Swiss Watches
Like their recently presented Hublot King Power Red Devil (Refs. 716.CI.1129.RX.MAN11 and 716.OM.1129.RX.MAN11) automatic watch, the new Hublot Big Bang Flamengo (Ref. 318.CI.1123.FLM11) is also dedicated to soccer. Although, too, featuring a 45-minute chronograph counter, the watch nevertheless comes in a more tranquil, sober case and features a simple movement.
The Brazilian-based Clube de Regatas do Flamengo multisport club seems to be a perfect partner for the young Swiss watchmaking brand.
The club was established almost 116 years ago by a group of six young and not particularly wealthy gentlemen who, according to Wikipedia (not the most reliable source, I known) were seeking attention among “the young ladies of the city’s high society.”
It took Flamengo only a couple of decades to turn from a one-team rowing club into a multisport establishment that would own one of the most popular football teams of the XX century with around 35 million followers and the 9th place in FIFA Clubs of the 20th Century list.
The new Hublot Big Bang Flamengo is released in the well-known among the fans of the club black-and-scarlet color theme.
While the black is reserved for the micro-blasted ceramic case, bezel, and strap, the scarlet covers the faceted, diamond-polished, black nickel hands, and hour markers, as well as the rubber inserts in the chronograph push-pieces and the setting crown.
You probably already noted that the watch features only one sub-dial with a single chronograph hand running around a 45-minute totalizer. Counter-weighing it, the other “sub-dial” at 3 o’clock is not functional. It only features Flamengo’s famous Shield with the CRF monogram.
The date aperture at 6 o’clock with a white calendar wheel nicely matches the Hublot logo, also printed in white at 12 o’clock.
From the technical point of view, the Big Bang Flamengo is less interesting than the aforementioned King Power Red Devil.
It is powered by the Caliber HUB 1146 self-winding movement that we have already seen in the limited edition Big Bang Maradona and the Red Devil Bang II watches, also sporting the same design of their bodies and dials.
However, the new watch will certainly be more practical and more pleasant to wear, since its mid-sized 44.5 mm Big Bang case will feel better on a normal wrist.
Also, like all Big Bang watches, the new timekeeper offers better legibility with its matte black dial providing an almost perfect background for the luminous hands and indexes.
The Swiss watchmaker plans to make and sell to select customers only 250 individually numbered examples of the watch and will possibly have absolutely no problem selling them all.
WWR Verdict
Originality 4.5/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Overall Legibility: 4.5/5
Nighttime Legibility: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
See also: Hublot Big Bang 44mm Greengo Bang Limited Edition Chronograph
Photos: Hublot
Hublot Big Bang Flamengo (Ref. 318.CI.1123.FLM11) Limited Edition automatic chronograph wrist watch specification
Price: $18,500 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber HUB 1146, 28,800 vph, 55 jewels, Glucydur hairspring, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Bridges: Satin-finished, bevelled and polished; Mainplate: Micro-blasted with black galvanic coating; Oscillating weight: Tungsten carbide with black PVD treated dimpled surface
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, 45-minute chronograph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Micro-blasted black ceramic
Bezel material: Micro-blasted black ceramic
Crown material: Black PVD steel
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 44.50 mm
Lug width: No data
Case height: No data
Dial: Black, red accents
Numerals: None
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Adjustable black rubber and alligator leather strap with red stitching and black PVD steel deployant buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective on both sides
Case back: Solid, engraved