Material is a huge conversation in the watch world currently, considering the rise of bronze cases in some big name brands, and even stranger options such as Tudor releasing a silver watch. I once wrote about the democratisation of ceramic bezels, and it feels like a similar thing may now be happening with ceramic cases and bracelets. It begins with the big names experimenting with seemingly crazy projects, and eventually it becomes the standard. Hublot’s ability to make vibrant ceramic colours without compromising the hardness is one of their specialties, and the Hublot Big Bang Integral in blue ceramic is priced at $32,200AUD, which is of course a lot of money. But, the price represents of the quality and uniqueness of the watch, which could be a real trailblazer, and such is the price of innovation.

Made in partnership with Hublot. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.

What I like best about the Hublot Big Bang Integral Ceramic Sky Blue is the color. Hublot presented the watch during Watches And Wonders a while back, and I immediately liked it. Why? Well, because I like light blue — it brings back fond memories of the heavenly blue shirt I played in for the first football club I joined when I was a little kid, Hermes-DVS from Schiedam — but also specifically because it’s executed in light blue ceramic. And colored ceramic rules any alloy that has received a color. It’s a combination of both the hue and the tactile experience. You can actually feel the color with a ceramic watch. Hublot has been at the forefront of developing this material, and when you wear the Hublot Big Bang Integral Ceramic Sky Blue, you can feel and touch the summer. It’s research and technology powering the perfect, dreamy vacation watch.

A functional aspect of the fashionable Hublot Big Bang Integral Ceramic Sky Blue is the practical side of ceramic — the material’s hardness and scratch resistance. The 42 × 13.45mm angular ceramic case and chamfered-link bracelet, both of which feature alternating polished and brushed surfaces, not only enhance the shimmering blue color, but the material itself is also very light. Perfect! During the summer, you want to feel weightless, right? And comfortable, too. Enter a watch that is a delight on the wrist thanks to the ceramic case and bracelet with low thermal conductivity and excellent hypoallergenic characteristics. The bracelet, by the way, is outfitted with a titanium folding buckle.

To cut a long story short, I picked the light blue Hublot because it is summer incarnate. It also has a sense of “Italianity” even though the Hublot manufacture is located in Nyon, Switzerland. It must be the founder’s DNA. I’m talking, of course, about the Italian inventor of Hublot, Carlo Crocco. The Integral Ceramic Sky Blue is my Fratello Summer Splash 2022 contender because it’s like the Amalfi Coast on the wrist. This watch will turn a gray North Sea town into Positano, if you know what I mean. And that’s what you want in a summer watch, right? Oh, and the fact that it’s water-resistant to 100 meters. You can take this ceramic Hublot for a swim and even a dive anytime. Over to you, Jorg, to explain to us why you need a watch that can go 200 meters deep. Good luck with that.