Introducing: The Re-Engineered 42mm Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 In Three Versions

Ever since the Big Bang Meca-10 came out in 2016, the watch has stood out thanks to its 10-day caliber with a Meccano-inspired architecture. This year, though the 10-day power reserve isn’t new, some other things are. The re-engineered Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 now measures 42mm in diameter and comes in three variations. You can choose between lustrous King Gold, technical titanium, and lightweight Frosted Carbon. Also, along with the new Big Bang Meca-10, the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Green SAXEM makes its way into the 2025 lineup.

The lack of a dial has always been one of the main attractions of the Meca-10. Inspired by Meccano-type construction systems, the caliber is as intriguing as it is creative and powerful. But Hublot thought it was time for an update. The basic concept of a ring-shaped mainplate attached to the bridges stayed the same. However, the downsizing of the case to 42mm in diameter meant the movement also had to become smaller. Spoiler alert: the Hublot watchmakers managed to make it happen.

The re-engineered Hublot Big Bang Meca-10

The in-house caliber HUB1205 forms the heart of the new 42mm Big Bang Meca-10 family. This 3Hz hand-wound movement consists of 264 components and has a power reserve of 240 hours thanks to two barrels — yes, that equals 10 days, and a digital display shows the power reserve as the number of days of autonomy remaining. The open-worked movement uses three linear bridges attached to the mainplate and features satin-brushed surfaces and hand-polished bevels.

The movement matches the colors of the three versions as well. After a galvanic treatment, the caliber’s color pairs perfectly with the cases’ 5N gold tones, metallic gray, and black shade.

A “very Meccano” movement

The way the digital power reserve works is “very Meccano” indeed. A linear gear engages a circular gear, moving in a straight line. It’s made of two superimposed disks rotating in opposite directions and connected by a spiral spring that coils in their center. The result is an easy-to-read differential display.

Hublot upgraded the manual winding system to guarantee perfect synchronization between the power reserve display and the optimal winding level of the mainsprings. The movement also features a hacking mechanism for precise setting down to the second. The lack of a dial means the balance wheel is entirely visible on the front of the movement. The regulating organ features a lubricant-free and paramagnetic silicon escape wheel.

Slimmed-down proportions

The 42 × 13.9mm case of the re-engineered Big Bang Meca-10 might be smaller than before, but the silhouette stayed the same. As you would expect from Hublot, titanium is the least exotic of the materials used to build the watch. King Gold is the most lavish option, and Frosted Carbon is the most distinct. The latter material makes its debut in the Big Bang and is matched to a black Velcro strap to complement the case’s lightweight yet rugged properties. Unlike layered carbon fiber sheets, Hublot’s Frosted Carbon has no fixed pattern, giving each piece a unique look like forged carbon. All three new 42mm Big Bang Meca-10 watches feature the “One Click” system, allowing easy strap swapping.

The new King Gold Big Bang Meca-10 ref. 444.OX.1180.RX costs €44,500 / US$42,700. The titanium ref. 444.NX.1170.RX has a price of €23,900 / US$23,000, and the Frosted Carbon ref. 444.QN.1170.NR costs €27,400 / US$23,500.

Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Green SAXEM — No, it’s not sapphire; it’s SAXEM

This is not the first time Hublot has used SAXEM, but the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Green SAXEM is new. Sapphire Aluminium oXide and rare Earth Mineral — or SAXEM for short — is a material related to sapphire, but it offers more luminous and chromatic possibilities, such as deep emerald green.

The Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Green SAXEM is a limited edition of 18 pieces, and it features a semitransparent emerald-green case with a 44mm diameter and 14.40mm thickness. It houses the MHUB6035 automatic tourbillon caliber, which features a 22K gold micro-rotor on the dial side. Winding the mainspring is a smooth and efficient affair because the tiny rotor turns on ceramic ball bearings. A micro-rotor needs all the help it can get to wind a barrel, and “the smoother, the better” is the motto that leads to a minimum chronometric power reserve of 72 hours. The swinging micro-rotor at 12 is balanced by the rotating 60-second tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The price of the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Green SAXEM is a hefty €241,000 / US$231,000.

So, which new Hublot creation do you prefer? Do you like the downsized Big Bang Meca-10 in steel, Frosted Carbon, or King Gold, or do you prefer the verdant Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Green SAXEM? As always, drop your thoughts in the comments below.