More of the same? Or less of more? I can't really decide because while I trust that there is something new here from Hublot, my senses tell me that this has basically been released before. Hublot hit a home run a few years ago with the Big Bang watch line. Since then, most of their new watches have been some variation on the Big Bang. A new model would be released that was simply done in a slightly different material or color. And to keep things fresh, Hublot attempted to give each of these new models some silly name (like the also new Hublot Tutti Frutti Hazelnut... yes, that is actually what they are calling it).

So in this instance, Hublot hasn't even tried to give the watch a clever name. They just call it the "Big Bang Gold," and it is in gold. Feels sort of uninspired... or has the inspiration ship long departed from Hublot's dock and I am only now noticing it? Now, I actually like the watch as it is, but as a new model, and given everything else that Hublot has released, I am scratching my head to figure out if I am missing anything to understand what is new. The watch is in 18k rose gold and 44.5mm wide. Of course other materials exist on the case such as the titanium screws, rubber, and the black material sandwiched by the gold. There is 100 meters of water resistance, and the movement is an automatic HUB4100 all nicely decorated with a tungsten carbide automatic rotor in black PVD.

Even the dial represents the now classic Big Bang looks. So in that regard I will just consider this model a retro model looking back at the original Hublot Big Bang, that debuts only several years ago, but feels classic now!

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

More with the gray watch trend? Where do these fads come from? Just recently I wrote about the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Gray that shared this theme, and no doubt there will be more. This watch is surely for the ladies, but will likely be available for men as well. I say that this is a ladies watch because the case is 41mm wide, which is typically the size Hublot reserves for its women's Big Bang watches - the male versions are at least 44mm wide, but now that I think about it -men who like the style could also enjoy it. Aside from the trendy gray colored dial, this watch has two interesting things to notice. First, is the metal bracelet, that I've never seen on the Hublot Big Bang watch line (though it is possible it was around before). It makes total sense for the watch to be coupled with a metal bracelet, and here is the first glimpse I've seen of one. Second is the fact that the watch is steel. Why is this important? Because steel is a lower cost metal and indicates Hublot realizes it cannot continue to fuel demand for its ultra decadent Big Bang watches constructed of exotic and/or precious materials. Though the screws are still titanium.

The case itself is a mixture of polished and satin surfaces, with a bezel inset with baguette cut diamonds. While diamond studded steel watches are not unheard of, does it really make that much sense? The dial is a fancy material called tantalum, which in this case is done with a soft satin gray look. The movement is the HUB1145 automatic mechanical chronograph movement, visible through the sapphire caseback window. While the watch does offer a rubber strap, go for the metal bracelet. Hublot hasn't been able to shed the whole "sandwiched" thing, so the bracelet is steel with "composite resin" in the middle. Not sure what that means, but it sounds like a fancy plastic or glue if you ask me.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Luxury behemoth LVMH has a new watchmaker in their growing watches and jewelry unit. They have announced that they will acquire Switzerland's Hublot watch group from the founder Carlo Crocco and a firm controlled by Jean-Claude Biver, who's managed the brand since 2004.

LVMH already owns several successful watch brands including TAG Heuer, Zenith, Dior Montres and Louis Vuitton watches. LVMH has announced plans to increase the brand's profile in Asia and Japan and expand retail distribution. Currently the watches are sold in 300 stores worldwide. Hopefully they won't dilute the brand too much, part of Hublot's power is that that they do a particular type of big beefy watch, the Big Bang, so well. The Hublot fans on the Time Zone Hublot forum definitely are excited about this move for Hublot.

Remember when the Hublot Big Bang watch seemed really, really big. These days the watch is about the same size as everyone else's but that doesn't make it any less interesting. The latest special edition of the Hublot Big Bang watch derives its punch from a sleek cloak of black enlivened only by a slash of a red signature and a colorful split second hand. The Hublot Big Bang Aryton Senna All Black Rattrapante sports the Ayrton Senna Institute, a non-profit institute founded by Viviane Senna, the sister of the deceased Brazilian racing driver, the Ayrton Senna. The watch is a Chronograph Split-Second with Power Reserve indicator in black with Ayrton Senna's signature in red and the Brazilian flag in green and yellow on the Split-Second hand which can be used to record an intermediate time by means of the two chronograph seconds hands. The push-piece on the watch is red. The watch is the first Hublot to go on sale in Brazil. The 44.5 mm case is done in polished black ceramic resin details. The movement is the Hublot HUB44 RT mechanical chronograph Fly-back with automatic winding. It has a black rubber strap with the Ayrton Senna signature in yellow on a green stripe on the inside. There are 500 numbered pieces and it sells for $25,000.

It was inevitable, after all, Hublot has been steadily adding diamonds and gemstones to their Big Bang models for a while now. But the Million Dollar Bang outpaces them all. The watch includes a tourbillon and uses a "mystery" setting so that you don't see the settings, only the stones (493 of them to be precise). A traditional setting is used around the flying tourbillon. The Bunter SA workshop partnered with Hublot on the one-of-a-kind watch which took 2,000 hours to create. The case is 18K white gold and the watch uses a mechanical workshop-crafted movement. Don't get out your wallet for this piece it has already been sold. If you've got a Hublot craving they are introducing a few other new watches, the other are after the jump.

[via Luxury Launches and Time Zone]