One of the most anticipated watches of the year is finally here – the Unico All Black from Hublot. This watch is the follow up to the first Unico, which was released one year ago. All Black watches from this Swiss manufacturer have been always around and are all limited to a numbered series of 500 pieces. The Unico combines the timeless form of the Big Bang series with the expertise of Hublot’s workshops to create this fine model, which will undoubtedly make waves in the horological community.
Hublot has been loyal to its own concept of ‘Invisible Visibility’ and this is totally evident in the Unico All Black, which features a case diameter of 45.5mm. The bezel is secured using the iconic 6 ‘H’ shaped screws. The screw locked crown, which was redesigned last year, is over molded with black rubber and it features yet another H motif. The strap used on this model mirrors the original with its structured and ribbed aesthetic. Securing the watch to the wrist is a folding clasp. The strap is also interchangeable with the new ‘One Click’ technology.
The dial on this model is open worked to reveal the magnificent movement, which is equipped with both a column wheel and a double coupling clutch. Both of these features are visible and collude to produce one of the most accurate chronographs on the market today. Just like last year’s model, the chronograph features a Flyback function, which allows the wearer to time successive events without the need to stop before resetting the chronograph. This self-winding movement made completely in house boasts a power reserve of 72 hours. The balance alternates at a constant 28,800 VpH, ensuring that the precision of this watch is maintained.
The Arabic numeral and indexes, which form the hour markers have been redesigned to allow greater visibility of the movement. The hands are faceted on two levels and coated with black Super-LumiNova. The dial features two subdials at 3 and 9, representing the chronograph minutes and the true seconds respectively. At 4:30 is a very inconspicuous date display window. Despite this one design flaw, I think this watch is going to be a big player in the horological landscape over the next year.
