Berluti and Hublot collaborate on the Big Bang Unico Berluti Aluminio, a watch that only gets better with time.
The fall/winter 2021 collection by Berluti.
The Big Bang Unico Berluti Aluminio by Hublot
“This new Big Bang Unico Berluti Aluminio isn’t quite what people were expecting—so, of course, that’s why we made it. In an urban style, it reflects the smooth, satin tones of the concrete that adorns the greatest cities. Understated but technical, monochrome but packed with nuance, it explores some very minimalist creative ground that we are not used to traveling. A piece that many will find surprising.” –Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO, Hublot
In the parallel worlds of fashion and watchmaking, interest in historical, handmade craft and artisan savoir-faire has surged. Bespoke materials, fine workmanship and classical techniques now hold enormous appeal when set against our fast-paced, digital lives.
While fashion trends may come and go, the house of Berluti maintains an over-100-year legacy, redefining its aesthetic with each new generation. What Alessandro Berluti created in 1865 was carefully passed on to his descendants. Now Berluti has evolved into one of the most famous men’s fashion houses in Paris.
Best known for its fine leather goods and unique patinas, Berluti presents a look that’s unmistakable. After five years of collaboration, Berluti and Hublot have teamed up once again to conceive a new Big Bang Unico Berluti Aluminio that combines the elegance of the prestigious leather goods house with the groundbreaking technical know-how of the Swiss watchmaker.
Berluti is famous for treating leather with various organic methods, bringing out layers of unexpected color and depth. While the watch is constructed from satin-finished and polished titanium, “Aluminio” in the name refers to the unique grayish silver patina of the leather used throughout. The Venezia leather incorporates into the watch in surprising ways, set within the titanium bezel, sealed between two pieces of sapphire glass and stretched across the dial. And, of course, leather is used for the strap with its deployant buckle clasp.
Visible through cutouts on the dial, Hublot’s famous Unico movement can be admired: a self-winding flyback chronograph with three full days of power reserve. Limited to 100 pieces, this combination of horlogerie with high fashion delivers an exceptional result from these two legendary maisons working in collaboration.
The exposed leather of the bezel and strap are designed to age beautifully, each taking on a similarly burnished patina over time. The indices and “Swiss Made” appear in relief on the inner patinated leather dial, adding to the multidimensional appearance.
“This Big Bang Unico Berluti Aluminio is a new expression of our collaboration with Hublot,” says the House of Berluti. “Working in monochrome is a very demanding exercise in patina, finish and play of light to give the watch its volume.”
It has been reported that Berluti is working on a collection of classics with smaller specialized “drops” appearing throughout the year, keeping loyal clients in suspense. With the reveal of this fifth Hublot Big Bang collaboration, fans of Berluti will undoubtedly snap up this limited edition. Back in the ’60s, Talbinio Berluti was quoted as saying, “The spirit of the house lies in the craftsman’s respect and the artist’s disobedience.” This statement remains true to this day, and there is no doubt rule breaker Hublot would agree.
