Hublot’s latest release is a limited edition created in collaboration with Novak Djokovic, the tennis champion who has 24 Grand Slam titles. The Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is encased in a carbon composite that recycles the player’s tennis racquets and Lacoste polo t-shirts. And its movement has been reworked to utilise aluminium bridges and plates, ensuring the entire watch weighs less than a tennis ball.

Initial thoughts

Often criticised for its pricey, Sellita-equipped entry-level models and numerous limited editions, Hublot is sometimes controversial. The brand’s higher-end watches, however, are usually more interesting (and occasionally very complex) and sometimes better value.

Priced at US$52,700, the Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is expensive enough that it’s not a value proposition. It is, however, interesting for the case material. Moreover it holds a special appeal for fans of Novak Djokovic. And intrinsically, it is technically competent as it’s equipped with a modified Unico movement that is mostly aluminium and ultra light.

Tennis racquets

Sized like the standard Big Bang Unico, this measures 42 mm by 14.5 mm. The case material, however, is unique. The case and bezel are in a composite derived from 25 Head tennis racquets, 17 dark blue and 15 light blue Lacoste polo t-shirts used by Djokovic throughout the 2023 season.

These ground-up racquets and shirts are mixed with an epoxy resin reinforced with quartz powder and glass, resulting in a distinctive speckled appearance incorporating fragments of light and dark blue textile alongside black carbon fibre.

Thanks to the lightweight material,, the weight of the watch, including the strap, is less than a that of a tennis ball. Notably, the watch is delivered with a brand-new Lacoste polo shirt signed by Novak Djokovic, and a Lacoste sports wristband.

The upper pusher is in tennis ball yellow, while the lower pusher is in white

Covering the dial is Gorilla Glass, a reinforced glass that’s twice as light as sapphire crystal and most famous for being used in the iPhone.

Accented in yellow, the dial is open-worked to display the mechanics of the Unico movement, including the date disc and column wheel. And the seconds hand has a “D”-shaped counterweight in the form of the player’s emblem.

The in-house HUB1280 Unico flyback chronograph calibre has been re-engineered for lightness. Conventional brass bridges with plates in lightweight aluminium that’s been anodised in light blue to complement the case. As a result, the movement is nearly 27% lighter than a standard version.

Mechanically, the calibre remains the same and has 72 hours of power reserve, while the balance beats at 28,800 beats per second (4 Hz).

Key facts and price

Hublot Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic
Ref. 441.QKB.5120.NR.DJO24

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 14.5 mm
Material: Composite crafted using Novak Djokovic’s racquets and polos
Crystal: Gorilla glass
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: Cal. HUB1280
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and flyback chronograph
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per second (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Blue velcro fastener fabric; blue elastic strap; white rubber strap

Limited edition: 100 pieces
Availability: Now at Hublot boutiques
Price: US$52,700

For more, visit hublot.com