Design maverick Dr. Samuel Ross once again injects his flair for melding sculptural geometry and innovative materials in his latest collaboration with Hublot
A thinking man’s watch, anyone? Hublot once again partners with Dr. Samuel Ross, its kindred spirit and one of the most erudite artists of our time, to create the new Big Bang Tourbillon Carbon SR_A.
A thought-provoking timepiece, the Big Bang Tourbillon Carbon SR_A, which is limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, combines Hublot’s mechanical prowess with Ross’ knack for weaving unusual silhouettes, eye-catching colours, and utilitarian aesthetics.
This is the third time that Hublot has collaborated with the British artist, a mentee of the late Virgil Abloh, and the founder of cult fashion label A-COLD-WALL* and design atelier, SR_A (Samuel Ross & Associates).
The first and second models, the Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross from 2022, and Big Bang Tourbillon SR_A from 2023, captured the forward-thinking ethos of both parties. Ross’ signature industrial aesthetic and love for bold shapes and colours, coupled with Hublot’s trademark material experimentation and technical sophistication were on full display.
The latest model picks up where last year’s Big Bang Tourbillon SR_A left off. Unveiled at Miami Art Week in early December, the new variant features a similarly sized 44mm case crafted in micro-blasted titanium and frosted grey carbon.
The watch’s distinctive honeycomb pattern now extends from the inner lugs to the openworked movement, endowing the watch with a futuristic aesthetic that also feels organic. One also notices that the watch is dominated this time by shades of blue on the hands, rubber strap and crown accents—a departure from the bright orange and green of the first two models.
The only constant, though, is the watch’s engine. As with the two previous versions, the Big Bang Tourbillon Carbon SR_A by Samuel Ross is driven by the automatic calibre HUB6035. A state-of-the-art engine that performs as beautifully as it looks, the movement is made up of 264 parts, including a skeletonised tourbillon at 6 o’clock, and offers 72 hours of power reserve.
Ross explains that the collaboration with Hublot offers a chance to use the latest technologies and materials “to offer a contemporary vision of watchmaking that focuses on people”. “We are trying to create a design that speaks a universal language that is both elegant and simple to understand,” he says.
