There are several clocks that mimic the early morning skies in April. These three new Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 42mm watches have a playful backstory that includes toys. When he was a child, former Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver made things with Meccano, a toy construction system invented by British man Frank Hornby in 1898. I happen to be a LEGO guy, but I know people who started playing with Meccano when they were young and continued to build all sorts of complex structures as they grew up. Building clock movements from Meccano was a dream that biver had for many years. When he became the boss of Hublot, his dream came true in 2016 when the first edition of MECA-10 debuted. The three new repetitions of “Toy Watch” are small and subtle, and require a larger audience to come and play. And that includes very adult/serious watch fans.
127 years after its invention, Meccano still wants to do what he wants to do from the start. When considering the story of Jean-Claude Biver, Meccano did not urge people to build only planes, cars, bridges, and self-inventive structures, but he also saw the movement. The actual movement of the first and second generation of MECA-10 watches is not made with a miniaturized mechana, but it reveals visual similarities. But before we can examine it, we need to mention the somewhat philosophical and conceptual connection between the toy and the watch.
Three new Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 42mm watches can change how your brand is displayed
In 2004, when Jean Claude Biver was 56, he had already given his name with Omega and Blanpine. That year he intervened as CEO of the company Hublot, founded by Carlo Crocco. In 1980, Crocco shocked the world of watches by placing rubber straps on their gold watches. After the initial upset and success that followed, according to Biver, Brand fell asleep. But when the brand is asleep, it can’t do anything wrong, and that’s one of the reasons why Biver agreed to board. He didn’t need to fix anything. He was able to enjoy the watch he thought had great potential.
The rubber was the shocking material that fired the Hublot, and in 2004 remained a distinctive factor. But Biver looked beyond the rubber. He saw the fusion, and that was everything about Hublot. According to Biver, “A fusion is when you take two elements that never get together and fuse them.” Apparently, he also creates a big bang, which is the most common of the brand. I said it would lead to the name of a famous collection, but I’ll save a fact-check of this anecdote later.
Looking at the brand’s current catalogue, it is clear that the “art of fusion” defines Hublot and is extremely large in every sense. Different types of materials in different colors coincide, and conflicting worlds like art and soccer come together in the Hublot Watch universe. There are clocks made in collaboration with artists for the judgement. The MECA-10 combines toys with watchmaking. Three new Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 watches allow you to change the way your brand is displayed. Yes, I’m looking at you, look at the fans.
Big Bang Mecha-10 takes fusion to the next level
Fusion involves mixing gold and rubber, creating magical gold, and mixing ceramics with valuable alloys made by mixing them with “magical” ceramics and making precious alloys made by Nayon. Create a resistant version. Fusion Concept also combines Brash and Bold Styling with serious watchmaking in the form of internal movements and complications. The three new Big Bang Mecha-10 watches combine many. The three basic materials are king gold, titanium and frost carbon, but you may already know this as I mentioned in my introduction article about the three watches.
A trio of redefined and evolved MECA-10 watches
When I had the opportunity to try out all 3 new 42mm x 13.9mm mecha 10 watches, I jumped at it. Dern joined me, inspected them, tried them out, and took some photos. The smaller, redesigned Big Bang MECA-10 still has the same silhouette as the 45mm original, which debuted in 2016, so it made the right choice, but now fits the regular sized human. So which one fits best? Let’s make this the top 3 and count down to my favorites.
Big Bang Mecha-10 King Gold Ref. 444.OX.1180.RX (€44,500/US$42,700) sits in third place. Apart from the microblasted 18K King Gold with a warm, deep pink tint, the watch case features contrasting black ceramic parts and distinctive black rubber straps. The dial side features a mix of rose gold tone and deep black contrast. The lack of a dial offers a stunning view of the in-house caliber Hub1205, which forms the center of the new 42mm Big Bang Mecha-10 family. All three watches may use the same caliber, but each one looks different in movement. The 3Hz manual winding movement consisting of 264 ingredients was subjected to galvanic treatment, resulting in a colour that perfectly matches the pink gold tint of the case.
