The old adage “less is more” clearly has never applied to Hublot as at LVMH Watch Week they absolutely spoiled us with new releases. There are some cool releases here, but others just make you shake your head and question, “Why!?” But that is par for the course with Hublot releases. 

Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon SAXEM

If you ever wanted a watch that resembled the colour of baby vomit, then this is the watch for you. While the end product may strain the eyes, as always with Hublot, the process they underwent to create this is impressive. Man-made sapphire is incredibly difficult to work with and colour. Each time they want to do a different shade, they have to start from scratch to create the perfect chemical components to achieve just the right shade. With that in mind, it’s hard to understand why Hublot created a colour that looks like it was left in the toilet. 

The “SAXEM” in the title refers to the mineral they used to colour this watch, Sapphire Aluminium oXide and rare Earth Mineral. They figured this out after three years of research. 

Powered by the in-house HUB6035 automatic calibre that features a micro-rotor managing a 72-hour power reserve. It’s pretty powerful, but you really have to get over the terrible colouring. 

Limited to just 50 pieces, these are retailing for $294,000 AUD, and yes, they’re still on a rubber strap for that price. 

Classic Fusion Original

The classic that led to the brand’s own name thanks to its porthole-like design (hublot means porthole in French) is making a return. Compared to what Hublot put out now, these are understated and that is a relief. This throwback might take the best parts of the vintage design, but it has also kept the worst parts of the era including a Sellita base movement, the MHUB1110. 

 The Classic Fusion comes in three sizes – 33mm, 38mm, and 42mm – much smaller than Hublot’s common 44mm selections. While the 38 and 42 are powered by the MHUB1110, the 33 has a quartz movement. There are also three colour options – titanium, “Black Magic” ceramic, and yellow gold. 

Depending on the size, the titanium variant prices range from $9,100 – $11,500 AUD. Yellow gold from $24,800 – $33,600 AUD. Black ceramic from $10,200 – $14,000 AUD. So yes, not to worry, these are still ridiculously expensive for what they are as is the Hublot way. 

Big Bang Unico Cheval Blanc Randheli/Big Bang One Click Cheval Blanc Randheli

Speaking of ugly watches, here are the Cheval Blanc Rendheli’s, made in partnership with LVMH’s Cheval Blanc hotel resort in the Maldives. There’s two of these eyesores, one a chronograph and openworked dial and the other Time and Date version with diamond indices.

The 42mm chronograph features the HUB1280 self-winding movement with a 72-hour power reserve while the smaller 39mm One Click uses the MHUB1710 movement made with a Zenith base with a 50-hour power reserve. 

Whoever signed off on that yellow bezel needs an eye test because while the chocolate brown dial is nice, the yellow is far too garish, but then again, this is Hublot.

These are exclusively available for purchase at Cheval Blanc Randheli with a limited run of 25 pieces priced at 22,500 CHF for the 42mm and 15,500 CHF for the 39mm. 

Big Bang Unico SORAI

Finally, something Hublot have released this week that isn’t an eyesore. This brightly coloured piece takes its name, SORAI, from the organisation Save Our Rhinos Africa India, in an effort to help rhino conservation with part of the proceeds going towards SORAI.  

The 44mm piece is encased in rhino grey ceramic with the familiar Big Bang Unico chrono configuration with nice added touches like the rhino on the 9 o’clock subdial. 

The colour is rendered to go from orange to purple, reminiscent of a sunset. This evokes the colour of the African landscape, but it may also be suggesting that the sun has almost set on the rhino. 

Powered by the column wheel flyback MHUB1280 chrono movement with a 72-hour power reserve, this watch also comes with two straps – grey fabric and rubber-fabric made to look like a camo-style sunset. 

These are available right now for $33,600 AUD and is limited to 100 pieces. 

Big Bang Integrated Time Only King Gold Rainbow/Big Bang Integrated King Gold Rainbow

Do you have poor taste? Do you like your watches wearing you and not the other way around? You’re in luck because Hublot have put out two King Gold Rainbow models, a Time Only and a flyback chronograph.  

Perhaps this is personal opinion, but a watch covered in rainbow gems has yet to look good. It doesn’t matter who has put them out, Audemars Piguet did a rainbow collection too and they were also awful to look at. 

Personal opinions aside, these are set with nearly 1,000 stones on each of them, including on the bracelets. These stones are set on King Gold, Hublot’s proprietary allow that adds platinum to 18k yellow gold to give it a warmer colour. 

The time only version sports the MHUB1710 with a 50-hour power reserve, while the chronograph is powered by the MHUB1280 with a 72-hour power reserve. 

These obviously will not come cheap with the Time Only retailing at $220,000 AUD and the chrono at $235,000 AUD. 

Big Bang One Click Sapphire Diamonds 39mm

Oh look, another Big Bang with diamonds on it and a sapphire case. Riveting. This 39mm watch might be the most boring thing Hublot released this week. 

A 39mm sapphire case with a skeletonised dial surrounded by 42 round diamonds and clear caseback in which to view the MHUB1710. 

Limited to 200 pieces that are retailing for $88,000 AUD. 

Classic Fusion Gold Crystal

If the regular Classic Fusion’s were too subtle for you, Hublot have ensured that there is a gold flaked version for you to sink even more money into. Is it unusual to see gold leaf on the dial like this? Sure. Does it make it worth double the price of a regular Classic Fusion? That’s up to you. 

The 42mm watch is powered by the HUB1110 automatic with 42-hour power reserve on a black alligator and rubber strap. 

These are available now for $29,400 AUD. 

Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve

Two new Spirit of Big Bangs have appeared, one in black and blue carbon composite, the other in purple sapphire. While tonneau-shaped cases are awesome, the Spirit of Big Bang has figured out how to ruin that too. 

Both are powered by the MHUB6020 tourbillon movement that offers a very impressive five-day power reserve. Both come with complementing rubber straps. 

The blue carbon model is going for $140,000 and the purple sapphire for $286,000 AUD each limited to 50 pieces. 

For more check out TAG Heuer’s LVMH Watch Week releases and Zenith’s.