ReviewThe Hills Are Alive: Hublot Celebrate Mount Matterhorn With Their New Big Bang Zermatt

Zermatt, a relatively small town in Switzerland became a popular tourist destination only because of Mount Matterhorn, arguably the country’s most recognised peak. Soon, luxury watchmaker Hublot set up shop there (their eco-friendly boutique is made entirely from wood). Now, the brand pays tribute to their connection with Zermatt in the form of two new Big Bang Zermatt watches. This is the fourth time Hublot celebrate their association with the Swiss town, but the first time they have fashioned the watch case entirely in stainless steel.

Fitting Tribute To A Swiss Icon: The Matterhorn

The seemingly isolated, picture-perfect Mount Matterhorn, aptly christened the ‘Jewel of the Swiss Alps’, is famously displayed on the packaging of the prismatic-shaped Swiss chocolate, Toblerone. The mountain is accessible from Zermatt, and responsible for the town’s fame as a tourist destination.

The new Big Bang Zermatt editions—in 44mm and 41mm—depict this Swiss peak on their dials as it appears from Zermatt, where Hublot have a large presence (even having set up the Hublot Express, a chairlift built for safe passage up the mountain). “The connection between Hublot and Zermatt is symbolic. We share the same terroir and roots, and we carry these qualities far beyond our borders,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO, Hublot.

The 41mm timepiece has an engraved white Matterhorn as backdrop in the running seconds sub-dial at three o’clock, the 30-minute counter at nine o’clock, and the 12-hour counter sits at six o’clock

The 44mm watch has an engraved white Matterhorn as backdrop in the running seconds sub-dial at nine o’clock, the 30-minute counter at three o’clock, and the 12-hour counter at six o’clock

Another striking reference to Mount Matterhorn is the grey-plated sunray-finished dial. The way the colours change depending on the angle of viewing and exposure to light is reflective of how the grey hues of the mountain changes at different times of the day according to how the sunlight falls on the Swiss peak. The smaller timepiece also has eight brilliant-cut white diamonds as hour markers. Arranged in a tricompax layout are the three chronograph counters with the special Big Bang Zermatt feature—an engraved white Matterhorn as backdrop in the running seconds sub-dial at nine o’clock on the 44mm model and at three o’clock on the 41mm version’s dial. The larger dial has the 30-minute counter at three o’clock, and the 41mm version has the 30-minute counter at nine o’clock. The 12-hour counter sits at six o’clock on both models, with the date window angled at 4:30.

Game-Changing Innovations

Founded in 1980 in Nyon, Switzerland, Hublot is known for its association with various sports. With the aim to ‘be first, different and unique’, the manufacture is known for combining different materials for their instantly-recognisable timepieces—they were the first brand to ever pair a gold case with a rubber strap.

The first Big Bang timepiece was launched in 2005 and became popular for their porthole-inspired design with six H-shaped screws on the bezel that has since appeared in every Big Bang upgrade. More importantly, the 44mm diameter Big Bang watches promoted the large-watch trend. With skeletonised displays and experiments with colour, Hublot’s Big Bang series is regarded highly for its complications and innovation with materials.

Fusion Of Colour And Materials

Even in the latest versions of Big Bang Zermatt, besides stainless steel, the Swiss manufacturer has developed and adapted materials like carbon, titanium, ceramic, and sapphire. Both 44mm and 41mm stainless steel cases are polished and satin-finished, giving the watch a greyish-silver colour that resembles schist, the metamorphic rock that makes up most of Mount Matterhorn.

Hublot finds ways to highlight their ‘Swissness’ by using typical Swiss materials. For instance, their 2017 Big Bang Zermatt special edition model incorporates slate on its bezel, and the Big Bang 2018 timepiece uses frosted carbon to resemble granite; both slate and granite are found abundantly in the Alps. The porthole-inspired bezel of the 44mm Zermatt is made from satin-finished and polished stainless steel, but Hublot’s H-shaped screws interspersed here are made from titanium —‘a material inspired by the needs of mountaineers, whose equipment must be both light and strong’. Around 36 white diamonds grace the polished stainless steel bezel of the 41mm model.

Around 36 white diamonds grace the polished stainless steel bezel of the 41mm model. The watch is powered by the self-winding calibre HUB4300

Inside the case of the 44mm timepiece is the HUB4100 self-winding chronograph movement

Inside the case of the 44mm timepiece is the HUB4100 self-winding chronograph movement, while the smaller model is powered by the self-winding calibre HUB4300. Both calibres beat at a frequency of 28,800vph with a power reserve of 42 hours, and offer water resistance upto 100m. Unlike some of their predecessors that had display casebacks partially covered with a representation of Mount Matterhorn, the 44mm version has a satin-finished titanium caseback, while the 41mm model is in satin-finished steel.

Both watches come with a grey nubuck calf leather strap with white stitching, and an additional white nubuck calf leather strap in grey stitching.