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Chef Nobu Matsuhisa spotted wearing Hublot

Nobu Matsuhisa, the chef whose name has become synonymous with Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine across six continents, was recently photographed wearing the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang 'West Coast' in black and white ceramic, reference 641.CI.0112.VR.EWC17 — a limited edition that sits at a distinctive intersection of horological craft and West Coast cultural identity.

The Spirit of Big Bang line was introduced by Hublot as a tonneau-shaped evolution of the iconic Big Bang silhouette, first shown in 2016. Where the original Big Bang is round and architecturally assertive, the Spirit stretches its case into a barrel form measuring 42mm, pulling the movement into a more elongated and arguably more legible display. Reference 641.CI.0112.VR.EWC17 is built from a combination of black and white ceramic — a material Hublot has long championed for its scratch resistance and matte depth — and features a fully skeletonized dial that reveals the HUB4700 self-winding movement beneath. That calibre operates at 28,800 vph, offers approximately 50 hours of power reserve, and is decorated with a level of finishing consistent with Hublot's manufacture standards.

The 'West Coast' designation places this reference within a geographically themed limited series, giving it a collector identity beyond standard production. The black-and-white ceramic pairing is not merely aesthetic shorthand — ceramic components require sintering at extremely high temperatures and demand significant tooling investment, making two-tone ceramic cases a genuine technical achievement rather than a finishing decision. The skeletonized dial amplifies this, requiring hand-finishing of individual bridges and plates.

Nobu Matsuhisa has cultivated a global profile that moves comfortably between culinary prestige and luxury lifestyle. With Nobu restaurants in over 50 locations worldwide and a growing hotel portfolio, his personal choices in dress and accessories carry genuine cultural weight. The Spirit of Big Bang 'West Coast' — designed, in spirit, for a creative and entrepreneurial West Coast clientele — maps naturally onto his brand identity.

At a list price of approximately $25,000 USD, the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang 'West Coast' ref. 641.CI.0112.VR.EWC17 occupies the mid-to-upper tier of Hublot's catalog. Grey market values for limited ceramic Spirit of Big Bang references have remained relatively stable, trading near or slightly below retail depending on condition and box-and-papers completeness.