No pair of words in motorsports carries the same evocative weight as Scuderia Ferrari. The only team to compete in every single Formula 1 Grand Prix since the sport's founding in 1950, Ferrari stands as the single most successful team in F1's history, winning 16 constructor's championships, 15 driver's championship titles, and 237 races in the past 70 years of competition. As Scuderia Ferrari celebrates its 1000th Grand Prix at the Tuscan Grand Prix on September 13, 2020, longtime brand partner Hublot has announced a pair of limited edition Big Bang chronograph models meant to capture both the past and present of this historic race team. The limited edition Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP series takes this traditionally avant-garde brand outside of its usual wheelhouse for an interesting exploration of its own design language.
While both versions of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP begin with the Big Bang's signature complex 45mm case architecture, the interpretations of this aggressive multifaceted shape are night and day. The first variant is meant to celebrate Ferrari's 70 year past in Formula 1 and aims to give the futuristic Hublot case a vintage inspired flair with a mirror polished white gold finish. While the idea of taking Hublot's style back to an era predating the brand itself is an interesting exercise, in images the solid polished surface appears to flatten out many of the dynamic angles that normally dominate the case profile. The long black rectangular pushers and matching oversized crown at 3 o'clock do break up this all-over finish somewhat, but the matte black surfaces shot through with hints of red do little to maintain the ?0s spirit inspiring the rest of this version.
Advertising MessageThe second variant of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP keeps more to Hublot's comfort zone as it seeks to capture the present and future of the Scuderia Ferrari team. The 45mm case shape is kept intact here, but is instead made of a striated matte carbon ceramic composite evoking the brake disc of a modern Formula 1 car. Compared to the polished white gold of its stablemate, this multi-shaded matte material looks on first inspection to be far more complementary to the Big Bang's aggressive angular geometry. The black pushers and crown are carried over from the other version as well but look far more at home here, leading to a more cohesive overall look. Both models feature a commemorative sapphire caseback with a printed ?000 GP?emblem and are rated to 100 meters of water resistance.
Although the two variants take dramatically different approaches to case finishing, both versions of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP use near identical dials. These sapphire dials follow the same formula as the limited edition Big Bang Unico Ferrari, with alpha hands, a mix of bold applied Arabic numerals and baton indices, and an oversized 60 minute subdial at 3 o'clock. For the white gold case version, these elements are given a high-polish rhodium finish, while the carbon ceramic variant opts for a more subdued black plated look for its dial elements. The obvious visual centerpiece is the ornate applied Ferrari prancing horse emblem at 6 o'clock, but the dial also includes a subtler nod to Scuderia Ferrari in the 3 o'clock date window. While vibrant Rosso Corsa red is undoubtedly the color most associated with Ferrari both on the track and on the road, the bright Giallo Fly yellow used for the date window is a close second with its own extensive legacy for Ferrari.
Both versions of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP use the in-house HUB1243 Unico automatic flyback chronograph movement. This movement has appeared in several Ferrari-themed Big Bang releases in the past several years and features a complex column wheel actuation system for the chronograph. The HUB1243 also boasts a robust 72 hour power reserve at a 28,800 bph beat rate.
Advertising MessageIn keeping with the dramatically different case finishes between the two models, each version of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP is also paired with a unique strap. For the white gold cased version, this takes the form of a sandy tan rubber lined suede strap in the same Pecari leather used for early Formula 1 driving gloves. The double contrast stitching in white adds a clean visual highlight here. For the carbon ceramic variant, Hublot uses a black rubber lined strap in the brand's proprietary SuperFabric woven material. The end result is a suitably high-tech, patterned look that evokes both woven carbon fiber and houndstooth print in images.
While far from the first Ferrari-flavored models in the Big Bang line, both varieties of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP stand as some of the most eye-catching and distinctive results of this long-standing brand partnership. Each variant of the limited edition Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP is limited to 20 units, and both versions will be available September 13, 2020 through authorized dealers at an MSRP of $52,600. For more information, please visit the brand's website.
HUBLOT CLASSIC FUSION RACING GREY 8156