ublot has been supporting SORAI – Save Our Rhinos Africa and India – since 2019, an organisation founded by its ambassador and former international cricket star Kevin Pietersen. His work helps keep rhinos threatened with extinction safe from poachers. As with the two previous limited editions, part of the proceeds from the sale of the 100 Big Bang Unico SORAI will be donated to the organisation. The colours chosen for the third limited edition are those of sunset, recalling the heightened danger faced by rhinos as night falls. Here, the sun is a symbol of hope, of a new dawn.

“If purchasing a watch can buy time, then it is a small gesture with huge implications. Saving the rhino is an urgent matter for both the planet and future generations. When brand ambassador and former international cricketer Kevin Pietersen launched SORAI in 2018, we felt it was entirely natural to join forces with him in his race against time to beat the poachers. We have used our limited editions to help him gain access to more state-of-the-art technologies on the ground, put together more surveillance teams, as well as rescue injured or orphaned rhinos, with the single shared aim of shielding this endangered species,” said Ricardo Guadalupe Hublot CEO

One of the “Big Five” and the second largest mammal after the elephant, the rhino has seen its numbers drop by 90% over the last ten years. On average, three wild rhinos are killed every day, leaving fewer than 30,000 rhinos currently alive across the world. And while trade in rhino horn has been banned internationally since 1977 by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), poachers continue to hunt and kill rhinos for their horns, whose price is worth more per kilo than gold.

Since 2018, SORAI has supported projects to protect endangered animals, identify new technologies to combat poaching (thermal cameras, GPS tracking of animals) and raise awareness of the need to protect these endangered species. In line with its motto, “BE THE CHANGE”, SORAI is pushing change and working to prevent poaching and hunting. There are many ways to combat poaching (raising public awareness, education, law enforcement, transmitters for tracking animals, increasing ranger numbers and creating sanctuaries for injured or orphaned animals). However, prevention and active rangers on the ground remain the most effective tools.

Proceeds from the sale of the Big Bang Unico SORAI will go directly to projects supported by SORAI to equip helicopters with cameras, raise awareness in schools about the consequences of poaching and to provide backup to rangers on the ground. These strategies are implemented where the need is biggest and most pressing: South Africa. South Africa is home to more than 80% of the world’s total population of rhinos, with the majority of poaching taking place in Kruger National Park, as it has the largest population of wild white rhinos left on earth.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

DIAL

• Matte grey skeleton with “Rhinoceros” applique at 09:00

CASE

• Micro-blasted and polished grey ceramic with “One-Click” system
• Diameter: 44 mm
• Thickness: 14.50 mm
• Water Resistant: 100 m

MOVEMENT

• MHUB1280 UNICO 2
• Manufacture self- winding chronograph flyback movement with column wheel
• Frequency (Hz): 4 (28’800 A/h)
• Power reserve: Approx. 72 hours
• Number of components: 354
• Jewels: 43

CASE BACK

• Micro-blasted grey ceramic and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment with SORAI logo

STRAP AND BUCKLE

• Grey fabric strap with micro-blasted black ceramic buckle
• Additional black rubber with black, orange and purple camouflage decor
• Black ceramic and black-plated titanium deployant buckle clasp

BEZEL

• Micro-blasted and polished grey ceramic

PRICE

• 22,900 CHF

Limited to 100 pieces