Hublot Big Bang Chronograph Steel Diamonds

At Analog:Shift, we constantly champion vintage sports watches — divers, pilot’s watches, field watches, and many more. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room in our hearts for a more contemporary take on a sports luxury timepiece. These days there’s a wide swathe of offerings whose aesthetic simplicity belies their forward-thinking materials, advanced movement technology, and impressive feature sets. The Hublot Big Bang is one such watch. Known for its use of innovative materials and some very avant-garde design language, Hublot debuted its classic Big Bang to spectacular effect in 2005. (Though, to be fair, the maison was founded only in 1980, meaning even its “classic” designs are relatively contemporary!) This particular example is the Big Bang steel Diamonds 41, a midsize, gem-set version from the current catalog that marries a sporty character with an in-house movement and plenty of sparkly stones. Measuring 41mm in stainless steel with a polished and satin-finished case, a steel bezel set with 1.18 carats' worth of diamonds and six "H"-shaped screws, a signed crown, and dual 'paddle' chronograph pushers, it features a black dial with an outer minute track in red, a triple-register chronograph display, applied 'Arabic' indices, a luminous 'sword' handset, and a date register at 4:30. Powered by the automatic Hublot Calibre HUB4300 movement with 42 hours of power reserve, it comes paired to a black structured rubber strap with a signed stainless steel deployant clasp. If you're the enthusiast who wants a blend of high-end materials, noteworthy wrist presence, a nod to history, a little bit of luxe swag, and a light peppering of controversy, you just found your watch!