Rare is the opportunity to own a truly unique timepiece and at the same time contribute to solving one of the developing world’s most challenging problems. The Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode “The Singles” Limited Edition collection, unveiled this past January and now nearly sold out, offers that opportunity, with the net proceeds from the sale of each watch going to charity: water, an organization devoted to bringing drinking water to needy countries.

The watch is the latest to spring from the eight-year partnership between Hublot and Depeche Mode, the legendary electronic pop band whose 37-year career has spawned sales of more than 100 million records worldwide and whose co-founder, guitarist and chief songwriter Martin Gore, has been a longtime supporter of charity: water. Limited to just 55 pieces worldwide ? one for each of the band’s 55 singles since its founding in 1981 ? the watches all have 45-mm black ceramic cases with a striking knurled and polished finish; knurled and black-plated titanium crown and chronograph push-pieces; and rock-‘n’-roll-inspired straps with rubber studs. All are equipped with Hublot’s in-house-made, self-winding Unico caliber, notable for its skeletonized design, 72-hour power reserve, and integrated flyback chronograph function with column-wheel control.
The watches all differ from each other, however, in significant respects, as each one has a dial designed to evoke the record cover of the song it...