Big Bang 20th Anniversary Tianium Ceramic

THE SINGULARITY OF AN ICON: HUBLOT UNVEILS A FUSION OF THE BIG BANG ORIGINAL AND BIG BANG UNICO FOR THE COLLECTION’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

April 1st, Geneva, Switzerland - 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.