One look at Hublot’s Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon Saxem is enough to recognise that this is something rather special. With its translucent case in an immediately eye-catching shade of neon yellow, it looks like no watch you’ve ever seen. That’s because it represents a new frontier in horological materials, deploying a space-age alloy to achieve an intensity of colour never before applied to a luxury watch case.

Founded in 1980, Hublot’s reputation has been built as much on innovation as tradition. From the start, the company has pushed the boundaries of watchmaking, boldly combining gold with a rubber strap on its first timepiece. This commitment to constantly upping the horological ante led the brand to break new ground in 2019 when it sought out solutions from the world of space science for its Big Bang MP-11.
It took Hublot three years to perfect the colour of the new Yellow Neon Saxem. Photo: Hublot
That watch was made from Saxem, a material originally developed for use on satellites that also has applications in lasers. The so-called sapphire crystal that covers most high-end watches is actually a form of crystallised aluminium oxide – the material that sapphires are made from; Saxem, which stands for “sapphire aluminium oxide and rare earth mineral”, is based on the same oxide, combining it with rare earth elements like thulium, holmium and chromium for a material that is both more resistant and more brilliant than traditional sapphire. The Big Bang MP-11 came in an arresting emerald green colour and Hublot has spent three years to perfect the neon yellow of the new watch, so that it combines transparency and resistance.

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At the heart of the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon Saxem is the HUB6035 self-winding calibre, which offers a power reserve of 72 hours. The watch is entirely skeletonised, and the movement deploys a micro-rotor so that the back of the entire movement is visible. Pride of place on the dial is claimed by the tourbillon carriage, which appears to float at 6 o’clock. The watch is available in a limited edition of just 50 pieces.

The Integrated King Gold Rainbow is paved with more than 900 gemstones. Photo: Hublot

A rainbow of colours is represented on two other new additions to the Big Bang range. The Big Bang Integrated King Gold Rainbow and Big Bang Integrated Time Only King Gold Rainbow are fully paved across their cases, bezels and bracelets with gemstones of every colour of the spectrum, including ruby, amethyst, blue topaz and tsavorite, plus pink, orange, blue and yellow sapphires. The Integrated model features 174 gemstones, with another 768 on its bracelet, while the Time Only boasts 176 stones, and 748 on the bracelet.

The sunset shades of the latest Big Bang Unico Sorai recall the heightened danger rhinos face as night falls. Photo: Hublot

Their cases are made from Hublot’s very own King Gold, which includes platinum for a warmer hue, offset by stark black dials. The Integrated comes in a 42mm case and is equipped with a chronograph, while the Time Only is contained in a more compact 40mm case.

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The reverse of the 44mm case of the Big Bang Unico Sorai reveals the Unico self-winding movement. Photo: Hublot
Finally, the latest Big Bang Unico Sorai continues the brand’s support of Save Our Rhino Africa India, an organisation set up by Hublot ambassador and former international cricket star Kevin Pietersen to help keep rhinos safe from poachers.