Let’s be honest, for much of its historical timeline the luxury watch world was a polite, if a touch stuffy, affair. A realm of polished steel, discreet gold, and movements whispered about in hushed, reverent tones. Then, in 2005, Hublot didn’t so much as walk into the room, it kicked down the door, threw in a flashbang, and detonated it.
Its disruptive new take on watchmaking — aptly called, the Big Bang — was a defiant, in-your-face statement that redefined what a luxury timepiece could be. And now, two decades later, its impact still reverberates like a sonic boom.
Before the Big Bang, Hublot was respected, certainly. Its founder, Carlo Crocco, had already laid the groundwork in 1980 with the audacious idea of pairing a gold watch with a rubber strap — a move considered sacrilege by purists at the time. It was the original “Art of Fusion,” a quiet rebellion. But it was under the charismatic leadership of Jean-Claude Biver, who arrived in 2004, that Hublot truly found its voice and launched its magnum opus.
Biver saw a gap, a craving for something more aggressive, more architectural, more now. The original Big Bang, unleashed at Baselworld 2005, was everything traditional watchmaking wasn’t. It was oversized, clocking in at a substantial 44mm. It was a riot of textures and materials, a layered sandwich of steel, ceramic, Kevlar, and rubber, all bolted together with those now-iconic H-shaped screws.
It wasn’t trying to be subtle; it was demanding attention. And the world, starved for something fresh, gave it. This wasn’t just about size; it was about fusion. The original concept of rubber with precious metal was amplified to an extreme.
Sapphire with diamonds? Titanium with brightly coloured ceramic? Hublot said, “Why not?” This fearless approach to material alchemy became the Big Bang’s calling card.
They weren’t just making watches; they were engineering wearable sculptures, pushing the boundaries of what could be combined, and how. The result? A watch that felt industrial and luxurious all at once. It was the supercar of timepieces, rugged yet refined, sophisticated but with a palpable edge.
The Big Bang’s influence on modern watch aesthetics cannot be overstated.
Before 2005, chunky, sporty chronographs existed, but none quite like this.
The Big Bang legitimised the bold, the oversized, the visibly constructed. It threw open the doors for other brands to experiment with material combinations, aggressive designs, and a more avant-garde vision of luxury. It told men that it was okay — encouraged, even — to wear a watch that screamed personality, not just heritage.
Then came the “All Black” concept in 2006, another stroke of disruptive genius.
A watch designed for “invisible visibility,” where every component, from case to dial to hands, was rendered in matte black. It was counter-intuitive, stylishly subversive, and an instant hit that spawned countless imitators across the industry. Hublot was no longer following trends; it was manufacturing them.
As the years rolled on, the Big Bang continued its relentless evolution. Hublot’s “Art of Fusion” laboratory churned out innovations like Magic Gold, the world’s first scratch-resistant 18K gold alloy, a material so hardcore it practically laughs in the face of doorframes. They mastered vibrant coloured ceramics, creating watches in electric blues, searing reds, and vivid yellows that popped like custom paint jobs. And let’s not forget the sheer spectacle of a sapphire crystal case, entirely transparent, turning the watch into a miniature exhibition of mechanical wizardry.
The introduction of the Unico movement in 2010 was another pivotal moment.
An in-house, skeletonised flyback chronograph caliber, it gave the Big Bang the mechanical substance to match its aesthetic bravado. Now, the visible mechanics were as compelling as the exterior design, a symphony of gears and levers showcased right through the dial. This blend of cutting-edge design with serious horological engineering cemented the Big Bang’s place as more than just a fashion statement.
Twenty years on, the Big Bang stands as a monument to audacious design.
Its journey from disruptive upstart to industry icon is a testament to consistency, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to its own distinct vision. Look around today, and you’ll see its fingerprints everywhere — in the rise of larger cases, the proliferation of exotic materials, and the blurring lines between traditional luxury and modern street style.
The Hublot Big Bang’s impact on luxury watches is undeniable — it injected it with a much-needed jolt of raw, unapologetic energy. It taught the world that a watch could be bold, brash, technologically advanced, and still exquisitely crafted. It’s a timepiece for those who lead, not follow, a wrist-bound rebellion that continues to tick loud and proud. And frankly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Big Bang, by HUBLOT, available at Hublot Boutiques: The Dubai Mall; Mall of the Emirates, Dubai; Galleria Mall Abu Dhabi.