The symbolism behind Novak Djokovic and Hublot’s first collaborative watch
In partnership with ambassador Novak Djokovic, the luxury Swiss watchmaker has engineered a limited edition watch inspired by the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s game. Naturally, it's a sustainable design feat
By Amy Campbell
IT IS NOT JUST an exceptional watch, the product of a deep and collaborative research and development process. The Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic is also a rare and highly unique talisman; a piece of history sought after by serious watch collectors and tennis fans alike.
Announced this week, the watch is bursting with symbolism, with nods to Djokovic’s game to be found at every angle. There’s the shape of its bezels, which, slightly domed and curved, are reminiscent of tennis balls. The Novak Djokovic logo is visible on the second hand as well as the oscillating weight, while the second pusher is bright yellow. An elastic strap – one of four bracelet options – which, when snapped onto the watch, sees the combination weigh less than a tennis ball.
Then there’s the boundary-pushing composite, a first of its kind. Crafted from 25 HEAD rackets and 32 Lacoste shirts used by the Serbian superstar throughout his 2023 season – the same season he became the first man in the Open Era to win 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles – it’s flecked with fragments of light and dark blue, colours that call to mind certain court surfaces, including the one Djokvic will take to in Melbourne this coming January.
“This new watch is an extension of [my] mindset and represents key moments from my 2023 season, a landmark year in my career,” says Djokvic of his eponymous timepiece. “It is a symbol of every game, every moment. It has been an incredible experience to collaborate with Hublot to create this special watch.”
Of course, this isn’t just symbolism for symbolism’s sake. Hublot and Djokovic share a love for rising to challenges, and here, they sought to create a feather-light watch with sustainability front of mind. More than just a cool feature, the shirts and racquets bring a recycled component to the composite, which has been developed and used to make the watch as light as possible without compromising on strength or resilience.
Meanwhile, in place of traditional sapphire crystal, Hublot has developed a tempered Gorilla glass for the case, a material most commonly used in high-end electronics. It weighs two-times less than sapphire, making it perfect for wearing while sending double-handed backhands down the line, yet stylish enough to take off the court and into your day.
Currently ranked seventh in the world, Djokvic has been a proud Hublot ambassador since 2021. But this is the first time the tennis player commonly referred to as the G.O.A.T. has worked directly with the brand on a watch bearing his own name.
Turning pro in 2003 and winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2008, while spending a record 428 weeks as world number one – the most total time at the top of the ATP rankings since they began in 1973 – there were plenty of milestones for the partnership to mine for inspiration, Djokovic’s 2024 Olympic gold medal included. Across the board, his incredible record-breaking achievements, strength and determination influenced the innovation of this Big Bang Unico, but it’s Djokovic’s historic 2023 season that’s (quite literally) captured in this watch.
Limited to only 100 pieces and housed in a sustainably sourced wooden box featuring a unique design created exclusively for this edition, we can say with certainty: as far as upcoming releases go, this watch is destined to make a very, very big bang.
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