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Once in a while, a watch comes along with a new set of features their fans truly appreciate. The Hublot Big Band UNICO GTM brings with it a new mechanism developed by the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s renowned research and development department. It allows simultaneous reading of a second-time-zone, which can be modified when necessary. After years of waiting, we finally have a simple mechanic watch with dual time zones. The denomination GTM refers to Greenwich Mean Time or double time zone, which is one of the most popular functions used by owners of high-end watches. It is then, quite logical for Hublot to include it in this timepiece and cater to their clients who frequently travel the world for pleasure, but most importantly business.
The Hublot Big Band UNICO GTM
Despite the large number of affluent costumers who spend lots of time traveling across the skies and oceans, until recently the GMT functionalities in mechanical watches have been complicated and challenging at best. In response to this drawback, Hublot’s seasoned team came up with a new patented module that allows the user to read the second time zone with ease and modify it when needed, only by pressing a button.
With a 45-mm diameter case, the main dial of the Big Bang Unico GMT offers an authentic skeleton aesthetic, with visible mechanisms and large numbers spread over the perimeter of the dial and the frame. The classic hour and minute hands—large and with a refractory center—emerge from the middle of the watch; the Hublot second hand is painted blue. To these three conventional hands, a fourth is added in the shape of an arrow to indicate the second time zone.
This fourth hand is independent; it has no bearing on the general operation of the watch and is managed from two rectangular-shaped buttons located at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock. These perimeter buttons let you advance and delay—from hour to hour—the arrow that indicates the second time zone.
By setting a full GMT module, Hublot presents a very helpful feature, one their clients were asking for. The fourth needle is assisted by a ring in the center of the dial that indicates day or nighttime, so there is no confusion between the AM and PM schedules. The piece is designed so that the conventional hands show the local time, while the extra hand shows the second time zone chosen by the user.
“The Hublot Big Bang UNICO GMT comes in two versions: polished titanium and satin texture or carbon fiber.”
The Hublot Big Bang UNICO GMT comes in two versions: polished titanium and satin texture or carbon fiber. They both have anti-reflective sapphire crystals and 41-jewel automatic mechanism, 22,800 vph, and a 72-hour reserve.
The Hublot Big Bang UNICO GMT is the perfect timepiece for world travelers who love a great mechanical watch and need an elegant piece that will tell them me instantly what time it is at home. It is also a mandatory accessory for businessmen and women on the go who must juggle two time zones at the same time for work or pleasure. ■
