Hublot celebrates the Unico chronograph mechanism, its first ever in-house movement

Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024: April 9th – April 15th, 2024.

“Our aim is to reinvent watchmaking complications. On the Unico, having the chronograph mechanism on the dial side is a specific design feature enabling the column wheel to be visible. The movement – the soul of the watch – is an integral part of the design and the perceived value of high quality. It is unique.”  Richard Guadalupe, Hublot CEO.

Hublot’s first Unico movement, the calibre 1242, was unveiled in 2010. It featured a column wheel visible on its dial side, a chronograph with flyback function, “stylish anthracite grey lines”  and extraordinary performance. In 2018, Hublot replaced it with calibre 1280, “a new generation of automatic chronographs with flyback function, with an updated, simplified design and formidable accuracy.”

Calibre 1280 Key Points

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– It is the second-generation Unico Manufacture calibre, replacing calibre 1242.

– It features a chronograph with a new automatic winding mechanism.

– The 60-minute counter at 3 o’clock also features date indication.

– It features a silicon escapement.

– Its column wheel is visible on the dial side.

– It features five patents for features that include “facilitated assembly, modernized architecture and increased accuracy.”

– It is incorporated in five new timepieces for Watches and Wonders 2024. These include: Big Bang Unico Orange Ceramic, Big Bang Unico Dark Green Ceramic, Big Bang Unico Pink Sapphire, Square Bang Unico Magic Gold Ceramic, and Square Bang Magic Gold. (The sequence of these correspond to the header image above.)

Calibre 1280’s key objective was to power timepieces with a larger case diameter – 42 mm. As a result, Hublot was able to reduce its thickness to 6.75 mm, from the original calibre 1242’s 8.05 mm. Its five patents are based on the following technical developments.

– Gentler Winding: Hublot has removed the traditional ratchet wheel click, and in its place, has “has invented a pair of wheels with a tooth profile that allows them to turn in one direction only.”

– Flawless chronograph display: It is equipped with a remarkably simple clutch mechanism, which has overcome two notable defects of a horizontal clutch chronograph – “the jump as it starts, and then the quivering of the chronograph hand.”

– Chronograph featuring greater performance: Its design and architecture combined with its oscillating clutch “is used to minimise the energy consumption of the chronograph. Again, less disruption of the rate and fewer amplitude losses on the balance, resulting in a more accurate watch with improved performance.”

– Greater accuracy: As the traditional tried and tested index-assembly system “requires extremely precise adjustments,”  Hublot developed “a patented fine-tuning system which extends or reduces the active length of the balance-spring by means of a system of toothed screws.”

– Exceptional shock resistance: It has an “exceptionally high friction torque on the cannon pinion gear which holds the hands in the correct place,”  in all situations or in case of impact.

Hublot’s Unico Campaign Images

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The HUB1280 Unico is an in-house mechanical automatic calibre, featuring a column wheel chronograph with a flyback function.

Key Features

– Central hours and minutes.

– Central flyback chronograph hand.

– Subdial at 3 o’clock: 60-minute counter and date.

– Subdial at 9 o’clock: small seconds.

– It comprises of 354 parts.

– It has 43 jewels.

– It beats a frequency of 28,800 vph.

– Its power reserve is 72 hours or 3 days.

– Its dimensions are 30 mm * 30 mm * 6.75 mm.

Website: https://www.hublot.com/en-int/watches-wonders

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