Big Bang 20th Anniversary Full Magic Gold

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.

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!”