Hublot Presents Limited-Edition Big Bang Tourbillon With Creative Director Samuel Ross

Since 2020, Samuel Ross has been a Hublot ambassador and now brings his unique graphic language by way of limited-edition Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross.

Photo Credit: Hublot

Hublot has experienced a meteoric rise toward innovative watchmaking, due in part to its 40-year focus on the “Art of Fusion.” The brand has rewritten the rules of watchmaking by combining diametrically opposed materials. Hublot consistently pushes the boundaries of what is technically and aesthetically possible.

“Hublot Loves Art,” an initiative launched more than a decade ago, was introduced in order to satisfy the brand’s desire to work the most talented practitioners in alternate fields. Hublot has since collaborated with some of the most talented artists and designers of a generation. The most recent creator to take up this mantle is Samuel Ross.

Renaissance man, Samuel Ross, has experienced breakneck rise to prominence, not too different from that of Hublot’s trajectory. The 30-year-old describes himself as a creative director but has previously been labeled as a multi-disciplinary artist, filmmaker and fashion designer. Ross graduated from Leicester De Montfort University in 2012 with a first-class honors’ degree in graphic design and illustration. Since then, he has collaborated with brands and outlets along the lines of Nike, Oakley, Dr. Martens and Mackintosh. In 2015, Ross launched his own men’s luxury sportswear label, A-Cold-Wall*, and his own design studio, SR_A, in 2019.

“The youngest artist with whom we have ever worked, Samuel Ross’s 360-degree is unique and intelligent, incorporating the watch, packaging, communication and visual identity,” said Hublot CEO, Ricardo Guadalupe. “What is so special about this collaboration is the direct interaction between design and object, ideas and form. Samuel has pushed our team to work with new and innovative materials and shapes. It’s a really dynamic and fulfilling partnership.”

Photo Credit: Hublot

One year after winning Hublot’s prestigious Hublot Design prize, Ross was announced as an official brand ambassador in 2020. The occasion was marked by the unveiling of REFORM, a sculpture designed to encapsulate 40 years of Hublot.

The deceptively simple, industrial form of the 40cm high artwork has now been reinterpreted in the 45mm Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross – Ross’s first wristwatch collaboration with Hublot. Ross’s signature use of color, along with love of stark geometry and urban design, come together with the innovation and precision that prevail in both the work of Ross and Hublot.

The unique stylized hexagon case of the Big Bang is reflected in the titanium honeycomb mesh used on the sapphire dial case, case back and strap. A basic building block of nature, the hexagon is a robust and efficient shape that can be repeated without gaps or overlapping. Here, it becomes a visual symbol of the functionality of the watch – a key strand running through all of Ross’s designs.

“Hublot personifies velocity, precision, and exploration,” said Samuel Ross. “Pairing the unparalleled craft and expertise of Swiss watchmaking alongside a spirit of sharp, innovative thinking and design solutions, crystallized the cadence between Ricardo and me. Our goal is to create a universe that leverages the strengths of contemporary engineering, spatial design and digital. This is reflected in the focus on fine details, with striking, bold & unapologetic results. We see the future of luxury as a lateral experience, offering a multigenerational access point that enables luxury to engage global audiences.” 

Photo Credit: Hublot

Although this limited-edition Big Bang Tourbillon may be a wearable sculpture, Ross never lost sight of the need for it to be durable and ergonomic, the lightweight, open-worked titanium structure and malleable rubber strap ensuring its comfort on the wrist. A proponent of color theory, Ross has chosen orange – representing energy and optimism – for the strap and accents on the crown and tourbillon bridge and lateral bumpers that protect the case, a glowing contrast to the sober grey of the satin-finished case and bezel.

The 282-component, manufacture HUB6035 caliber within beats at 3 Hz and gives 72 hours of power reserve. Just 50 pieces will be produced, each one a piece of art that brings a new perspective and a new visual language to watchmaking. To celebrate the launch, Ross’s signature colors will envelop Hublot’s 5th Ave boutique in New York City. The takeover will be repeated in Hublot stores across the globe, bringing the Samuel Ross universe to the world of horology.

Photo Credit: Hublot