This Icy Cold Chronograph Has Convinced Me That I Need a Winter Watch

Honestly, I’ll take any excuse to buy a new watch.

Side view of a transparent watch case with visible internal blue components and white straps.Hublot

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Less than two weeks ago, I had a bit of fun at Hublot’s expense over the brand releasing a very summery version of its Big Bang Unico chronograph in November, following up the watch’s official summer version launched back in June.

Well, as it turns out, Hublot is getting the last laugh, as the brand has now unveiled not one but two winter-coded limited editions of the Big Bang Unico that are arriving just in time to brighten the colder months.

Two luxury wristwatches with transparent and silver cases, visible gears, and grey straps against a blue icy background.
Hublot is ready for winter with a pair of frozen-over Big Bangs.
Hublot

Cold as ice

What exactly is a winter watch? It depends on whom you ask, I guess. Some certainly prefer “warmer” watches during the cold season — think warm tones like gold and cozy brown leather straps. Hublot takes a more literal approach, however, designing its winter watches around the themes of snow and ice and creating something that wouldn’t look out of place as part of a Snowtrooper’s kit on Hoth.

I prefer this approach, because while the watches may be on the nose with their theming, they are just too cool (pun very much intended). And while Hublot has made several skiing-themed watches before, this marks the first time the brand has created winter watches not tied to any sport or organization.

The new Big Bang Unico Winter comes in two similar but distinct versions. The first features a 42mm case made of crystal-clear sapphire, giving the illusion that it’s been carved from a solid block of ice. It’s paired with a skeletonized dial that’s been finished in “glacier blue,” with white used for the hands and applied numerals.

Transparent Hublot wristwatch with visible blue gears and white numerals on a light gray strap.
I prefer my winter watches to look like they would melt if left in the sun.
Hublot

The watch is paired with two calfskin straps lined with white rubber: one white and one ice blue. Changing the straps is as easy as it gets, thanks to Hublot’s One-Click strap-change system, which, if you ask me, is the simplest to use in the industry.

Powering the watch, as expected, is the latest version of Hublot’s excellent in-house Unico chronograph movement, Calibre HUB1280. It’s an automatic flyback chronograph with a three-day power reserve and is loaded with unique features, including a front-facing column wheel, proprietary anti-shock systems, a modular silicon escapement, dual oscillating horizontal clutches and more.

Making this version of the movement extra special is the tungsten rotor, which has been crafted in the shape of a snowflake. Some will undoubtedly find this cheesy, but I think it’s fun as hell. I love it.

Transparent watch case back showing silver snowflake-shaped rotor and visible blue mechanical movement inside.
If you don’t love this snowflake-shaped rotor, then I don’t know what to tell you.
Hublot

In addition to the sapphire watch, there is a second, nearly identical version of the Big Bang Unico Winter. This one is the same size but swaps out the sapphire case for one in microblasted titanium, while the bezel is in snow-white ceramic. The dial, straps, movement and snowflake rotor are all identical to the sapphire, with the only other difference between the watches being their water-resistance rating.

The sapphire version is rated to 50m, while the titanium doubles that with a 100m depth rating. So if you’re going to be playing in the snow, the titanium version is the safer option, though both should be just fine with getting wet.

Silver Hublot wristwatch with a blue skeleton dial and white ceramic bezel on a light gray strap.
Outside of the different case and bezel materials, the Big Bang Unico Winter Titanium Ceramic has a higher depth rating.
Hublot

Pricing and availability

Hublot haters be damend, the Big Bang Unico is a cool watch, and the Winter Sapphire version might just be the coolest version of it yet. The theming is fun without going too overboard (note how there are no obvious winter references on the dial), it looks gorgeous, and it might be the best use case I’ve seen for a full sapphire case.

The titanium ceramic version, however, is a little “meh” for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice watch, but I think the wintry theme gets lost a bit with the titanium case. I would’ve much preferred to see Hublot really commit here and go with a full white ceramic case, essentially giving us an “ice” version and a “snow version.”

One benefit of going with titanium, however, is it does keep costs down — for Hublot, anyway. The Big Bang Unico Winter Titanium Ceramic is limited to 200 pieces and priced at $26,300, while the Big Bang Unico Winter Sapphire is more than three times as expensive at $80,500 and is limited to just 30 pieces.

Transparent Hublot wristwatch with light blue skeleton dial and light gray strap with blue stitching.Hublot

Hublot Big Bang Unico Winter Sapphire

Specs

Case Size 42mm
Movement Hublot Cal. HUB1280 automatic chronograph
Water Resistance 50m
Silver Hublot chronograph watch with light blue skeleton dial and light gray strap with blue stitching.Hublot

Hublot Big Bang Unico Winter Titanium Ceramic

Specs

Case Size 42mm
Movement Hublot Cal. HUB1280 automatic chronograph
Water Resistance 100m

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