Hublot and Depeche Mode turn heads with this Spirit of Big Bang variant
We just can’t get enough of Hublot’s latest timepiece.
The Swiss watchmaker has joined forces with Depeche Mode to create a new riff on the Spirit of Big Bang. The new timepiece pays tribute to the British band’s latest album. Named after a Latin phrase meaning “be mindful of death,” Memento Mori is a melodious reminder to live fully in the present and value your time on Earth. The limited-edition watch echoes these sentiments, combining poignant motifs with haute horlogerie.
Titled simply the Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode, the all-black newcomer looks more Goth than New Wave. It features a 42 mm tonneau-shaped ceramic case and a matching ceramic bezel decorated with edgy pyramid studs. Underneath the sapphire, the black-plated dial is filled with small black ceramic spheres that symbolically flow back and forth as the wrist moves. The face is also adorned with the skull emblem from the video announcing the band’s return and an hourglass that symbolises the passage of time. The Hublot name sits up top, while a red “DM” sits at the bottom in honour of the synthpop outfit.
At the heart of the Big Bang, the HUB1710 calibre beats at a frequency of 4Hz and provides the watch with a 50-hour power reserve. The automatic movement is fully visible through the exhibition caseback, naturally. The reverse side is also emblazoned with the band’s name. To top it off, the black rubber strap sports the same pyramid studs as the bezel. The watch also comes with a recycled fabric strap if you prefer something a little more understated.
Formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980, Depeche Mode has released 15 studio albums, seven live albums, 10 compilation albums, 16 box sets, and 60 singles over the past 40-odd years. The New Wave outfit has been working with Hublot for quite a while, too. The duo first came together 14 years ago to raise public awareness and funds for several environmental and humanitarian causes. Since then, the partnership has been renewed with each of the band’s subsequent tours and has raised more than US$2.3 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Charity: Water. Hublot is also sponsoring the Memento Mori world tour.
“This is a big moment for the band going back on tour for the first time in five years and it’s incredibly meaningful to have such a great partner once again by our side,” bandmates Dave Gahan and Martin Gore said in a statement.
The Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode is priced at US$34,100. You can contact Hublot to reserve your piece.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA
