On December 6, 2012, Lange presented the 2012 Ferdinando Adolf Lange Award for Outstanding Watchmaking. This award has been held for the third time and it is the first time this award has appeared. Double runner-up. Bennie R.L. Hernandez (age 24) from Texas and Daniel Neugebauer (age 29) from Munich each received a prize of 5,000 euros for their calendar devices. Company founders Walter Langer and Langer Chief Executive Wilhelm Schmid presented the two young watchmakers at a media event in Dresden.

  Of the 36 watchmaking colleges invited to participate in the competition worldwide, eight young watchmakers from Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, the United States and the Netherlands stood out and qualified to participate in the competition. In the last summer, they The Lange Watchmaking Institute recognized the design and craftsmanship of this Saxony watch factory. On the last day, the conference announced the tasks of the competition. The participants had four months to design and manufacture based on an ETA6498 movement. A calendar display.

Winning entries: Flyback calendar by Daniel Neugebauer (top) and rotating calendar by Bennie R.L.Hernandez (bottom)

  Seven contestants submitted their works to five judges in November. In addition to Walter Lange and Anthony de Haas, Lange Product Development Director, the jury also included watch reporters Gisbert L. Brunner and Peter Braun, and Peter Plassmeyer, director of the Mathematical and Logistics Exhibition Hall in Dresden. The criteria for evaluating works are the innovative and original, functional, technical quality, craftsmanship and artistic performance of the work’s conception.

   Since there were no clear winners in all the criteria, the jury decided to double the runners-up to the two competitors whose originality in design and the pursuit of detail were relatively outstanding.

List of all entries

Langer CEO Wilhelm Schmid (first from left) and company founder Walter Langer (first from right) present awards to Daniel Neugebauer (next to Wilhelm Schmid) and Bennie RL Hernandez (next to Walter Lange)- **

Hublot has been committed to promoting extraordinary aesthetic concepts, color mysteries, and innovative materials for many years. The Big Bang Unico Magic Sapphire Watch, as its name suggests, combines iconic classic design, Hublot’s in-house movement, the extraordinary ‘Art of Fusion’ and much-loved innovative materials. Based on its superior technology in the field of sapphire cutting, Hublot has once again challenged the limits, further simplifying the case and optimizing parts. ‘Invisible is visible’ or ‘visible is not visible’, the two complement each other. Hublot practices this statement, combining ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’.

   In 2016, Hublot wrote a new chapter in the history of the brand, creating another ‘first’ in the field of sapphire cutting, successfully changing the arrogant role of sapphire ‘rare and limited’. Hublot takes full advantage of this unique technology to create 500 new Big Bang cases with sapphires of almost the same hardness as diamonds. This complex material with excellent scratch resistance and super transparency is carved into the classic shape of the Big Bang case under the magic of Hublot. In the continuous pursuit of excellence, Hublot brings together all the experience accumulated during the creation of the Big Bang Unico Sapphire Watch and the Big Bang Unico Sapphire Black Watch to develop this new watch. Adhering to the minimalist concept of ‘less is more’, the new watch has an extremely simple structure, which not only makes assembly simple and easy, but also greatly improves transparency and durability. Titanium inserts are no longer placed on the bezel and case back, making the case more transparent and visible. The integrated design of the bezel and case back also greatly enhances the watch’s resistance to impact.

Opposition game
   The Big Bang Unico Magic Sapphire watch perfectly blends ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’, simplifying complexity and turning ordinary into magic, but so natural, as if everything should be. The middle, bezel and back of the case are crystal clear, while the dial adheres to the brand’s ‘black magic’ aesthetic texture and details, which are in sharp contrast. The black skeleton dial is also equipped with the iconic red seconds hand. The strap is made of black natural rubber, returning to the original brand. The duality of ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’ sets the main tone of this watch. Under the effect of transparency and hollow, Hublot’s self-produced movement UNICO HUB124 is clearly visible on the side of the dial. In addition, in terms of water resistance, this new watch can dive underwater for about 50 meters.

   This watch once again demonstrates the audacious pioneering spirit of Hublot, setting countless precedents in the history of watchmaking. Rich watchmaking experience, endless curiosity, and infinite passion to become Hublot’s eternal power to create brilliant achievements. With months of research and development and millions of investment, Hublot has completely overturned its role setting while retaining the special nature and scarcity of sapphire, making it a unique and exclusive “base model”.
   Where is the next challenge?

Big Bang Unico Magic Sapphire Watch
Technical Specifications:
Serial number: 411.JX.1170.RX-Limited collection of 500 pieces
Case: 45 mm diameter, polished sapphire
Bezel: Polished Sapphire, 6 ‘H’ Titanium Screws-Countersunk, Polished Lock
Mirror: Sapphire mirror with anti-reflective coating, engraved with Hublot logo
Lugs: polished transparent synthetic resin
Crown: Brushed satin-finished titanium
Button: Satin brushed titanium
Case back: polished sapphire
Waterproof depth: 5 standard atmospheric pressure (about 50 meters underwater)
Dial: Black matte cutout
Hands: white fluorescent coating
Movement: HUB1242 UNICO
Hublot independently develops and manufactures a self-winding flyback chronograph movement, with column wheels and dual clutches visible on the side of the dial
Date: 3 o’clock position window
Power reserve: about 72 hours
Strap: black engraved natural rubber
Buckle: titanium folding buckle