Hublot Big Bang: History, Unico, Value and Official Videos

Introduced: 2005
Original case: 44.5 mm
In-house movement: Unico, shown 2013
Anniversary models: 2025, Unico 2 (HUB1280)

HUBLOT - BIG BANG RELOADED – official video by Hublot on YouTube

Where the Big Bang comes from

Hublot was founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco, and "Hublot" (French for "porthole") was originally the name of its first watch. Jean-Claude Biver became CEO in 2004, and in 2005 the brand launched the Big Bang chronograph as its new flagship. According to The 1916 Company, Biver coined the name in early talks with Crocco and built the brand's message around the "Art of Fusion", the pairing of unusual materials such as gold and rubber. The idea goes back to Crocco's Classic Fusion of 1980.

The first Big Bang had a 44.5 mm case, a rubber strap, a ceramic bezel held by six visible screws and a chequered dial imitating carbon fiber. In its first year the white ceramic model won the Design Watch Prize at the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix. LVMH acquired Hublot in 2008.

Generations: from ETA base to Unico

For collectors the movement is the easiest way to sort Big Bang chronographs into generations.

Series	Years	References	Case	Movement
Original Big Bang	from 2005	various	44.5 mm; later 44 mm or 41 mm	Modified Valjoux/ETA 7750 (HUB4100) or ETA 2894-2 base
Big Bang Unico	from 2013	various	44 mm or 42 mm	In-house Unico HUB1240, flyback, column wheel
20th Anniversary	2025	431.NM.1337.RX and four others	43 mm, 100 m water resistance	Unico 2 HUB1280, 72-hour power reserve

Early chronographs used a modified Valjoux/ETA 7750, which Hublot designated HUB4100, and some used an ETA 2894-2 base with a chronograph module. The in-house Unico was shown at Baselworld 2013 as the first in-house movement for the Big Bang line. It is a flyback chronograph with a column wheel and a silicon escape wheel and pallet fork. Unico watches have two subdials instead of the three of the original, so they have no small seconds at 6 o'clock.

Hublot's later Unico 2, the HUB1280, is used in the 2025 20th Anniversary models. It is a column-wheel flyback chronograph running at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) with a 72-hour power reserve and a silicon lever escapement.

Sizes, materials and versions

Original models came in 44 mm or 41 mm, current Unico chronographs in 44 mm or 42 mm. The materials are the heart of the Big Bang story: steel, ceramic, titanium, sapphire and gold, plus Hublot's own Magic Gold, a sintered mix of boron nitride and pure 18-karat gold, and King Gold, a red gold alloy.

Original Big Bang – steel, gold or ceramic with a rubber strap.
Big Bang Unico – the in-house chronograph, sold in many colors, ceramic, sapphire and gold versions.
20th Anniversary editions (2025) – five limited models at 43 mm: Titanium (500 pieces), All Black Ceramic (500), King Gold Ceramic (250), Red Ceramic (100) and Magic Gold (100).

What is a Hublot Big Bang worth?

Value depends on the version, the case material, the movement (an in-house Unico is usually valued differently from an early ETA-based watch), limited-edition status, condition and whether box and papers are present. Gold and limited versions are generally the most sought after. We do not quote prices here because we could not verify a documented auction result for a Big Bang itself; for reference, the 2025 anniversary models were launched at USD 20,800 to 40,500 new.

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Official Hublot Big Bang videos

All videos come from the official Hublot YouTube channel. They show Big Bang Unico versions, the 20th Anniversary editions and other Big Bang models in ceramic, sapphire and gold.

More Hublot videos, sorted by model: all official Hublot playlists.

Sources (6)

SwissWatchExperts is not affiliated with Hublot. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners; the videos are embedded from the official Hublot YouTube channel.

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Frequently asked questions

When was the Hublot Big Bang introduced?

Hublot launched the Big Bang chronograph in 2005, a year after Jean-Claude Biver became CEO. The original had a 44.5 mm case.

Why is it called Big Bang?

According to The 1916 Company, Jean-Claude Biver coined the name in early talks with Hublot founder Carlo Crocco. It goes with the brand's "Art of Fusion" message.

What is the Hublot Unico movement?

Unico is Hublot's in-house flyback chronograph with a column wheel, shown at Baselworld 2013 as the first in-house movement for the Big Bang. The later Unico 2 (HUB1280) has a 72-hour power reserve.

How big is a Hublot Big Bang?

Original models came in 44 mm or 41 mm, and current Unico chronographs in 44 mm or 42 mm. The 2025 anniversary models are 43 mm.

How can I tell an early Big Bang from a Unico?

Early chronographs use a modified ETA/Valjoux base and have three subdials including small seconds at 6 o'clock. Unico models have two subdials and no small seconds.

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Hublot Big Bang: history, Unico movement and official videos