Over the last 10 years, the rhino has seen its numbers drop by 90%. On average, three wild rhinos are killed every day, leaving fewer than 30,000 currently alive across the world.
In 2018, former international cricket star and Hublot ambassador Kevin Pietersen founded SORAI -- Save Our Rhino Africa India -- whose works include supporting grassroots organisations that rescue abandoned, injured and orphaned endangered species.
Among the organisations is Care For Wild, the world's largest orphan rhino sanctuary located in Barberton Nature Reserve in South Africa.
The most substantial threat is poaching. 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, which can fetch more per kilo than gold.
Since 2019 Hublot has supported SORAI's mission in conserving the rhino -- one of the "Big Five" species requiring protection and the second-largest land mammal after the elephant.
Just as with the two previous limited editions, part of the proceeds from the sale of the new Big Bang Unico SORAI will help fund a crucially important cause.
"Saving the rhino is an urgent matter for both the planet and future generations. We felt it was entirely natural to join forces with Kevin Pietersen in his race against time to beat the poachers. Through our limited-edition watches, we 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 shared aim of shielding this endangered species," said Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe.
A distinct feature of the third limited edition is its sunset hues, evoking the heightened danger of nightfall when poachers come after rhinos.
Hublot developed its ceramic in a rhino-grey shade for the micro-blasted and polished ceramic case, which is paired with an openworked dial featuring the colours of the sunset.
Powered by a UNICO 2 manufacture self-winding chronograph flyback movement with a 72-hour power reserve, the 44mm model can be worn with a grey fabric strap or a rubber strap with a black, orange and purple camouflage pattern.
Proceeds from the sale of the Big Bang Unico SORAI will be used to fund ranger backup, equip helicopters with cameras, raise awareness of the consequences of poaching and other conservation efforts.
The implementation will focus on South Africa, home to more than 80% of the world's total population of rhinos, including the white species inhabiting Kruger National Park, where the majority of poaching takes place.
"Hublot is helping our vital actions on the ground," said Pietersen. "However, in order to act we first need to raise public awareness, increase publicity and make this a visible cause. Hublot also voices our cause to bring it to global attention. In the three years since we began this joint venture, it has yielded concrete results.''
