THE SINGULARITY OF AN ICON: HUBLOT UNVEILS A FUSION OF THE BIG BANG ORIGINAL AND BIG BANG UNICO FOR THE COLLECTION’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
20 years can seem like a long time. But time is relative, and in the case of the Big Bang, two decades have gone by in a blink. In that time, Hublot has forged itself into the undisputed leader of innovation in materials, design and technicity. Hublot and its Big Bang have gone from one showstopper to another, ceaselessly reinventing the codes and building on a spirit of revolution, audacity and playfulness. With many world-firsts and genre-defying feats, the Big Bang will go down in history as the first truly iconic watch of the 21st century and a beacon of creativity in a field
that’s usually confined by history and tradition. A true point of singularity, after which nothing can be the same.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the manufacture’s most emblematic collection, Hublot has revisited some of the most significant milestones in the collection’s history in a true act of fusion, combining the original Big Bang’s design with the current Big Bang Unico, resulting in five limited edition Big Bang models. Each of the five editions combines the most emblematic details from the first Big Bang models and the later Big Bang Unico, making these 20th anniversary pieces commemorative by bridging the past, present and future of the Big Bang.
All five models feature a redesigned case with the distinctive layered construction that recalls the earliest Big Bangs with pinched lugs and a knurled bezel edge, as well as the distinctive Big Bang silhouette. The engraved dials with a carbon fibre-inspired relief motif feature the iconic riveted Arabic numerals and indexes and, just like the original Big Bangs, but this time filled with Super-LumiNova like the Big Bang Unico models.
The dial features two counters, one for the small seconds at 9 o’clock and one for the minutes of the chronograph at 3 o’clock, though now driven by the Unico automatic manufacture chronograph movement, with a commemorative gold rotor marking the 20th anniversary of this modern icon. The structured rubber strap with a treaded lozenge pattern, reminiscent of the very first Big Bangs, is fastened to the case using the Big Bang Unico’s One Click strap-change mechanism integrated in the case. With these five editions, Hublot sought to highlight a selection of materials that stand out as the manufacture’s source of pride, which have earned it immense expertise to create truly outstanding pieces.
Titanium Ceramic & King Gold Ceramic back to where it all begins, the original fusion. When the Big Bang entered the scene in 2005, it did so with two versions that would set the tone for the collection according to the philosophy of the “Art of fusion”, earning Hublot and the Big Bang world recognition. The combination of steel or gold, fibreglass, rubber and ceramic with a patterned dial recalling the woven look of carbon fibre and just a touch of red is immediately identifiable. For the Big Bang 20th Anniversary editions, limited to 500 pieces in titanium ceramic and 250 pieces in King Gold ceramic, Hublot has optimized every detail. The case features a new 43mm diameter, with slightly curved pinched lugs. The polished bezel brings back the knurled bezel edge that was a prominent feature of the earliest Big Bang models. It also marks the reappearance of the rubber-tipped rectangular pushers found in the first Big Bang references, along with the textured lozenge patterned rubber strap, which is easily swappable thanks the One-Click system integrated in the case.
The carbon-patterned dial has also been redesigned for an even more dramatic three-dimensional visual impact and more pronounced interplay of shadows and textures. Taking cues from the Big Bang Unico, the Arabic numerals and hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova for optimal legibility in all situations. The red accents on the chronograph indicators further enhance the readability. Powered by the Unico automatic flyback chronograph manufacture calibre, the Big Bang 20th anniversary pieces feature a special gold oscillating weight, and a specially engraved crown with rubber insert features a special Hublot 20th anniversary logo.
Red Ceramic has always played an integral role in the genesis and evolution of the Big Bang. But what Hublot has done in the past years is truly pushing the envelope by producing ceramic in vivid colours that the world of watchmaking has never seen before. No small feat, coloured ceramic are extremely difficult to master. From selecting the right pigments to applying the right pressures and temperatures to maintain the material’s structural integrity and keep the colour homogenous, a lot of trial and error is required to get it just right as the process has to be adapted for each colour. The first of Hublot’s in- house developed and made coloured ceramics was red ceramic, first unveiled in 2018. To mark this important achievement as the first of many developments in which Hublot stands at the forefront of innovation, the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Red Magic edition of 100 pieces completes the quintet of commemorative pieces. The combination of bright red ceramic with a carbon-patterned dial is as evocative as it is boldly and proudly singular.
All Black few design codes have been as dramatic and game-changing in contemporary watch design as Hublot’s All Black. A daring and unprecedented concept first unveiled in 2006 with the first Big Bang All Black limited edition, the watch broke all the norms that we had come to expect from a luxury timepiece. The focus wasn’t functionality or readability, but to a bold concept of “invisible visibility” whereby stripping away all colours and light offers a mesmerizing and stealthy allure where even the most miniscule details shine under a different light. For the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang, Hublot is once again reinterpreting this defiant concept in the Big Bang 20th Anniversary All Black Edition.
Crafted in matte & polished black ceramic, the 43mm case gives way to a black carbon-pattern dial, marking the first time such a combination has occurred in a Big Bang All Black model. A limited edition of 500 pieces, this commemorative edition is sure to please those who are nostalgic for the early Big Bang years or simply seeking a bold, individual expression.
Magic Gold one of Hublot’s first forays into the world of advanced materials, Magic Gold truly lives up to its name. Announced in 2011 as the world’s first and only scratch-resistant 18-karat gold alloy, Magic Gold represents all that the Hublot’s R&D department seeks to pursue: New solutions for creativity and alleviating the shortcomings of traditional materials and metals. Magic Gold combines the resilience of ceramic with shine and lustre of gold, resulting in a unique material that exhibits a golden hue with a slight green tent, and a hardness that makes it impervious to scratches and oxidation. Developed at the Hublot manufacture and produced within its own foundry, Magic Gold is the stuff of science-fiction. A limited edition of 100 pieces, the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Magic Gold edition combines the unique 18-karat gold alloy with a carbon-patterned dial and gilt hands and markers for the perfect futuristic contrast of tones and textures.
On the commemorative Big Bang 20th Anniversary editions, Hublot CEO Julien Tornare shared, “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!”
