Inspired by Djokovic’s incredible record-breaking achievements, Hublot has designed a watch that captures Hublot Ambassador Novak Djokovic’s agility on the court and highlights Hublot’s approach to sustainable innovation..
Novak Djokovic has been part of the Hublot family since 2021 as a global ambassador. Over these three years, the Swiss luxury watchmaker has witnessed the tennis player’s greatest achievements and watched Djokovic reaffirm himself as the tennis GOAT and it is this limited edition timepiece that honours that partnership.
Hublot was given a challenge: to create an incredibly light watch with a sustainable component. Known for pushing the boundaries in terms of research and development, Hublot was able to not only create a new material but a highly personal one at that. Hublot developed a composite made up of 25 HEAD rackets as well as 17 dark blue and 15 light blue Lacoste polos used by Djokovic during his 2023 season, the year in which the world witnessed Djokovic make history and break records with 24 Grand Slams singles titles.
These materials have been developed and used to make the watch as light as possible without losing any strength or resilience. In many ways, the R&D process for this watch mirrors Djokovic’s determination to aim for excellence.
The composite that makes up the case and bezel of the watch is made of Epoxy resin reinforced with quartz powder and glass veil that has been fused with the recycled rackets and shirts. The resulting material is speckled with fragments of light & dark blue textiles and black carbon to create a singular camo aesthetic. An innovative approach, representative of Hublot’s ambition for endless reinvention.
To ensure a feather-light feeling on the wrist, Hublot had to find a way to reduce the weight of the watch. Instead of using traditional sapphire crystal, the Swiss luxury watchmaker has chosen tempered Gorilla glass, a material used in high-end electronics and two times lighter than sapphire. An achievement made possible by the relentless drive of Hublot’s innovation and materials teams to create singular watches while pursuing the brand’s engagement to move towards meaningful products, made with awareness.
At the heart of the watch lies the Unico manufacture chronograph movement. Synonymous with the bold and always different character of the brand, the movement was a natural choice for this special piece. Nonetheless, the standard Unico movement in brass had to be reinvented to reduce the weight of the watch. To do so, Hublot chose aluminum, prized for its lightness, and anodized in light blue or grey to echo the camo color scheme of the case. In doing so, Hublot’s engineers were able to reduce the weight of the movement by 27%, shedding almost a third of its weight. Aluminum has also been used for some case components such as side pieces (3H-9H), sub-bezel, bezel lugs, pushers, crown and case-back.
The Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic comes with four straps for four different styles. The first bracelet is a “Lacoste” tennis wristband that attaches to the watch head with the One Click System, making the watch the perfect tennis companion. The second style is a blue elastic strap, this combination weighs a total of 49.5 grams, lighter than a tennis ball! The third style features a light blue Velcro strap with a polished blue aluminum sports buckle. The last style is a white rubber strap with titanium deployant buckle.
Highly Collectible
Fans of the tennis player and collectors alike will appreciate the details that have been added to the watch, such as a yellow second pusher or the slightly domed and curved bezel screws reminiscent of a tennis ball. The Novak Djokovic logo is visible on the second hand and on the oscillating weight.
The Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is limited to just 100 pieces each priced at $52,400 and housed in Hublot’s sustainably sourced, high quality wooden watch box. Created entirely from oak, including its hinges, it is carved from mostly massive, traceable wood, whose sourcing and manufacture both promote short supply chains. The watch box features a unique design created exclusively for this limited-edition.
Owners of the watch will also receive a Lacoste sport wristband and a Lacoste polo signed by Hublot Ambassador and all-time record-holder of 24 Grand Slam single titles, Novak Djokovic.