Meccano-like part of the caliber hub1205
The open work movement with a 7 o’clock balance wheel is different in finish, but essentially the same, so let’s explore the Meccano-inspired parts first. The first mechaka-related aspect is how the watch displays the power reserve held by the movement. This is 10 days. The prominent movement is the 12 horizontal rack and pinion construction. There are many more in that structure. The mechanism that the French call the Cremirail is a rare feat of mechanical movement. The 10-day power reserve is digitally displayed at 3 o’clock by a differential display consisting of two stacked discs rotating in opposite directions. The disc is connected by a spiral spring with a coil wound in the middle, highlighted in bright red for the last two days of the power reserve.
On the back of the watch, there is more Mechakano-like watchmaking. For example, two skeletonized barrels. But most of all “mechakano” are three linear bridges that immediately make you think of construction toys. Three distinctive bridges, galvanized in either rose gold tone, metallic grey or black, are attached to the main plate and feature satin brush surfaces and hand-made bevels. The HUB1205 is an evolution of the size of the HUB1201. It features a hacking mechanism for accurate time setting, and a regulatory organ with no lubricant and paramagnetic silicon escape wheels. In other words, it’s an original looking micromachine worthy of attention from movement-loving watch fans.
Silver goes to titanium and gold and goes to counterfeit carbon MECA-10
It will always be a “battle” between titanium and matte carbon versions. Yes, it was close, but not as close as I thought before I stepped into the Fubritt boutique in Amsterdam. I won’t go until I call Titanium Ref. 444.NX.1170.RX (€23,900/US$23,000) is plain, but the most special of the three. Nevertheless, I think there’s a stronger link between Meccano and the technical, lightweight titanium used in all kinds of high-tech machines and tools, so I’ll beat the King Gold version. I also like that Hublot used semi-industrial grey tones to create watches that look utilitarian on instruments. Speaking of utilitarianism, all three watches feature Hublot’s one-click system, allowing for easy strap replacement.
My favorite is the stealth and lightest version of the three The Frosted Carbon Refs. 444.QN.1170.NR (27,400 euros / 23,500 euros) Velcro strap. The dominant black theme of Frost carbon is most clear. This material reminds you of either counterfeit carbon or carbon with a stealth camouflage pattern. Due to the production process, this type of carbon will have a unique look, unlike 3K carbon, for example, its typical repeating weaving.
With practical fabric straps, watches are easy to wear, lightweight and stealthy, but not noticed. The angular big bang design and modular concept showcasing visible screws serve as the basis for the MECA-10 model, preventing the black model from becoming too stealthy. The watch feels solid due to its construction and smooth for finishing despite lack of weight. The mechakano style movements work smoothly and look just as good.
Final Thoughts on the 42mm Big Bang Mecha 10 Watch
Shrinking the Big Bang Meca-10 case from 45mm x 15.8mm to 42mm x 13.9mm makes it easier to wear and more suitable for your wrist. With its small yet inventive and powerful internal movement, this watch shows serious refinement. The Big Bang is Hublot’s flagship model, which debuted in 2005. It is often accused of being an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rip-Off. But is it still after 20 years of production and steady evolution? I don’t see it that way. For example, both watches have completely different case structures. Does Big Bang and Royal Oak have something in common? surely. Both are bold and rude, and will probably speak to duplicate audiences as well.
With the release of three Big Bang Mecha 10 watches in a shrinking 42mm case, Hublot may have a watch in its collection. For some watch enthusiasts, including Fratello Readers, dismissing Hublot is like a reflection. With a more relaxed and open-minded approach, things can be very different. It’s not that everyone should embrace Hublot’s very candid work, as the brand’s design language is not considered vanilla. However, the three “flavors” that Big Bang Mecha 10 comes along can reach your taste. Start with a bit of “chewing.”
