With regards to ceramic watches, Hublot has, through the years, managed to be one of the crucial inventive manufacturers by attaining circumstances and elements within the brightest doable colors conceivable (inexperienced, orange, mild blue, yellow, sand…) Acquiring sturdy colors on ceramic is tougher than many think about, the bottom materials – ZrO2 Zirconium Oxide – is white and should be mixed with metallic oxides to disclose its color – and sometimes, colors change into pale. For over 10 years, after mastering monochromatic tones, Hublot has been working internally on the subsequent part, which will likely be related to the twentieth anniversary of the Huge Bang; multi-coloured ceramic, as a stable, homogeneous materials, which is claimed by the model to be a world’s first. It’s named Magic Ceramic and it’s launched in a 20-piece Huge Bang Unico restricted version.
Earlier than we take a look at what Hublot claims to have achieved, let’s speak about multi-coloured ceramics. As was the case for us, you most likely take into consideration already present watches and elements made in ceramic with multiple color. The best instance is, no doubt, the two-tone ceramic bezels of the Rolex GMT-Grasp II – Pepsi, Batman, Root Beer… Right here, we’re speaking about floor therapies – Rolex may be very open about it – of a monochromatic ceramic half later handled by warmth and chemical compounds to acquire a second color – on the floor.
Then comes one thing newer and way more fascinating, the Polychrome Ceramic idea by Audemars Piguet, which was launched in early 2024 as a prototype. The method, which is partially defined in AP’s patent WO2024134390A1, consists of making ceramic elements with two or extra compositions, revealing patterns and completely different shades of colors. Studying the patent makes issues somewhat obscure. However right here’s what we all know concerning the Spark Plasma Sintering know-how at AP; “To create this multi-coloured camouflage motif, powders of various colored ceramics are rigorously positioned in a round graphite mould. The mould is then sintered utilizing a robust electrical present that’s carried out by way of the graphite. This present generates a meteoric rise in temperature, which, mixed with the mechanical stress on both facet of the mould, permits extraordinarily speedy sintering. The compression of the ceramic powders throughout the sintering cycle makes every bit distinctive, because the sample varies barely every time. Regardless of these variations in sample, this method ensures visible consistency between the completely different ceramic elements. The ensuing discs, that are extraordinarily laborious, are then machined till the specified form is achieved.” Two feedback; for now plainly AP has solely produced supplies in shades of a single color (tones of gray); Audemars Piguet has not but unveiled a watch in the marketplace, the mannequin you see above being a non-commercialized prototype.
Hublot’s Magic Ceramic
Now, in 2025, Hublot unveils a brand new materials – or not less than a brand new course of – that they declare to be “the world’s first multicoloured ceramic.” Absolutely a robust assertion, we’ve investigated a bit additional by speaking with Hublot’s Director of R&D Mathias Buttet, who defined a bit extra about this patent-pending course of, which has been conceived in-house, inside Hublot’s amenities. To make issues clearer and with some precautions, we’ll say that it’s the world’s first commercially obtainable multicoloured ceramic in the marketplace. Which doesn’t change the truth that it’s technically spectacular.
Magic Ceramic is a homogeneous materials, a multi-coloured ceramic that reveals patterns and colors due to a intelligent use of colored pigments (metallic oxides), every of them going by way of completely different temperatures throughout the baking and moulding processes of the ceramic elements. The blanks are carried out with already the colors and patterns inside the fabric (at its coronary heart), and later machined in elements for use for a watch – within the current case, as the primary demonstration of this information, for a bezel. It implies that when you’d lower the bezel in half, you’d nonetheless see the patterns and colors contained in the ceramic. “The problem due to this fact lies find the proper stability to acquire a homogeneous and flawless end result,” says Hublot.
But, now that the method appears beneath management, Hublot indicated to us that potentialities are infinite. For instance, the current watch depends on a darkish gray ceramic base with intense blue circles organized in a seemingly random and natural sample. The halos you see across the blue circles have been made on objective in accordance with Hublot, which may have carried out sharp, uniform strains of demarcation between the colors. Hublot additionally advised us that many extra exams have been made, with geometric patterns, all types of colors, and even gradient results on a single block of ceramic – a few of these outcomes will likely be proven at Watches and Wonders to reveal the vary of potentialities of Magic Ceramic. It thus opens a brand new world of creativity… and boldness (possibly a bit an excessive amount of, however Hublot wouldn’t be Hublot if it wasn’t daring and modern).
The Huge Bang Unico Magic Ceramic
This new Magic Ceramic isn’t only a idea however a commercialized thought, proven inside a brand new Huge Bang Unico restricted version. The bottom watch is basic and well-known, being similar to the Huge Bang Unico Ice Bang we’ve lined on this article. This implies a 42mm x 14.50mm black ceramic Huge Bang watch, with matte surfaces, polished accents, giant pushers on the facet and lateral protections in black ceramic.
The principle factor right here is the bezel, which has been created with these blue circles over a darkish gray base – as you may see, their place additionally will depend on the way in which the half has been machined and every of the 20 items could have a barely completely different geometric sample. The watch is accomplished by a full black lined rubber strap, retaining issues easy and targeted on the bezel.
Below the matte black openworked dial with giant luminous utilized markers and fingers is the in-house Unico motion. This automated, built-in flyback chronograph with column-wheel is right here completed in darkish gray tones, matching the dominant tone of the multi-coloured ceramic. It runs at 4Hz and shops as much as 3 days of energy reserve.
A restricted version of 20 items, the Hublot Huge Bang Unico Magic Ceramic is just the primary instance of what Hublot can do with this multi-coloured ceramic idea – which can, no doubt, be prolonged sooner or later. The watch retails at EUR 34,300, CHF 30,000 or USD 33,000. For extra particulars, please go to hublot.com.
