Fergus Nash
The Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin finds use for recycled aluminium and coffee grounds from Nespresso capsules.You can even see flecks of coffee running throughout the rubber strap.The Hublot Greenbox is also being introduced, which will house all Hublot's future collections.Recycled materials have been appearing more and more in Swiss luxury catalogues lately, and projects like #tide have been making it incredibly easy for brands to incorporate things like recycled ocean plastic into their collections. Hublot though, don't like to take the easy options. With their Art of Fusion mission to create new and innovative materials, whether it be machined sapphire or bright ceramics, they're well placed to team up with another Swiss brand for innovation. The Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin is an unforeseen collaboration that's truly green by colour and by nature.With over a year of research and development, Hublot and Nescafe created the Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin with as many recycled materials as possible. That isn't limited to just the aluminium from used coffee capsules, but also the coffee grounds themselves. The case is made from recycled aluminium, 28% of which has been sourced from Nespresso capsules, and then given a bright green anodisation. The result is a lightweight case with a distinct shade of Hulk, and the vertical brushing on the bezel has been brought out nicely. The coffee grounds come into play from the two included straps, which can be easily swapped at whim thanks to Hublot's One Click system. SingTex are another one of Nespresso's partners, who have provided the fabric for the strap made of 5% coffee grounds and 95% recycled polyester. The rubber strap displays much more evidence of its origins though, with the 4.1% grounds being visible as dark flecks throughout the case-matching green rubber.Besides the materials themselves, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin is a great watch in its own right. The continuity of the green throughout the strap, case, and dial makes for a wonderful ode to the colour, and you won't be left wanting for any degree of expression. The skeletonised dial with its military-like stencil numerals adds a great industrial element, matching the almost brutalist style of the case design. The 42mm case with a 14.5mm thickness rounds out the wrist presence without feeling too titanic, and its 100m water resistant for peace of mind while swimming. From behind the watch as well as the front, you can get a view of the HUB1280 Unico movement through a sapphire display caseback. It's an automatic flyback chronograph with a smooth 4Hz sweep, and a generous power reserve of 72 hours.Another big first for the Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin will actually affect all Hublot watches going forward, and that's the introduction of a new watch box. The Hublot Greenbox is made entirely of oak, even including the carved hinges that means its origins are traceable and sustainable. In fact, 98% of the removable interior is made from recycled and reusable materials, so you don't have to feel guilty about throwing it all out and reusing the box should you want to. For this edition, both the Hublot and Nespresso logos have been made using coffee grounds.The Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin pricing and availability:The Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin is a limited edition of 200 pieces, and is now available from their website. Price: AU$33,600 / CHF22,900BrandHublotModelBig Bang Unico Nespresso OriginCase Dimensions42mm x 14.5mmCase MaterialRecycled aluminiumWater Resistance100mCrystal(s)SapphireDialGreen skeletonisedLug WidthIntegratedStrapRecycled fabric with polyester and coffee grounds / Recycled rubber with coffee groundsMovementHUB1280 UnicoPower Reserve72 hoursAvailabilityLimited to 200 piecesPriceAU$33,600 / CHF22,900
14.05.23