Spirit of Big Bang Frosted Carbon: Hublot’s ultimate “cool watch”

For watch lovers, the history of Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang is well known. In 2005, the manufacturer launched the Big Bang, which quickly became the benchmark for oversized, high-performance sports watches thanks to its unusual combination of materials. Almost ten years after that debut, Hublot launched the Spirit of Big Bang which, as its name suggests, expressed the spirit of its predecessor but with a more complex tonneau-shaped case, rubber side guards and skeletonised dials. Just under ten years after that debut, Hublot is now offering the Spirit of Big Bang in Frosted Carbon for the first time.

THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF FROSTED CARBON

This particular type of carbon is the best starting point for understanding the soul of the Spirit of Big Bang Frosted Carbon. Until now, Hublot had reserved it for only two grand complication references, the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon and, in early 2025, the Big Bang MECA-10. Now entering the current collection, it makes one of the best examples of the art of fusion, which is the pay-off of the Nyon brand, more accessible. This is because the case of this chronograph has few equals in watchmaking in terms of feel and appearance.

Water-resistant to 10 bar, it measures 42 mm in diameter and 14.1 mm in thickness, which is still quite small for a Hublot chronograph. Despite its reduced size, it makes the most of the properties of Frosted Carbon, so called because of its ability to trap fragments of carbon that appear to be suspended, as if they were frozen in ice.

Highly prized in motor racing, carbon has unrivalled mechanical qualities: it is ultra-light, resistant to torsion and stands out for its optimal weight-to-strength ratio. This high-tech material normally takes the form of a network of fibres embedded in an epoxy resin; in the case of the Frosted version, Hublot uses carbon with coloured inclusions that give the impression of ice crystals (hence the name “frosted”). In the Spirit of Big Bang Frosted Carbon, the satin finish breaks up light reflections and emphasises the layered structure of the carbon, which varies from subtle to striking depending on the angle of incidence of the light.

THE AESTHETICS OF THE SPIRIT OF BIG BANG FROSTED CARBON

The “total black” look of the case also extends to the dial. Its skeletonisation is a testament to Hublot’s sense of balance, as it shows enough of the movement to justify the concept of a skeleton watch but, at the same time, hides enough to maintain a quick reading of the time and chronograph counters. The main elements, namely the hour and minute hands, are easy to read, as is the date window at 4:30.

Although the chronograph counters are somewhat “drowned out” in the mix of skeletonisation and dark aesthetics, they are visually well balanced, with the classic tricompax layout featuring the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, the 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and the continuous seconds counter at 9 o’clock. The absence of a tachymeter scale, as in the other references in the collection, reminds us that the Spirit of Big Bang Frosted Carbon is ultimately not so much a “tool watch” as a “cool watch”. Under the right light, the steel bridges and components show an attractive contrast, which also affects the mirrored surfaces, appearing polished black.

The watch comes with a fabric strap and Velcro fastening, which is very much in keeping with the philosophy and spirit of the chronograph. It is almost as if the strap confirms the concept of lightness, robustness and performance conveyed by the carbon case, making the Big Bang Frosted Carbon even more wearable. It is a choice of stylistic consistency and practicality that we also find in other brands and which is both useful and functional.

THE HUBLOT HUB4700 CALIBRE

The mechanical heart of the Hublot Big Bang Frosted Carbon is the HUB4700 skeletonised self-winding chronograph calibre, which enthusiasts are well acquainted with due to its “family tree”. It was developed by Hublot based on Zenith’s El Primero 400 calibre, probably the El Primero in its purest form: 278 components, 31 jewels and a “motor” beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, with a 50-hour power reserve.

The HUB4700 calibre is fitted in most of the chronographs in the Spirit of Big Bang collection and, as is often the case with this movement, the fact that it descends from such an illustrious ancestor leaves room for two opposing schools of thought. There are those who consider it outdated, given that the El Primero is now 56 years old. For others, however, this longevity is synonymous with precision and reliability.

Ultimately, both opinions have their merits, depending on what you are looking for in a calibre and a watch like this. Those who want a “new” chronograph, in the sense that it offers something new in terms of mechanical architecture, should make a different choice. For those who, on the contrary, are looking for a high-frequency calibre that has been improved over the years and adapted to contemporary standards, the Hublot Big Bang Frosted Carbon makes perfect sense.

SPIRIT OF BIG BANG FROSTED CARBON AND THE HUBLOT PHILOSOPHY

Given that the watch costs €30,800, it is worth emphasising its versatility as an accessory that can be paired with different types of clothing. Of course, both the case material and the fabric strap provided mean that it is better suited to a casual look, precisely because it is light enough to be worn all day and to withstand the stresses of everyday life without any particular precautions. All in all, however, it does not look out of place under the cuff of a shirt and jacket.

This is because, while the Spirit of Big Bang collection features a variety of materials and colour combinations, many of which seem to focus excessively on surface treatments or colour palettes, in the case of Frosted Carbon, this risk does not exist. The case material is not just an aesthetic finish but an integral part of the case and contributes significantly to creating the character of the watch. It expresses exactly what Hublot does best and what distinguishes the brand from other manufacturers: combining innovative materials with industrial design that is not form but substance. The Spirit of Big Bang Frosted Carbon is precisely this philosophy, made into a chronograph.

By Davide Passoni