SpotlightWhy The Hublot Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein Is The Chef’s Kiss

It was in 2004 that Hublot started their ‘The Art of Fusion’ range of mechanical watches combine art and horological innovations, along with a focus on material innovation. Around that timeline, a sprightly young chef Andreas Caminada—now known for his ‘restaurant empire’—opened his own restaurant Schloss Schauenstein—that extols Swiss hospitality, destination dining and local produce—at the medieval Schauenstein castle on a hill in one of the smallest towns in Switzerland called Fürstenau. Soon after, Hublot launched their Big Bang Unico All Black ceramic watch, which started the ‘black watch’ trend, where the dial, case, and strap are all in black. Hublot have since consistently unveiled ‘black watches’. The brand’s website coughs up a list of 199 timepieces—including the famous Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black and Square Black Unico All Black Diamonds. Made from titanium, ceramic or carbon, these watches, with highly resistant PVD or DLC coatings, sit quietly on the wrist like silent disruptors against flashier watches fashioned from gold or steel. Now, 20 years later, the Swiss chef and watchmakers have played ‘cook up’, by unveiling Hublot Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein on the castle restaurant’s 20th anniversary.

Black ‘Schloss Schauenstein’ Beauty

To match the black-themed Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein, the brand fashioned an advertising campaign, shot entirely as black-and-white photography to ring in the rich histories of both Swiss brands. The photographs encompass product shots, the profile shot of chef Andreas Caminada posing before his Schauenstein castle restaurant, or of the chef rustling his signature gourmet meals with the Hublot Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein on his wrist.

The 42mm case of the Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein is made from microblasted black ceramic, held in place by black plated, polished and microblasted titanium screws shaped as the Hublot ‘H’ logo, with matching black rubber crown and titanium pushers. Further, the satin-finished bezel features black rubber inserts that add depth to what would otherwise seem a monotonous curvature. This construction cradles a matt black dial, partially openworked, with the timekeeping elements outlined in a silvery tone. Like the ‘H’ on the background of the small seconds sub-dial at nine o’clock is a font that Caminada uses. Other soft contrasting elements include the satin-finished titanium hands showcasing the hour, minute and seconds (with the ‘H’ logo tip); outlines of the chubby Arabic hour markers with half of the ‘two’ and ‘four’ o’clock, and the entire ‘three’ o’clock eaten up by a chronograph counter that further houses a slim date window while exposing the entire calendar of 31 days encircling the dial edge; and the outer minute track. Cutting shadowy figures below the 12 o’clock hour marker on the antireflective sapphire crysal glass is the Hublot monogram and logo.

The matt black dial of the Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein is partially openworked, and features timekeeping elements outlined in silvery hue. Like the ‘H’ on the background of the small seconds sub-dial at nine o’clock is a font that Caminada uses

More captivating than the dial is the caseback, which features a shimmering black-and-white sketch of the Schauenstein castle on the anti-reflective sapphire crystal that also offers partial views of the in-house HUB1280 calibre

A Castle Etched On Glass: Schloss Schauenstein

More captivating than the dial is the caseback, which features a shimmering black-and-white sketch of the Schauenstein castle on the anti-reflective sapphire crystal protective cover that also offers partial views of the in-house HUB1280 calibre. The self-winding chronograph movement launched in 2010, made slimmer in 2018 to fit inside a wider range of Hublot watches, holds five patents concerning improved performance, assembly and modern-day architecture. One gets a clear view of the column wheel responsible for the chronograph and date aperture at three o’clock. The movement stays protected with the watch’s shock resistance, while it offers a 72-hour power reserve.

Turning the 20-year milestone watch into a collectible is the watch box, which along with watch, packs in an autographed booklet by Caminada, a customised knife, and knife block

Chef Andreas Caminada rustling up one of his gourmet meals with the Hublot Big Bang Unico All Black Schloss Schauenstein on his wrist

Turning the 20-year milestone watch into a collectible is the watch box, which along with watch, packs in two strap options—black ceramic and titanium deployant buckle clasp, and black lined rubber strap, an autographed booklet by Caminada, a customised knife, and knife block.