Maxime Plescia-Büchi is a tattoo artist. His Geneva studio, Sang Bleu, has tattooed the forearms and necks and shoulders of athletes, musicians, and some of the most influential people alive. His visual language — geometric, precise, deeply considered — reads in skin the way certain perfumes read in a room: unmistakably present, impossible to ignore. When Hublot brought him into their creative process, the result was a watch that looks like it was designed by someone who had never seen a watch before, and who was better for it.
The Story
The collaboration between Hublot and Sang Bleu is now in its third generation, each iteration refining the geometric visual language that Plescia-Büchi introduced to watchmaking. The hexagonal bezel and case shape were at the time of launch utterly alien to watch design conventions. They remain, several years later, genuinely difficult to imitate. The casino dimension of the Sang Bleu is not literal — there are no playing cards, no roulette wheels. It is tonal: the black ceramic case, the aggressive geometry, the sense that wearing this watch communicates a decision. The decision being: I don't care what you think is acceptable.
The Mechanism
The HUB1300 UNICO movement is one of Hublot's most accomplished achievements: a flyback chronograph with column wheel and dual clutch, produced entirely in-house. The movement is visible through the front of the watch via a partially skeletonised dial — the geometric bridges echoing the exterior case design in a rare instance of form and function achieving genuine coherence. At 72 hours of power reserve, it will survive a long weekend in Monaco without touching a watch winder. The ceramic case is virtually impervious to scratching and develops no patina. It will look exactly the same in twenty years. Whether that's a feature or a limitation depends on your relationship with impermanence.
On the Wrist
Forty-five millimetres in black ceramic is a statement. It is not a subtle watch. The Sang Bleu was designed to be seen, not to blend in. On the wrist, the case edges catch light differently than a conventional round case — the hexagonal geometry creates shadows that shift as the arm moves. The integrated bracelet, also ceramic, sits flat against the wrist without the gap that plagues conventional metal bracelets. It is, in the vocabulary of luxury watches, genuinely comfortable. The kind of comfortable that surprises you, because nothing about the watch's appearance suggests comfort was a consideration.
“It was designed by someone who had never seen a watch before. He was better for it.”
How to Acquire It
Hublot boutiques and authorised dealers carry the Sang Bleu. Waiting times vary by configuration — the full black ceramic version in steel is the most available; the more exotic materials (King Gold, titanium) require patience. Hublot's Genève boutique maintains a priority list for significant clients. Pre-owned examples trade approximately 10–15% above retail, reflecting consistent demand. For the ceramic variant, retail through an authorised dealer is the most reliable route. For King Gold, be prepared for a 6-month wait minimum.
- →Retail purchase is straightforward for ceramic variants — no significant waiting list.
- →The King Gold and titanium configurations require boutique relationship; budget 6+ months.
- →Pair with the rubber strap for summer; the ceramic bracelet for formal environments.
