of the more delicate structures like the lugs and the pushers. The ceramic material will, of course, be highly scratch resistant, and the colors will never fade over time. The Big Bang Integrated Ceramic case is water resistant to 100 meters and has a sapphire crystal over the dial and caseback.
Aside from the integrated bracelet, there is little about this version of the Big Bang that makes it materially different from the rest of the larger Big Bang UNICO family. Accordingly, these watches each contain in-house Hublot caliber HUB1280 UNICO automatic chronograph movements. These operate at 4Hz with 72 hours of power reserve and include the time, date, and 60-minute flyback chronograph complication. In addition to being able to view the movement through the rear of the watch, much of the exposed dial is dedicated to a view of the movement including the date wheel and column transmission system for the chronograph.
The matching ceramic bracelets are three-link designs with angular shapes that prevent them from looking too flat on the wrist. Even though the ceramic case and bracelet are done with a brushed finishing, just given the nature of ceramic, they do shine a little bit. This is probably where people will again suggest that these watches look like they are plastic. Of course, it is not challenging to come to this conclusion when viewing images of the Big Bang Integrated Ceramic, but in terms of the weight of the watch and how the material feels (let alone ages), there is very little comparison to plastic, given the many benefits of zirconium dioxide ceramic.
While these Hublot Big Bang Integrated Ceramic watches are not budget-minded, they are very fun, practical to wear, and the kind of timepiece you can return to for many years. For those reasons, the aBlogtoWatch team decided that they were worth inclusion on our list of top timepieces from the Watches & Wonders 2022 show. What’s more fun for those who buy these watches is deciding what looks to pair them with. Each of these Big Bang Integrated Ceramic watches for 2022 is part of a limited edition of 250 pieces and includes the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Ceramic sand beige (ref. 451.CZ.4620.CZ), the sky blue (ref. 451.EX.5129.EX), the indigo blue (ref. 451.EX.5210.EX), and the jungle green (ref. 451.GX.5220.GX). Price for each is $24,100 USD. Learn more at the Hublot watches website here.
