HUBLOT’s Next: Emerald Green, A New Material
Hublot has taken a new approach to the ultra-technical and contemporary design of the MP-11model by shaping its case in an innovative material never before used in watchmaking. Endowed with a deep green that can compete with the finest emeralds, SAXEM combines peerless resistance with a brilliance that comes close to that of a diamond. Within this fully transparent case beats a manual-winding manufacture calibre with an exceptional 14-day power reserve ensured by seven barrels that can be seen from the dial side.
Having made a huge investment in the industrialization of sapphire—the most difficult material to produce—in several colours (transparent, black, yellow, blue and red),to have the quantity necessary to create its models, and given the impossibility of offering an emerald green in this material, Hublot has now explored new avenues.
Hublot reaffirms its place as a leader of innovation by making its MP-11—after 3Dcarbon and transparent sapphire—in a high-tech material that has never been used for a watch case, named: SAXEM, as in Sapphire Aluminum Oxide and rare Earth Mineral. In order to obtain this unparalleled shade of green, transparency and radiance, the Hublot manufacture–an expert in the concept of fusion–mixed aluminium oxide, the basic component of sapphire, with rare-earth elements like thulium and holmium as well as chromium. The resulting material is harder than emerald (which is too soft to be machined) and endowed with a brilliance that is greater than that of sapphire. It has other advantages too: the absence of tension within the matter ensures greater stability in terms of shaping, whereas the cubic crystalline structure guarantees the same shade and intensity of colour, regardless of the angle from which you look at the case.
The entirely polished green SAXEM thus provides a characterful contrast to the bezel’s six H-shaped polished and micro-blasted black titanium screws, as well as to the black crown that combines titanium with rubber inserts. With an innovative chassis and an exceptional motor: there is a manual-winding skeleton manufacture calibre, fitted with an outstanding two-week power reserve, beating in the heart of this Big Bang MP-11.
Hublot has accomplished this feat thanks to original and spectacular movement architecture that integrates seven barrels connected in series, all with a very reasonable thickness of10.92 mm. As an additional challenge, to enable the transmission of the energy between the horizontal axis of the barrels and the vertical train steering the hours and minutes display, the creators used a system that is very rare in watchmaking: a 90-degree intermediate wheel by way of an “endless screw”-type helical gear wheel.
To ensure a good aesthetic balance with this helical gear visible at 10 o’clock, the anthracite ruthenium balance has been moved to the dial side in a position symmetrical to2o’clock. The Hublot HUB9011calibre, comprising 270 components, also stands out thanks to its patented index-assembly system, its silicon escapement and its black bars and plate. The power reserve is directly displayed on a cylinder placed to the left of the seven barrels, facing the ‘DAY POWER RESERVE’ mention inscribed on the sapphire glass. The readability of the auxiliary hours/minutes dial is reinforced by hands and indexes highlighted in green luminescent plating.
The sapphire glass with anti-reflective treatment and the bezel in green SAXEM stand out by their bulge, which embraces the shape of the cylindrical barrels—a feat of engineering that creates a magnifying effect on the power reserve indicator. A limited run of 20pieces TheBig Bang MP-11in green SAXEM is wound up manually via the large fluted crown fitted with an “endless screw”-type relief reminiscent of the helical gear or with the help of a Torx-stamped electric pen inspired by motor racing. It comes with a black rubber strap whose oblique lines echo the crown design.