Hublot big bang Chukker Bang Reverse of the Reverso

 The Hublot Chukker Bang comes presented on a black rubber and beige leather strap and will be a limited editon of 500 pieces.  Think something is missing?  Also available is a version with a diamond-set grille.
he Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is, of course the most famous Polo watch.  Eighty years old, its design is both elegant and enduring.  Originally created to protect the watch dial during sporting pursuits such as polo, its flip-over watchcase has become a cult classic.

The Chukker Bang although made to perform the same task, is the antithesis of the JLC – the reverse of the Reverso. Partly obscuring a watch dial with a grille, even if that watch is a Big Bang shouldn’t work, but strangely enough it does. 

Hublot’s Big Bang was never a watch designed to be hidden beneath a cuff and this one makes quite an impact.

The piece is designed within the 44mm Big Bang case, this one is constructed from titanium as is the grille so although it may look hefty it will be easy on the wrist.

 The matt black dial features lume coated indices and hands, with contrasting red chronograph and minute counter hands. 

The bezel is black ceramic with six instantly recognisable Hublot screws made from titanium.  On the side the pushers are steel/rubber and the solid caseback is decorated with “Chukker Bang” engraving.  For a complete transformation the grille can be removed revealing a rather tasty if more reserved watch, the Big Bang always looks its very best when clad in black.

Hublot big bang F1 King Power Suzuka watch

The Hublot F1 King Power Suzuka comes presented on a Nomex/rubber combination strap and will be a limited edition of 250 pieces.

Hublot have just released details of their latest limited edition F1 piece, the Hublot F1 King Power Suzuka.  Last March Hublot announced that they were to become the “Official Watchmaker of F1″ – the ultimate product placement for any watch brand – yet Hublot have been remarkably restrained with their F1 watch releases. 

 The Suzuka circuit has been the backdrop for many end of season, edge of the sofa moments for F1 fans.  The circuit is a twisting figure of eight – just the sort of layout you would love to replicate with your scalextric track.  It’s the one with the big ferris wheel and an even bigger history to match – perhaps best known for the Prost/Senna duels of 1989 and 1990.

 In 1989 both were racing for the championship, both driving for McLaren and when Prost “turned-in” on Senna during an all-or-nothing overtaking move, Prost was off – Senna got back on track, drove the race of his life but was later excluded for cutting a chicane.  Prost went on to win the championship.

We have not been inundated with F1 race-inspired editions, quite the opposite in fact – astute marketing which has left fans of both F1 and Hublot just wanting more – until now.
So a worthy circuit to honour with a new Hublot F1 piece then, and one which provides a new colourway for the latest King Power which looks more than tasty in Japan’s red and white.  As always it is techy both in looks and the construction materials used to create it  – that brake disc inspired ceramic bezel with the chunky Hublot screws, the superb dial layout and that outstanding King Power case – it’s all good.

OCEAN7 G-1 GMT we reviewed ETA 2893-2

We see a very similar handset, polished case, bezel grip, and the sapphire bezel insert but the dial, lugs and bezel scale are quite different.
The OCEAN7 LM-5 GMT features a distinct dial design (carried over from the G-1 GMT) and the LM-5 family is slightly smaller than a modern Fifty Fathoms (42 vs 45mm).
We feel that OCEAN7 has really made the design their own, while preserving the tough-yet-dressy allure of the Fifty Fathoms design. For those that disagree, the absolutely stunning Fifty Fathoms can be yours for roughly $13,000 (and up).
In practical “on-wrist” terms, the LM-5 GMT is a delight. The thin case felt perfect on my 7.5 inch wrist and, thanks to its light weight strap, the LM-5 GMT does not encumber or even announce its presence in any bothersome way.
The polished case is a bit on the flashy side but I feel it matches the design and the works well with copious amount of sapphire that makes up the bezel and crystal.
All of these elements work together to create a watch that is easy to wear, quite dressy for a sport watch and one of the best “daily-wearers” we have seen of late. The LM-5 GMT’s practical size combined with a versatile design mean it should be able to dress up or down and OCEAN7 even offers an optional mesh bracelet ($199) if you prefer to sport a bit more steel.
I tried the LM-5 GMT on everything from a nato to a series of leather strap and they all seemed to fit really well thanks to its simple case design and robust diver styling.
OCEAN7 is selling the LM-5 GMT for $899 and we are not entirely sure how they are making any money.
The base LM-5 diver sells for only $100 less and features a more sporty dial design with over sized numerals. We very much prefer the dial design and added practicality of the GMT complication, especially for such a small increase in price.