Having made a huge investment in the industrialisation of sapphire (transparent, black, yellow, blue and red) and given the impossibility of offering an emerald green in this material, Hublot has now explored new avenues.
Today, the brand is able to take a new approach to the ultra-technical and contemporary design of the MP-11 model 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 (as in Sapphire Aluminium oXyde and rare Earth Mineral) combines peerless resistance with a brilliance that comes close to that of a diamond.
In order to obtain this unparalleled shade of green, transparency and radiance, the Hublot manufacture mixed aluminium oxide, the basic component of sapphire, with rare-earth elements like thulium and holmium as well as chromium. The resulting material is both 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 microblasted black titanium screws, as well as to the black crown that combines titanium with rubber inserts.
Calibre HUB9011
With an innovative chassis, an exceptional motor: in the heart of this Big Bang MP-11 beats a manual-winding skeleton manufacture calibre, fitted with a two-week power reserve. 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 of 10.92 mm.
As an additional challenge, to enable the transmission of 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 to 2 o’clock.
The Hublot HUB9011 calibre, 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.
20 pieces only
The Big Bang MP-11 in 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 and is produced in a limited run of 20 pieces. Its price: 120,000 CHF
