Novak Djokovic has been a Hublot ambassador since 2021, and the Serbian tennis star has skilled large success since signing with the Swiss luxurious model — which implies that he has additionally steadily been noticed carrying numerous Hublot watches whereas holding (and infrequently kissing) his trophies. Simply as you’ll count on, Djokovic has worn quite a lot of fashions from Hublot’s catalog all through the final a number of years; nonetheless, for the model’s newest launch of 2024, Hublot has given the tennis celebrity his personal signature watch. Created to be as light-weight as potential whereas incorporating an revolutionary sustainable materials, the brand new Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic (ref. 441.QKB.5120.NR.DJO24) weighs lower than a tennis ball, and it contains a distinctive skeletonized case produced from rackets and shirts that have been utilized by Djokovic himself.
Novak Djokovic began his skilled profession again in 2003 and the size of Djokovic’s Wikipedia web page alone is a testomony to the outstanding quantity of success that he has had inside the sport. Earlier than signing with Hublot in 2021, Djokovic was a Seiko model ambassador, and the athlete’s earlier horological partnership resulted in a number of completely different signature fashions, such because the Seiko Premier Kinetic Perpetual Novak Djokovic Special Edition that we lined again in 2017. Final yr in 2023, Djokovic claimed his twenty fourth Grand Slam title, making him the game’s all-time report holder for many Grand Slam wins, and when he held up (and kissed) the trophy after his victory on the US Open, he was carrying the Hublot Big Bang Unico Yellow Magic. To create the brand new Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic watch, the Swiss producer began with the inspiration of its fashionable Huge Bang Unico after which modified the mannequin to make it as light-weight and personally linked to the tennis star as potential.
Whereas sure elements akin to crown, caseback, and pushers are crafted from aluminum, the remainder of the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic’s case is produced from a novel composite materials that comes with 25 HEAD rackets and 32 Lacoste polo shirts (17 darkish blue and 15 gentle blue) that have been utilized by Djokovic throughout his record-setting 2023 season. The recycled rackets and shirts have been damaged down and mixed with quartz powder and glass fibers earlier than being set right into a bio-sourced epoxy resin that serves as a binding matrix. The ensuing composite is each robust and light-weight, with an uneven camouflage sample consisting of black carbon and blue textile fibers. Measuring 42mm in diameter by 14.5mm thick, the case of the Bang Unico Novak Djokovic seems in the identical general form because the model’s different Huge Bang fashions, though its lugs and facet sections have been skeletonized to additional lower the general weight of the watch.
Water resistance for the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is available in at a strong 100 meters; nonetheless, somewhat than that includes a sapphire crystal (like nearly all different Hublot fashions), the brand new light-weight chronograph watch makes use of tempered Gorilla Glass, which is twice as gentle as sapphire, though it isn’t fairly as exhausting or scratch resistant. Gorilla Glass can steadily be discovered on premium electronics (akin to smartphone screens), and whereas it’s extra inclined to abrasions than sapphire, it’s usually thought of to be a bit extra resilient to impacts. That stated, using Gorilla Glass on the Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is all about slicing down on weight, and the cumulative results of the model’s efforts have resulted in a complete package deal of simply 49.5 grams, which even contains probably the most minimalist choice amongst its three straps. At lower than the load of a tennis ball, the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is considerably lighter than a traditional Huge Bang chronograph, though its revolutionary case supplies are solely partially liable for its vital weight discount.
Identical to different Huge Bang Unico fashions, the brand new Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is powered by the model’s manufacture Caliber HUB1280 automated flyback chronograph motion, which runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with an influence reserve of roughly 72 hours. Nevertheless, somewhat than having plated brass structural elements like the usual model of this caliber, the Cal. HUB1280 fitted to the Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic makes use of aluminum for its plates and bridges, which has been anodized both gentle blue or grey to match the hues of the case. Whereas the 43-jewel caliber nonetheless consists of 354 particular person elements and presents each a date show and a 60-minute flyback chronograph, its use of aluminum as an alternative of brass leads to a 27% discount in weight in comparison with the usual model of the HUB1280 Unico motion.
Whereas the clear skeletonized dial of the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic watch follows the identical basic design as different Huge Bang chronographs, the counterweight for its central chronograph seconds hand seems within the form of Djokovic’s brand (somewhat than Hublot’s brand), and the fingers, hour markers, and registers are all fully skeletonized to create a extra technical and mechanically-focused aesthetic. In that very same spirit, the Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic additionally receives a customized rotor, which has been skeletonized to include the well-known tennis participant’s brand. Moreover, delicate tennis-themed design particulars will be discovered all through the remainder of the watch, and together with having neon inexperienced tennis-ball-colored accents on its dial and chronograph pusher, the bezel screws have a domed profile with a curved line working down their facilities to reflect the looks of tennis balls.
Just like different Huge Bang fashions, the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic options the model’s One Click on quick-release system, which permits customers to simply swap straps by urgent the 2 trapezoid-shaped buttons positioned on the highest surfaces of its lugs, and included with the watch are 4 completely different straps. The primary choice is a Lacoste tennis wristband that connects to the case utilizing the One Click on system, whereas the second is an ultra-minimalist blue elastic strap that’s the most light-weight choice among the many quartet. The third strap is one among Hublot’s Velcro cloth straps with an anodized aluminum buckle loop in the identical pale blue colour because the case, and the fourth and ultimate strap is produced from white rubber with a deployant-style clasp crafted from titanium. Lastly, housing the watch and its 4 straps is a particular racket-inspired skeletonized wood field produced from sustainable oak and distinctive to this limited-edition collaboration mannequin.
Provided that the case of the watch is produced from the well-known tennis star’s game-used rackets and polo shirts, the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic (ref. 441.QKB.5120.NR.DJO24) was destined to be produced in a finite amount, and the mannequin can be a restricted version of 100 items with an official retail value of $52,700 USD. Every watch can have its restricted version quantity engraved on its caseback, and all 100 examples will include a Lacoste wristband and polo shirt which have been autographed by Novak Djokovic. Whereas most of Hublot’s fashions can be removed from splendid to put on whereas enjoying a critical tennis match (not to mention at knowledgeable degree), the light-weight design and sport-specific straps of this newest restricted version make it a watch that I might simply see the tennis star carrying throughout matches, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if Djokovic will begin sporting a Hublot each on the court docket and the rostrum. For extra data on the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Novak Djokovic, please go to the brand’s website.
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