I've read that the Hublot "Unico" in-house movement was based on the design of the famous Valjoux/ETA 7750. Is this true? The silicon escapement is an obvious improvement over the 7750, but what other improvements were made?
It would be a nonsense to design, develop and produce an in-house movement based on 7750. It would then be better to copy and produce the 7750 as it is today patent free. UNICO is based on the dimensions of 7750. And that's it. For all the rest is a total unique and innovative movement. The idea to build UNICO in the same dimension than 7750 is to enable one day to anybody to change (in the same case, same dial, same hands and so on) from 7750 to UNICO. That again is a total new concept that no brand has ever tried to make. The major improvement compared to 7750 is the column wheel, the double gearing and the chronograph on the side of the dial.