In 2016, Hublot released many different variations of the Big Bang, varying different colours, materials, straps and limited editions. Needless to say, some of the watch releases felt very flat and a distinct lack of imagination from the Swiss company. However, one watch that grabbed Hublot fans by the scruff of the neck and say here I am was the Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu, designed by Sang Bleu CEO Maxime Büchi. The watch has a genuinely fresh take on the Big Bang, created in collaboration with a company who has deep roots in modern art and a new art form – Tattoo.

The main criticism from most watch connoisseurs of Hublot in 2016 wasn’t actually the problem of sheer volume of editions, but instead the evident lack of original thinking, imagination and direction from Hublot. To be fair to the watch company, they have explored new avenues to stimulate original ideas, with artistic collaborations with Mr. Brainwash and Tristan Eaton. Failures seem to occur in one or two cases. Either the medium, i.e the watch does not lend itself well to the artist’s style. Other times, too many people get involved – the watch company has an identity to protect – and that inevitably stifles the creative process.

In the case of the Big Bang Sang Bleu, this feels different. The watch is refreshing in both design and feel, and is a break away from the conventional Big Bang’s we’ve seen of 2016. The design was thanks to the head of Sang Bleu Maxime Büchi.

Maxime Büchi, is a 38-year-old Swiss tattoo artist and entrepreneur, and the founder and director of Sang Blue, a creative studio split between Zurich and London that has turned into a bit of a movement. Since Büchi founded it in 2006, it has spawned a magazine, a fashion brand, and collaborations with hip brands such as New Balance.

Maxime has a particular interest in symmetrical lines and use of polygons and other geometric shapes to create unique visuals. The designs are inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man and other classic works, and through his linear approach Büchi is able to carve new patterns, like the mismatch between the bezel and octagonal wheels, thereby taking the iconic case of the Big Bang in a new direction.

The entrepreneur and designer also created a new display for the hands of the hours, minutes and seconds. The conventional hands have been replaced by rhodium-coated octagonal discs, organized from the largest to the smallest time unit, with the hours on the outer edge, followed by the minutes and finally the seconds in the dial’s center. It may take a while to get used to what it looks like as the longer hands now count the hours and smaller hands count the minutes, but once you wrap your head around the logic, reading the watch becomes a whole lot easier.

The watch hasn’t really changed format from the standard Big Bang model; it’s still another 45mm Big Bang and a body that fuses materials. The case is a combination of titanium with a black composite resin which looks stunning. The watch also features the manufacture’s UNICO HUB1213 movement, an automatic caliber with a 72-hour power, visible through the watch’s sapphire caseback.

The watch has a large face, yet it is considered to be extremely lightweight watch and incredibly comfortable on the calfskin strap. The Sang Bleu is also surprisingly durable and great to wear on a day-to-day basis. Many critics have also commented on the way Büchi has exploited the space of the Hublot Big Bang well, using his designs to create a depth to the watch that many had not seen on the Big Bang.

The watch is also said to pull you into the hip world of Sang Bleu, and to a certain extent this is the greatest achievement from Maxime Büchi, Sang Bleu & Hublot. The watch has single handedly got the entire tattoo community talking about watches and watch enthusiasts talking about tattoos. The watch release could be the start of an unlikely yet incredible partnership of industries.

The Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu is a limited edition of 200 pieces, each priced at $18,800. At this year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), Hublot also released the Sang Bleu watch in rose gold, all carbon black and a diamond encrusted bezel piece and limited editions and prices are still yet to be confirmed, but highlights the watch manufacture showing complete faith in the watch. The watch comes on a black calfskin strap, but according to Büchi it is just as good on a white or black rubber strap.

In the end, all you can do is admire the artistic contributions of Maxime Büchi on this project, as well as admire the tenacity of Hublot to create a watch that is truly unique in design and style. What is important to note is that Hublot have given the Büchi the artistic freedom to re-work the design of the Big Bang bezel and time display, and to successful effect – the watch feels refreshingly new and looks seriously cool.