A daring revolutionary in the world of watchmaking, Hublot continues to go where no other watch brand has gone before. Guided by the “Art of Fusion,” the renowned Swiss manufacturer has successfully championed the bringing together of unconventional materials since its inception. This year, Hublot celebrates the 20th anniversary of its most iconic timepiece—the Big Bang—with a collection that showcases not only its prowess in audacious design but also its exceptional take on unprecedented material development.
Hublot entered the world of luxury watchmaking in the 1980s with the aim to create a timepiece that was equal parts sporty and opulent. With a nautical-inspired design, the model featured the combination of two materials that seemingly came from opposing worlds: gold and rubber. This creation was the fulfilment of the brand’s founder, Carlo Crocco, who dreamt of a watch that he could rely on for sailing and can also look elegant when worn at formal events with a suit and tie. In 2005, this idea of fusion was once again used for the Big Bang, albeit with an astounding maximalist design and oversized yet ergonomic proportions.
The timepiece’s introduction into haute horology could be likened to the cosmic event, from which it derives its name. The Big Bang paved the way for an entire ever-expanding repertoire and ushered in a new era for contemporary watchmaking. Not only a spark that ignited the brand’s path, the Big Bang also mesmerised the entire industry, garnering numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious GPHG 2005 “Design Watch” prize. But this was only the beginning.
Under its “Art of Fusion” philosophy, Hublot broke the established rules and pursued absolute creative freedom in the production of its timepieces, particularly the Big Bang. In the years since, the Swiss manufacturer has raised the stakes by creating new materials, reimagined ages-old mechanical complications and transcended the barriers between horology, contemporary art, and culture. Because of its interstellar appeal, the Big Bang has become an enduring icon, one that never ceases to amaze and astound, while also offering a glimpse into the future of watchmaking. But before we unveil the latest additions to this impeccable line, let us first take a quick look at the Big Bang’s history.
A bold departure from the traditional idea of a watch, the original Big Bang made a huge impression. It was an oversized offering at 44 mm diameter and had very distinct features: six H-shaped exposed screws on its bezel, an unconventional case, a rubber strap, as well as the cutting-edge usage of steel, ceramic, and titanium. Novel and unexpected, the Big Bang caught everyone’s attention and it became a phenomenal success.
Through the years, the Big bang has been rendered in a wide variety of materials, including ceramic, gold and titanium, just to name a few. Because of its incredible appeal, the watch has been viewed as the very model of the “Art of Fusion.” It has been used to introduce the brand’s achievements in material development, including black ceramic in 2006, the world’s only scratch-resistant Full Magic Gold in 2015, transparent sapphire in 2016, the first vibrantly coloured red ceramic in 2018, and benefited from being equipped with the Unico movement in 2013. Regardless of what material it’s made of, the Big Bang continues to soar to unbelievable heights.
For its 20th anniversary, Hublot revisits some of the most significant milestones in the collection’s history. Once again turning to the “Art of Fusion,” it combines the original Big Bang design with the current Big Bang Unico, creating five singular pieces that link the past, present and future. The 43 mm models come in a redesigned case with a unique layered construction, with pinched lugs and a knurled bezel edge, reminiscent of the earliest Big Bangs. The distinctive silhouette of the line houses engraved dials bearing a carbon fibre-inspired relief motif as well as riveted Arabic numerals and indexes, also derived from the initial Big Bangs, but now filled with Super-LumiNova, just like the Big Bang Unico watches. On the dial are two counters, one for the small seconds at 9 o’clock, and one for the minutes of the chronograph at 3 o’clock.
The timepieces are now driven by the Unico automatic manufacture chronograph movement, which features a commemorative gold rotor marking the 20th anniversary of this modern icon. Equipping them with a 72-hour power reserve and a frequency of 4 Hz, the movement also drives the date display at 4.30. The five novelties come with a structured rubber strap that highlights a treaded lozenge pattern, similar to the very first Big Bangs. The strap is fastened using the Big Bang Unico’s One Click strap-change mechanism integrated in the case.
Paying tribute to the first two versions of the Big Bang released in 2005, the Big Bang 20th anniversary Titanium Ceramic and the Big Bang 20th Anniversary King Gold Ceramic highlight the combination of steel or gold, fibreglass, rubber and ceramic. They boast cases measuring 43 mm in diameter, complete with slightly curved pinched lugs. With a polished bezel complete with a knurled bezel edge representative of early Big Bang references, the watches mark the return of rubber-tipped rectangular pushers. Enhancing readability are red accents on the chronograph indicators as well as Super-LumiNova filled Arabic numerals and hour markers. The Big Bang 20th anniversary Titanium Ceramic is available in a limited edition of 500 pieces, while the Big Bang 20th Anniversary King Gold Ceramic is limited to 250 pieces.
From the marriage of materials to innovative material development, Hublot presents the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Red Magic, Big Bang 20th Anniversary All Black, and the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Full Magic Gold. The Big Bang 20th Anniversary Red Magic is a representation of the brand’s triumph in mastering vibrantly coloured ceramic. Recalling the red ceramic Hublot used for the Big Bang in 2018—the first of the brand’s in-house developed and produced coloured ceramic—this novel offering symbolises the Big Bang’s evolution and the long journey Hublot has taken to consistently raise the bar in watchmaking. The Big Bang 20th Anniversary Red Magic is available in a limited edition of 100 pieces.
The Big Bang 20th Anniversary All Black, on the other hand, brings back the bold concept of “invisible visibility,” first unveiled in 2006 with the first Big Bang All Black limited edition. This dramatic and game-changing take on timekeeping pertains to the absence of all colours, whereby details, such as the time, can only be revealed once light is cast on the model. Truly mesmerising, the stealthy illusion is wonderfully undertaken in the Big Bang 20th Anniversary All Black. Crafted in matt and polished black ceramic, the timepiece has an inconspicuous black carbon-pattern dial. The 43 mm commemorative watch is limited to 500 pieces.
Completing the anniversary offerings is the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Full Magic Gold, featuring one of Hublot’s first forays into the world of advanced materials. Announced in 2011 as the world’s first and only scratch-resistant 18-carat gold alloy, Magic Gold represents the Hublot R&D department’s journey in looking for new solutions for creativity and doing away with the limitations of traditional materials and metals. Magic Gold combines the resilience of ceramic with the shine and lustre of gold, resulting in a unique material that exhibits a golden hue with a slight green tint, combined with a hardness that makes it resistant to scratches and oxidation. With Big Bang 20th Anniversary Full Magic Gold, Hublot takes time-telling into the future and beyond.
A true celebration of the Big Bang, as well as the “Art of Fusion” philosophy found at the heart of the brand, the tribute watches are a demonstration of Hublot’s innovative spirit and how far the brand has come in the last two decades. On the commemorative Big Bang 20th Anniversary editions, Hublot CEO Julien Tornare has this to say, “The Hublot Big Bang is undoubtedly one of the modern icons of 21st century watchmaking. This year, we’re not only looking back at all that Hublot has achieved through the Big Bang, but also looking towards the future and all the potential it still holds and possibilities it offers. I am immensely proud of what the Big Bang 20th Anniversary capsule collection represents by bridging the nostalgia of 20 years ago with the present and future of what the Hublot manufacture is capable of accomplishing. Here’s to the next 20 years!”
