W&W 2025: Hublot Celebrates 20 Years of Big Bang with Five Special Editions
The Big Bang – the watch that disrupted traditional notions of luxury timepieces upon its launch in 2005 and has since become a permanent fixture in Hublot’s product portfolio – celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. A journey marked not only by the collection’s longevity, but also by its continual evolution in both design and technical refinement.
Accordingly, the Big Bang has become one of Hublot’s most significant and enduring models – due in no small part to its versatility. This is evidenced by the sheer variety of interpretations, collaborations and complications it has inspired. From the Square Bang with its angular case, to the provocative partnership with Nespresso – resulting in an equally provocative Big Bang crafted from recycled coffee capsules – and on to the Big Bang MP-11, which delivers a remarkable two-week power reserve via seven mainspring barrels, all housed in a watch weighing just 90 grams.
For the past two decades, Hublot has continually reimagined the classic round case of the Big Bang, using it as a platform to explore new materials, colours and design concepts. This creative playground has seen the watch cloaked in a deep-black All Black aesthetic, rendered entirely transparent in models such as the Big Bang Orange Sapphire, or given the textured appearance of Damascus steel in the Unico Gourmet – a material traditionally reserved for the art of bladesmithing. It is precisely this focus on materials that defines the latest anniversary editions.
From titanium and King Gold to vivid red ceramic, All Black finishes and the brand’s own Magic Gold – for the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang, Hublot unveils five limited-edition models. Each adheres to a unified design concept, yet each interprets it through the distinctive character of its chosen material. The aim: to unite the most defining aesthetic codes of the original Big Bang with the signature traits of today’s Big Bang Unico. Here is everything you need to know about Hublot’s anniversary releases.
King Gold Ceramic & Titanium Ceramic
The first two models of the anniversary collection take us back to the origins of the Big Bang. Emerging in 2005, the Big Bang made its debut with two distinctive versions that combined steel or gold with rubber and ceramic – a fusion of contemporary materials and traditional watchmaking. “Art of Fusion” was the concept born of the creative vision of then-Hublot President Jean-Claude Biver, who sought to unite elements previously thought incompatible in the world of fine watchmaking – gold and rubber, for example.
That same idea continues to shape the anniversary editions Hublot presents for the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang: the first, limited to 500 pieces, combines titanium with ceramic, while the second, limited to 250 pieces, unites King Gold with ceramic.
The design concept
The design concept behind these two editions – a guiding aesthetic principle across all five anniversary models – is, according to Hublot, a literal translation of a vision in which past, present and future converge within the Big Bang. Nowhere is this ambition more apparent than on the dial, where Hublot has reintroduced several elements from the very first Big Bang: including the signature chequered pattern adorned with vertical stripes, and the subdials featuring red markers – now a hallmark of the collection.
Classic design cues also dominate the dial, such as the Arabic numerals and hour markers, borrowed from the original Big Bang models. These elements anchor the watch in its heritage, while the Luminova coating applied to them subtly signals its forward-looking character. The vintage-inspired aesthetic extends to the hour and minute hands, which echo the same visual language.
The redesigned case now measures 43 mm in diameter and features shorter lugs for improved ergonomics. A defining trait of the original Big Bang, the prominent fluted bezel, makes a celebrated return in this anniversary edition. The motif continues on the rubber-coated chronograph pushers and the structured rubber strap. Beneath the dial ticks Hublot’s in-house Unico automatic chronograph movement, visible through the sapphire crystal caseback – its presence further accentuated by a red gold-plated rotor.
The Big Bang 20th Anniversary Red Magic Edition
With the launch of the Big Bang Unico Red Magic in 2018, the collection took on a more vibrant tone, as Hublot introduced red ceramic for the first time to create a fully red aesthetic – from the case to the bezel. As one of the foundational models that paved the way for expanding the Big Bang’s spectrum of case colours, it now receives a well-deserved tribute: the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Red Magic Edition, limited to just 100 pieces.
This edition presents a particularly striking combination of red ceramic case elements and a carbon-look dial, adorned with black and grey chequered tiles. Every component – from the numerals and hands to the chronograph counters – is cloaked in a bold red hue, which stands out vividly against the textured backdrop.
The Anniversary Model in All Black Aesthetics
Legibility? In a watch that combines a black dial with black indices and equally black hands, it plays a decidedly minor role. No – with the concept first introduced in 2006 of presenting timepieces in a fully blacked-out design, Hublot has always been more concerned with expression than functionality. One might say: Hublot’s All Black models are less about being read and more about being seen.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang, Hublot reinterprets the concept of the completely blacked-out timepiece with the Big Bang 20th Anniversary All Black Edition. Crafted from a combination of matte and polished black ceramic, the 43 mm case features a matching carbon-patterned black dial that embraces the spirit of the All Black aesthetic. Limited to 500 pieces, this edition appeals to long-standing fans of the early Big Bang era – and to anyone looking to make a bold statement. Even the movement stays true to the dark theme, broken only by a gold-plated rotor visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.
An Unexpected Fusion: Magic Gold
Those familiar with Hublot know that the brand has a particular sensitivity – and indeed a fondness – for combining Big Bang materials with unexpected elements that, at first glance, may not seem to belong together. Cases crafted from Nespresso capsules, ceramic and steel, or even denim and diamonds – yes, the Big Bang Jeans is very real – are hardly surprising in the world of Hublot.
