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2025 is the year of the snake in China, and Hublot has been creating special limited releases for the Chinese New Year since 2016. This year’s rendition, which has traditionally been implemented on Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang has just been announced, and you and I both know, before even seeing images of the new watch – that there’s going to be a snake on it somewhere.
By looking at the press images of this watch, it’s quite apparent that the snake theme is in the forefront of the design. It’s cleverly integrated into the serpent like shape of the sub-dial’s borders, which are entirely adjoined in gold plated fashion and flow effortlessly into each other.
The snake theme doesn’t stop there, but actually continues on both the bezel and the rubber strap with the integration of a scale like engraving. While the year-end theme of the watch is a big attraction that will initially draw you in, the details of the high horology watchmaking is what’s really going to keep you intrigued. The watch case is fully ceramic and the bezel has been screwed down with visible screws. The watch also features a fully open dial setting, showing off the inner workings of chronograph calibre HUB4700, which is actually based on an original El Primero chronograph movement from 1969, of course with this modified variant having some upgrades such as the low friction silicon escape wheel.
The watch is priced at $35,100, but is limited to a tiny production volume of 88 pieces. The case sports an almost Richard Mille-like design with its 42mm barrel shape and 14.1mm height. While this case shape is attractive in an exclusive, and creative, sports watch like this – it’s starting to gain popularity even in some of the more affordable micro-brand tier of watches.
If viewing the movement through the skeletonized dial wasn’t enough, you can also flip the watch over to view more of the internal workings from the HUB4700. This is where you’ll be able to inspect some of Hublot’s fine watchmaking skills a little closer, with various metal finishing techniques, customized rotor, jewels, and much more horological goodness.
More information can be found on Hublot’s website here.
