October 18, 2026
A Brand Reborn Through the Big Bang
When Jean-Claude Biver acquired Hublot, the company was reportedly losing about four million dollars a year. It had been founded around 1980 by Carlo Crocco and was once known as MDM Geneve. Biver rebuilt the brand around a bold new sports collection fittingly called the Big Bang, a name meant to signal a fresh start. His modular construction philosophy, branded “the art of fusion,” let parts, colors, and materials be mixed freely. The approach proved so profitable that much of the industry copied it. Even after LVMH bought Hublot and Biver retired, his influence still shapes the manufacture in Nyon, Switzerland.
Rebuilding the Icon With Modern Muscle
After celebrating the collection’s 20th anniversary in 2025, Hublot has continued its revival series under the “Big Bang Original” name. Rather than reinvent the design, the brand reimagined the first-generation look using its current capabilities. That design draws on ship portholes, the same motif that inspired Gerald Genta’s 1972 Royal Oak. The biggest upgrade answers a long-standing criticism: early models relied on sourced ETA and Sellita movements such as the Valjoux 7753. The new watches use the in-house UNICO caliber HUB1280, which runs at 4Hz with a 72-hour power reserve, a vertical clutch, a column wheel, and a flyback function. Its pushers feel remarkably refined for the price, although the bi-compax layout lacks the 12-hour third subdial of the original models.
Case, Comfort, and Design Details
The 43mm case is roughly 13mm thick with a 52mm lug-to-lug span, so it wears much like the earlier 44mm version. It also offers a flat sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance. The construction combines ceramic, steel H-shaped screws, rubber, and composite resin. A quick-release strap system and the folding deployant clasp invented by Dexel add everyday convenience. Unlike most skeletonized Big Bangs, the solid dial delivers excellent legibility. The reviewer would still like to see more symmetry and a return of the red accents found on the 2005 originals.
Pricing and Final Verdict
Hublot currently produces seven variants, including the new “Soft Touch” models. The Big Bang Original is neither inexpensive nor as startling as it was in 2005. Even so, it delivers genuine in-house exclusivity and polished execution, reinforcing its claim as arguably the most important Swiss luxury watch released since 2000. The ref. 431.NM.1370.RX Titanium Ceramic is priced at $21,600 USD, and the ref. 431.CI.1370.RX Black Magic costs $22,800 USD.
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