The brand’s penchant for unconventional material combinations, many of which had never before been used in watchmaking, eventually led Hublot to develop its own materials. One such innovation, introduced in 2011, is Magic Gold: an 18-carat gold alloy infused with ceramic, giving the metal a brand-new property. According to Hublot, the ceramic content makes it the hardest gold in the world – resilient enough that only diamonds could scratch it.
Developed and cast in-house at Hublot’s manufacture and foundry, Magic Gold stands as a prime example of the brand’s dedication to material crossovers. Now, this unique alloy is the focus of a special edition. Limited to 100 pieces, the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Magic Gold Edition combines the 18-carat alloy with a carbon-patterned dial and gold-plated hands and hour markers.
Twenty Years of the Big Bang – and long may it continue
The final word on the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang goes to the man who embodies its present and future like no other: Hublot CEO Julien Tornare. “The Hublot Big Bang is undoubtedly one of the modern icons of 21st-century watchmaking. This year, we are not only looking back at everything Hublot has achieved with the Big Bang, but also looking ahead – to all that is still possible. I am incredibly proud of what the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Capsule Collection represents: it bridges the nostalgia of the past 20 years with the present and future of what the Hublot manufacture is yet to accomplish. Here’s to the next 20 years!”
With the introduction of the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller, Rolex has opened a new chapter in the history of watchmaking. With an impressive 32 new patent applications, 18 of which are exclusive to this model, the Land-Dweller showcases the innovative spirit of Rolex. 16 patents have been filed for the new calibre 7135 movement alone, which is…
After the recently launched Premier, Georges Kern continues to hold on to the rich heritage of BREITLING strongly. So strong, that now a 60-year-old watch was re-editioned almost unchanged. You don’t get to see that very often in the watch industry, in which brands indeed regularly introduce new interpretations of older models, but rarely present…
With 35 international branches and around 800 employees, luxury watch and jewellery retailer Wempe is one of the largest of its kind. Given its size, it’s no surprise that the retailer also sells its own creations in order to save on margins, so to speak. But without a coherent story, business for Wempe would probably…
Today at Baselworld 2018, the watch manufacture Breguet and the Race for Water Foundation announced their partnership with a special exhibition on the Swatch Group Plaza in Basel, which is also open from today. Marc A. Hayek, President of Montres Breguet and Marco Simeoni, President of the Race for Water Foundation have been personally attending to…
When Axel Leuenberger and his three companions decided to launch a new watchmaking company, they had a fairly clear idea of their goal: to create timepieces that were ‘beyond products’. Leuenberger, the CEO of Vanguart watches founded in 2017, is rather laidback when describing his integral role at the company: ‘I jump between various roles;…
Omega has just introduced us to its latest novelties across a range of collections. Swisswatches Magazine had the opportunity to get Omega CEO and President Raynald Aeschlimann's take on OMEGA's brand new pieces, plans for the future, and how the horology house coped with change throughout 2020. On preserving its icons... Early into the conversation,…
Over at A. Lange & Söhne, this year’s Watches & Wonders highlight is unmissable. Last year, a huge model of the Odysseus Chronograph was installed at the Saxon manufacture's stand. This year, it is now a 50-fold enlargement of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold ‘Lumen’. Five metres high, the giant watch shows passers-by what's new…
Patek Philippe is introducing four new models from the Nautilus collection at Watches & Wonders 2021. The new Nautilus 5711/1A-014, with its olive green dial, stands out in particular, and replaces the discontinued Nautilus 5711/1A with a blue dial. In addition, the manufacture is also launching a variation of this new 5711/1A-014 with a diamond-set…
In 2011, Cartier acquired a 17th century farmhouse a stone’s throw away from its watch manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, lovingly renovated it, and created an atelier in which the maison prioritises traditional craftsmanship. The renovation work was completed in 2014; gem-setters and enamellers promptly moved in to bring the maison's most breathtaking creations to life,…
For some people travelling is the epitome of freedom – for others it is just normal daily business. “Once a year you should visit a place you have never been before” Dalai Lama said and points out a desire that is deeply rooted in many people. In this growing connected world people don’t only travel…
‘Belle Haute Horlogerie’ encapsulates what Vacheron Constantin has stood for ever since its founding in 1755: the pursuit of watchmaking in its highest form and the commitment to continually perpetuate the knowledge and know-how gathered by generations of master watchmakers. In its over 250-year history, Vacheron Constantin has unremittingly created not only fine timepieces, but…
This year, the Ingenieur by IWC Schaffhausen became the subject of a veritable fireworks display of new models at Watches and Wonders 2025, expanding the Ingenieur collection with a diverse range of novelties. Five new models – whether in deep black ceramic, a perpetual calendar housed in stainless steel, or a full gold version –…
TUDOR is introducing an array of novelties at this year's Watches & Wonders. One very important piece is an outgoing watch christened the Black Bay Pro. Other new models come in the form of a bicolour Black Bay GMT and Black Bay Chrono with new colour schemes, as well as Black Bay S&G watches with…