Novak Djokovic is one of the biggest enigmas in all of sports. On a sheer performance level, the man is insane. He has won 24 grand slams and recently completed the Golden Slam by adding an Olympic gold medal to his trophy cabinet, which only four other players have done before. Off the court he’s an enigma as well, tennis’ controversial bad boy who can’t help but claim the adoration of crowds with his play. And now you can actually own part of his tennis legacy with the Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic which is made from his recycled rackets and gear.
That’s right, the case of this watch is made from a composite material crafted from 25 of Djokovic’s HEAD rackets as well as 17 dark blue and 15 light blue Lacoste polo shirts. This material is combined with an Epoxy resin reinforced with quartz powder and glass veil for an ultra-durable and lightweight design. You can see the flecks of textile material inside the case along with the carbon from the rackets, giving the piece an intriguing and unusual camouflage pattern.
On top of the composite case, Hublot also changed its approach to the glass in order to further enhance the watch’s lightweight properties. Instead of a traditional sapphire crystal, the Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic uses tempered Gorilla Glass, which is half the weight of its crystal alternative. An unusual choice but one that reflects Hublot’s willingness to explore modern innovations. Depending on the strap it’s presented on, the watch can weigh as little as 49.5g.
Below that glass is the watch’s openworked chronograph display. It’s presented in a light blue colour that matches the overall tone of the case. In keeping with the tennis theme, the chronograph elements of the watch feature accents in tennis ball yellow, including the chronograph pusher at 2 o’clock. A further tennis treat is the use of Djokovic’s personal logo as the chronograph seconds’ counterweight (also found on the movement’s rotor).
The movement that’s on display via the openworked portions of the dial and exhibition caseback is the HUB 1280 Unico automatic chronograph. It has a really solid 72-hour power reserve so you can put it down on Friday evening and it will still be ticking on Monday morning. Looking at the caseback you’ll also notice that the Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is a limited edition of 100 pieces, which makes sense otherwise Djokovic wouldn’t have any clothes left.
I know that Hublot designs can often be divisive due to their bold, unapologetic appearance but here I think that works really well. It’s as bold and unapologetic as the man himself. Not to mention that it offers the opportunity to own some genuine tennis heritage. Of course, such legacy doesn’t come cheap with the watch priced at £45,300.
Price and Specs:
Model:
Hublot
Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic
Ref:
441.QKB.5120.NR.DJO24
Case:
42mm
diameter x 14.5mm thickness, matte blue recycled composite
Dial:
Matte
sky blue
Water resistance:
100m
(10 bar)
Movement:
Hublot
calibre Unico HUB1280, automatic, 43 jewels, 354 parts
Frequency:
28,800
vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve:
72h
Functions:
Hours,
minutes, seconds, chronograph
Strap:
Tennis
wristband, blue elastic, blue velcro and white rubber
Price:
£45,300,
limited to 100 pieces
More details at Hublot.
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