The perfect Monday morning watch - caffeinated Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin (2023)

Who would have thought? Hublot and Nespresso have teamed up to create the perfect watch for their Monday morning coffee corner talk show: the Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin. This 42mm chronograph is limited to 200 pieces and the lightweight alloy used for the case, bezel, pushers and crown contains 28% aluminum from recycled Nespresso cups. The watch comes in a box made from traceable oak, while the two straps are made from recycled material and contain a small amount of coffee grounds. However, despite this composition, the belt does not have the aroma of coffee. The new "green" and bright green big bang is a second life luxury that will not save the planet but can create awareness. It also raises many reflections and questions.

Nespresso is a brand of Nestlé, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland.HublotCall Nyon your home. The small town on the coast of Lac Léman is located in the canton of Vaud, like the world's largest listed food company. The collaboration between these two "neighbors" is part of the Nespresso Second Life initiative that started seven years ago. With Hublot watches already featured at an event highlighting the high standards in Switzerland, it was time for a collaborative project. The result is a watch made from recycled aluminum Nespresso capsules and even coffee grounds, the very green Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin. But the big question is: is this your coffee?

The Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin doesn't smell like coffee at all

Do you remember the vanilla gummies? I thought - no, I hoped - that when I first saw the Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin from afar, the included rubber strap smelled like Master Origins Peru Organic. This is the fruity organic coffee made from Arabica beans, in the same green color as the latest Big Bang. but it's not the truth. But there is coffee in it. The light green strap contains 4.1% coffee grounds, 8.2% recycled white rubber and the virgin rubber normally used by Hublot. You can find more coffee in the extra fabric strap. This watch strap from SingTex - one of the Nespresso partners that uses recycled coffee grounds to create a fabric called Scaffold - is made from 5 percent coffee grounds and 95 percent recycled polyester. Like the rubber band, it doesn't smell like coffee.

200 watches, 800 Nespresso capsules

The watch itself closely resembles a Peruvian bio-aluminum capsule. In fact, the case, bezel, crown, and pushers are all anodized the same vibrant green. The Nespresso “N” is even engraved on the crown. The aluminum parts of the 42mm Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin are partially brushed and polished and are made of an alloy that comes from 28% Nespresso coffee capsules. Recycled, pressed aluminum blocks from Nespresso capsules are sent to a smelter in Italy. More recycled aluminum is then added to the final alloy, as the encapsulating material is too soft for use in watch parts.

28% corresponds to about four Nespresso capsules per watch. As this is a limited edition of 200 watches, the collaboration gives a second life to 800 Nespresso coffee capsules. Given that people drink an average of four glasses of Nespresso a day, the average person can supply enough capsules for a production run in just over six and a half months.

Hublot H1, made in Nyon

Hublot will not save the planet

Of course, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin isn't going to save the planet. Not even the case back made of recycled eco-titanium, the watch holder or the folding clasp on the rubber strap help. But perhaps the watch can highlight the importance of recycling, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe said in an interview ahead of the watch's co-launch:

“A mechanical watch is the most durable thing I know. With the right care, it can last forever.” Nespresso approached us with the idea of ​​making watches through recycling and upcycling. And two, in my opinion. Ein Unterleben.” A product can become a luxury item, so we took the idea and rose to the challenge. I believe watches are products associated with the evolution of today's consumer tastes. The combination of luxury and sustainability is also in line with our art of fusion philosophy. As Hublot, we have also positioned Nespresso in the high-end segment. Nespresso introduced the Hublot name to many people, some of whom may never have heard of us.”

Almost 100% automated and efficient production

Ricardo Guadalupe, who drinks cappuccino until 11 a.m. and then switches to espresso up to four cups a day, also points out when we talk about sustainability and environmental protection that the brand new Hublot Manufacture H3 Nyon is under construction for sustainable development.“It is made from recycled materials and has an automatic efficiency of almost 100%. The aim of the new production plant is not to double our production, but to verticalize it. We will produce more of our own watches and more materials in-house, such as carbon fiber.

Reusable Hublot green box case

The very green Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin fits perfectly into the Hublot range. Colorful watches made of exotic materials are no strangers to the brand's customers. For this reason,25.500 EuroThe metallic green Big Bang Unico doesn't surprise you in the least, both in terms of price and design. The bright green watch doesn't look like anyone's (Hublot) first watch either. But the brand also has other watches that fill that role with a more muted mix of colors and materials. The Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin is above all an emblematic watch. This is a creation that wants to design a creation that can add value to recycled raw materials.

In keeping with the theme, this watch comes in a Hublot Greenbox case. A completely new case will be used for all future watches. It is made entirely of traceable oak wood, including the hinges, and is designed as a reusable item. When you take out the interior, which is made of 98% eco-friendly and recycled components, you can put your car keys inside. Even tea(!).

Some talking points in the Coffee Corner

Aluminum is a popular metal for a reason. It's light and versatile - you can use it to build bikes and pods that keep coffee fresh. Because aluminum is the most recyclable industrial material, it can be melted down and reused without loss of quality. Recycling aluminum requires only 5% of the energy required to extract virgin aluminum from ore. existStanford University website, I have read the following:“Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy it would take to produce the same amount of aluminum from the original source. One ton of recycled aluminum saves 14,000 kWh of energy (...)"

But what would happen if Nespresso chose a biodegradable material instead of aluminum for its capsules? This would be more sustainable as all aspects of the recycling process would be eliminated, from the trucks driving back and forth to the furnaces used to melt the aluminum. Well, a new family of compostable paper capsules is on the market. Capsules contain 82% paper and biodegradable polymers. After the morning coffee, the used capsules end up in the home composter along with all the other organic waste. This spring, new biodegradable Nespresso capsules will be tested in France and Switzerland. A wider European launch is also planned for later this year. Apparently, Nespresso is responding to the availability of third-party compostable capsules like Woken and Halo.

Is Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin your favorite coffee?

Should Nespresso stop producing its aluminum capsules entirely - which is highly unlikely anytime soon, given that the latest Vertue system, for example, is only two years old - a range of Hublot Big Bang watches will feature the most popular coffee-flavored color at all, which is not possible. But since the partnership between Nespresso and Hublot isn't a one-off deal, the next recycled aluminum Big Bang could be painted purple. why is it purple If you must ask: you are not a Nespresso drinker. Purple is the color of Arpeggio, one of the best-selling flavors of all time.

Does it contain caffeine?Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Originyour coffee? Have you thought about the color/flavor of your next collaboration? Do you end up drinking Nespresso coffee or would you prefer to prepare your coffee differently? Let me know in the comments.

find and follow meLex Stolk • Instagram.