Hublot's Sang Bleu collection of Big Bang watches arose from a collaboration with tattoo artist Maxime Plescia-Büchi.
"As an ambassador, Maxime Plescia-Büchi perfectly incarnates Hublot’s willingness to merge the arts and bring together fundamentally contrasting worlds. Dualities, opposing forces that evolve into powerful synergies. This surprising and audacious collaboration takes the form of a glass and metal sculpture created by the artist. Singular shapes spatially transpose the inspirations born from the encounter between Maxime Plescia-Büchi and Hublot. "
I have little to no interest in tattoos or Mr Plescia-Büchi, but the moment I saw the Sang Bleu II it caught my eye and I began reading around the watch. Ultimately I found it to be a little over-designed and lacking in practicality, given the huge minute and hour hands cover up much of the complications throughout various points of the day. With all of that complexity the legibility is also basically zero and at some points during the day the design just looks like a mess. Shortly into my research I discovered the original Sang Bleu, which with just three Spirograph-shaped "hands" for minutes, hours and seconds, struck me as the far more elegant design. These retail for about £13k, and whilst I have several very costly gens, there is no way I'd consider dropping this sort of money on what is essentially a bit of a curio. I happened upon a replica of the watch on InTime and enquired with Ryan as to the availability of the "King Gold" edition. Sadly this was not available so I requested the Titanium and blue edition. I've never been a fan of Titanium as a jewellery material. It lacks lustre and also has a tendency to wear so light that it feels cheap.
On arrival any issues I might have had with the "feel" of the watch quickly evaporated. Despite being materially titanium, this is a large, heavy watch and wears with just the right degree of weight. I believe the steel and gold versions might even be too much for an avid gym-avoider like myself.
The quality of the replica is incredibly high. The lines, the parts and alignment are all first rate and the quality and lustre of the hands and dial is without flaw. Compared to the gen the webbing of the Spirograph hands is a little more rounded, but on the wrist this is utterly unnoticeable and the way the central second hand moves slowly rotates is completely entrancing. Flip the watch over and the quality and composition of the rotor is equally impressive. It is inconceivable you will ever meet anyone who has one of the 250 genuine versions of this watch in the world and there is no way anyone would ever call you out on it not looking right. For a rep the rotor is also very quiet and the power reserve is strong. I'd consider this watch to be a "super rep" or a "not worth buying in Gen", without a doubt. Materially it is an insanely close match of my real Hublot watch (right down to the hideously uncomfortable strap). No doubt some will hate the brashness of the design, coupled with the generally illegibility of this watch, but I don't care. This isn't a watch for butt-hurt purist nerds who only like sub 36mm 3 hand watches. Steak houses are not for vegetarians. I love this watch and I can stare at it for hours on end.
"As an ambassador, Maxime Plescia-Büchi perfectly incarnates Hublot’s willingness to merge the arts and bring together fundamentally contrasting worlds. Dualities, opposing forces that evolve into powerful synergies. This surprising and audacious collaboration takes the form of a glass and metal sculpture created by the artist. Singular shapes spatially transpose the inspirations born from the encounter between Maxime Plescia-Büchi and Hublot. "
I have little to no interest in tattoos or Mr Plescia-Büchi, but the moment I saw the Sang Bleu II it caught my eye and I began reading around the watch. Ultimately I found it to be a little over-designed and lacking in practicality, given the huge minute and hour hands cover up much of the complications throughout various points of the day. With all of that complexity the legibility is also basically zero and at some points during the day the design just looks like a mess. Shortly into my research I discovered the original Sang Bleu, which with just three Spirograph-shaped "hands" for minutes, hours and seconds, struck me as the far more elegant design. These retail for about £13k, and whilst I have several very costly gens, there is no way I'd consider dropping this sort of money on what is essentially a bit of a curio. I happened upon a replica of the watch on InTime and enquired with Ryan as to the availability of the "King Gold" edition. Sadly this was not available so I requested the Titanium and blue edition. I've never been a fan of Titanium as a jewellery material. It lacks lustre and also has a tendency to wear so light that it feels cheap.
On arrival any issues I might have had with the "feel" of the watch quickly evaporated. Despite being materially titanium, this is a large, heavy watch and wears with just the right degree of weight. I believe the steel and gold versions might even be too much for an avid gym-avoider like myself.
The quality of the replica is incredibly high. The lines, the parts and alignment are all first rate and the quality and lustre of the hands and dial is without flaw. Compared to the gen the webbing of the Spirograph hands is a little more rounded, but on the wrist this is utterly unnoticeable and the way the central second hand moves slowly rotates is completely entrancing. Flip the watch over and the quality and composition of the rotor is equally impressive. It is inconceivable you will ever meet anyone who has one of the 250 genuine versions of this watch in the world and there is no way anyone would ever call you out on it not looking right. For a rep the rotor is also very quiet and the power reserve is strong. I'd consider this watch to be a "super rep" or a "not worth buying in Gen", without a doubt. Materially it is an insanely close match of my real Hublot watch (right down to the hideously uncomfortable strap). No doubt some will hate the brashness of the design, coupled with the generally illegibility of this watch, but I don't care. This isn't a watch for butt-hurt purist nerds who only like sub 36mm 3 hand watches. Steak houses are not for vegetarians. I love this watch and I can stare at it for hours on end.