Nicolas Cage Just Wore the Most Nicolas Cage Watch Ever

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At Cannes in support of his new film The Surfer, Nicolas Cage was spotted in the horological equivalent of his idiosyncratic thespian aura: the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Neon Saxem in bright yellow.

<h1 class="title">"The Surfer" Photocall - The 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival</h1><cite class="credit">Daniele Venturelli</cite>

"The Surfer" Photocall - The 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Daniele Venturelli

Dressed in a desert-tan Zegna suit similar to the one he sports in the film, Cage slyly strapped on a true head-turner of a timepiece. Measuring 44 millimeters, it’s actually quite the feat of industrial engineering, regardless of whether or not you’re taken in by its outrageous color. (More on that in a second.) Made from Saxem—a material used in satellites and lasers—its case is an alloy of aluminum oxide, thulium, holmium, and chromium. The result is a case that shines bright and feels, in-hand, kind of like a toy. (But in an endearing, scientifically fascinating way.)

Hublot is an expert in working with unique types of sapphire, and this watch is no exception. Its dial, however, is even more of a show-stopper: Beneath the crystal, the HUB6035 automatic movement is completely exposed, with a micro-rotor visible at 12 o’clock and a tourbillon spinning away at 6 o’clock. Three sapphire bridges hold everything neatly in place, but they’re designed to be invisible such that the movement components appear to be floating. (Ditto for the track holding the applied, luminous Arabic indices.) Paired to a matching, transparent yellow rubber strap with a titanium deployant buckle clasp, its significant size is mitigated by Saxem’s light weight—though we can’t say the same for the price tag, which is $220,000 for one of just 50 pieces.

Founded in 1980 by Italian entrepreneur Carlo Crocco, Hublot modeled its watch bezels after a ship’s porthole—“hublot” in French—and paired precious metal cases with rubber straps. This high-low combination found the maison some success, but it was with the arrival of Jean-Claude Biver in 2004 and the debut of the Big Bang in 2005 that sales truly took off. Known for their huge profiles, bright colors, and unique materials, Hublots wares are not for those aiming for sartorial subtlety.

Cage, for his part, owns several colorful watches, and this isn’t the first time he’s been spotted in a Hublot: He’s also rocked the Big Bang Unico Red Sapphire, a similarly advanced piece with a ruby-red case and black rubber strap. A star of freaky thrillers and big action blockbusters, Cage is ready for the Neon Saxem. The only question is: Is the Neon Saxem ready for him?

Originally Appeared on GQ