The new Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI solidifies the partnership between Save Our Rhino Africa India and draws attention to the ongoing need for rhino conservation.
The new Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI II is the second time Kevin Pieterson of SORAI (Save Our Rhino Africa India) and Hublot have partnered to raise awareness and funds for rhino conservation.
Limited to 100 pieces in total, a portion of each Hublot Big Bang Unico will be donated to Care for Wild – the largest rhino sanctuary in the world – which SORAI supports.
Currently, poaching remains the single largest threat to the rhino’s existence in Africa. Over two-thirds of the rhinos in South Africa’s Kruger Park have been killed by poachers over the last ten years alone.
Unfortunately, the events of COVID-19 only exacerbated the incidence of poaching as prior to the South African border closing to international travel; day-to-day foreign visitors kept poachers at bay.
Now, due to a severe shortage of rangers, poachers are free to move around undetected. This interruption of a source of national revenue underlines the extent to which wildlife protection organizations rely on private financial donors and on collaborative and coordinated efforts between local, international, public, and private stakeholders.
Left on their own, an orphaned baby rhinoceros whose parents have been killed by poachers has almost no chance of survival. Care for Wild, the largest rhino orphanage and sanctuary in the world, rescues these rhinos and ensures their protection, growth in a secure environment equipped with 24-hour video surveillance monitored by trained security to protect against poachers.
Once the orphans are raised and rehabilitated, Care for Wild releases the rhinos back into their natural habitat, where their development can be monitored.
“On the ground, every day is a battle, a race against time by the teams of dedicated specialists who rescue, rehabilitate, and release these rhinos back into the wild,” shares Kevin Pietersen, Founder of SORAI. We don’t want to lose one of the Big Five, not for us but for our children’s children!”
Following on from the 2019 release of the Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI, which featured a beige/tan color scheme representing the South African bush in winter, this time, the new Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI II is inspired by the lush green colors of the South African bush in the summertime, reflected in the shades used on the 45mm matte ceramic case, skeletonized dial and green, and camouflage quick-change straps.
A unique geometric rhino found on the sub-dial at 9 o’clock is also a subtle reminder of the purpose of the watch and the need to protect this majestic endangered species for generations to come.
The new Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI II is limited to 100 pieces priced at USD$24,100 each and is available from hublot.com.
Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI Technical Specifications
Watch Model
Reference 441.GX.5220.NR.SOA21: Big Bang Unico SORAI Limited to 100 pieces
Case
Green Ceramic
Diameter: 45 mm
Height: 15.45 mm
Water-resistant to 10 ATM
Dial/Functions/Indications
Matt green skeleton dial with geometric gray rhino applique at 9 o’clock
Movement
Hublot caliber MHUB1242 UNICO 60-minute chronograph flyback movement
Power reserve minimum 72 hours
Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4Hz)
Strap
Camo rubber and green fabric quick-change strap
Price
Price of the Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI II Watch: USD$24,100
Breitling releases Premier B09 Chronograph in a new burgundy color, limited to 250 pieces.
Breitling’s latest addition to the Premier Collection has flown relatively under the radar and is a limited edition B09 Chronograph in burgundy limited to 250 pieces.
First introduced in 1943 by Willy Breitling, the “everyday elegant” design of the Premier collection pays homage to three generations of inventors – Léon, Gaston & Willy Breitling – and embodies Breitling’s legacy of inventing the modern Chronograph.
Encased in a 40mm steel case, the new Premier B09 Chronograph features a burgundy colored sunburst dial with Arabic numerals and complementary brown chronograph subregisters in line with the heritage feel of the Premier collection.
Additional rectangular chronograph pushers and design details such as grooves on the case sides, open sapphire case backs and vintage-inspired hands complete the elegant Premier aesthetic.
Powered by Breitling’s in-house B09 movement offering a power reserve of 70 hours, the new Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph Burgundy comes on a brown alligator strap and is limited to 250 pieces priced at US$8,400 each.
The IWC Shaffhausen Portofino family has expanded with the addition of the new 39 Chronograph edition in three new colors.
For over 30 years, IWC’s classic Portofino Collection has represented the laid-back lifestyle of the Mediterranean and is distinguished by its classic round case and uncluttered dial of the “pocket-watch-style wristwatch.”
Now IWC Shaffhausen has released the Portofino as a 39mm chronograph edition with three new colors: a silver-plated dial with gold hands and markers on a black alligator strap, a green dial with a green alligator strap and a black dial, and gold hands/markers on a brown alligator strap.
Enclosed in a polished stainless steel 39mm case, the Portofino 39 features an elegantly clean dial with delicate leaf-shaped hands and two smaller chronograph sub-dials displaying a 30 minute counter and a seconds subdial.
Along with the chronograph stopwatch functions, the Portofino 39s hacking seconds function also gives the wearer the ability to stop the second’s hand when the crown is pulled out to help synchronize time with a second watch.
Powering the Portofino 39 Chronograph is IWC’s 79350 self-winding movement (based on the modified Valjoux 7750) which offers a 44-hour power reserve.
The all-new IWC Schaffhausen Portofino 39 Chronograph Collection is currently available online with prices starting at $5,900.
Hublot is making a splash with the new turquoise New Big Bang Unico Summer edition available in select Mediterranean retail stores this Summer.
Hublot is celebrating the warmer weather with the creation of a new turquoise-colored unisex Big Bang Unico Summer edition.
Made with a 42mm aluminum case, the lightweight Big Bang Summer uses anodized satin-finished and polished aluminum to create a modern colored material that guarantees longevity and protects it from scratches.
Powered by the UNICO caliber HUB1280 offering a 72-hour power reserve, the new Big Bang Unico Summer features an oscillating seconds clutch, a chronograph friction system with ball-bearing adjustment, and a column wheel that is visible through the dial.
Equipped with Hublot’s patented interchangeable “One Click” attachment system, the Big Bang Unico Summer comes with two turquoise-colored straps: a Velcro strap with matching stitching and matching sports buckle and a natural rubber strap with deployant clasp made with turquoise anodized aluminum with an engraved logo.
Sharing on the inspiration for the new Big Bang Unico Summer, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe says, “What I love most when traveling is the amazement of the return, wrote Stendhal. This enchantment of the journey that we bring back with us transforms us a little, for the better… And even if daily life has not really changed on our return, our eyes being open to other horizons is enough to lend it new colour.”
“Right from its beginnings, Hublot has adopted a future-focused approach to watchmaking, sparking trends through the many patents it has filed for its innovations. The Big Bang Unico Summer embodies the beauty of our summer experiences. We wanted to give you another shade for this year, to let you relive these magic moments any time you want.”
Priced at US$20,900, the new unisex Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer is limited to 200 pieces and will be available online at hublot.com and in the Mediterranean boutiques in Capri, Forte dei Marmi, Mykonos, Ibiza, Bodrum, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco.