Hublot Drops $295,000 USD Big Bang Integral Cathedral Minute Repeater

Source:  Images and content by James Buttery @ Hypebeast.  See the original article here - https://hypebeast.com/2022/4/hublot-295000-usd-worlds-first-ceramic-big-bang-integral-cathedral-minute-repeater

Hublot has created a pair of monochrome haute horology limited editions – the world’s first minute repeater encased in ceramic.

The Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Cathedral Minute Repeater is the first full ceramic minute repeater. The watch not only manages a level of water resistance despite its external slider but also achieves a “clear and powerful sound” from its ceramic case. Both factors are complicated by the Big Bang Integral’s complex case design and the difficulty in machining ceramic.

The 43mm watch – available as a limited edition with 12 pieces in black ceramic and six pieces in white ceramic – also represents the first tourbillon in the collection and the first time black ceramic has been used for the design. Inside, the manually wound MHUB801 calibre offers 80 hours of power reserve.

“Being the first, different and unique has never been truer than for this Big Bang Integral Minute Repeater Ceramic,” says Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO. “The first ceramic minute repeater in the world, the first Integral Big Bang in black ceramic, the first with a tourbillon: Hublot is pushing the limits of fine watchmaking far, very far. But as always, we do not see it as a zenith: it is a milestone which, in turn, will open up new horizons leading us to other horological explorations.”

The Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Cathedral Minute Repeater is available exclusively in Japan via Hublot, priced $295,000 USD.

In other watch news, HUF and Seiko collaborate for the first time.