Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic

Marking two decades since a horological explosion reshaped modern watchmaking, Hublot commemorates the 20th anniversary of its groundbreaking Big Bang collection. This celebration isn't merely a look back; it's a dynamic fusion of heritage and contemporary innovation, embodied in a series of limited-edition timepieces. Among these stands the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic, a model that directly channels the spirit of the original "Art of Fusion" concept that propelled Hublot into the spotlight.

The story of Hublot itself began with a bold act of fusion back in 1980. Breaking established luxury codes, the brand dared to pair a precious gold case with a sporty, utilitarian rubber strap. This unconventional combination, housed in a case inspired by a ship's porthole ("hublot" in French) with exposed bezel screws, was revolutionary. It laid the foundation for the "Art of Fusion," a philosophy that would become the guiding principle for all future Hublot creations, championing the unexpected marriage of diverse materials and designs.



While the initial Hublot watches made waves, it was the launch of the Big Bang in 2005 that truly detonated the brand's potential. This watch wasn't just an evolution; it was a paradigm shift. Its substantial size, intricate layered case construction, and bold aesthetic captured the zeitgeist of the early 21st century. The Big Bang masterfully blended materials like ceramic, titanium, rubber, and often precious metals, creating a visual and tactile experience unlike anything else. Its immediate success was cemented when it won the prestigious Best Design award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève that same year.

Over the past twenty years, the Big Bang collection has refused to stand still. It became a canvas for Hublot's relentless pursuit of material science, movement development, and avant-garde design. From developing proprietary alloys like Magic Gold (a scratch-resistant gold) to pioneering brightly colored ceramics and advanced composites, Hublot used the Big Bang platform to showcase its technical prowess. It became synonymous with audacity, innovation, and a playful disregard for the often-conservative boundaries of traditional watchmaking, solidifying its place as a defining watch icon of its era.

For the 20th anniversary, Hublot hasn't simply reissued old models. Instead, the manufacture has embarked on a thoughtful exercise in synthesis. The five anniversary editions, including the Titanium Ceramic model, skillfully blend signature elements from the original 2005 Big Bangs with the design language and technical advancements of the more recent Big Bang Unico models. This approach creates commemorative pieces that honor the past while firmly residing in the present and looking toward the future of the collection.

The Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic (Reference 431.NM.1337.RX) serves as a direct homage to the foundational fusion concept. The original 2005 launch featured versions combining materials like steel or gold with fiberglass, rubber, and ceramic. This new anniversary edition echoes that initial spirit, focusing on the powerful yet lightweight combination of titanium and ceramic, materials Hublot has mastered over the intervening decades. It represents a return to the source, refined and reimagined.



The case architecture is a key area where the past meets the present. Reworked to a contemporary 43mm diameter, it retains the distinctive multi-layered "sandwich" construction that provides visual depth. The lugs feature the slightly curved, "pinched" profile reminiscent of the earliest Big Bangs, lending a familiar yet updated silhouette. Crafted from Grade 5 titanium, known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to corrosion, the case features a sophisticated mix of polished and satin finishes, highlighting the metal's subtle bluish sheen.

A defining feature making a welcome return is the knurled edge on the polished black ceramic bezel. This textured pattern on the bezel's side was a prominent characteristic of the first-generation Big Bangs, adding a tactile and visual detail that connects this anniversary piece directly to its roots. The bezel itself, rendered in highly scratch-resistant polished black ceramic, frames the dial powerfully and houses the signature H-shaped screws, now a Hublot hallmark. The overall water resistance is rated at a capable 100 meters (10 ATM).

Protecting the dial is a sapphire crystal treated with an anti-reflective coating on both sides. This ensures maximum clarity and legibility, allowing an unobstructed view of the intricate dial work beneath. The use of sapphire crystal is standard in luxury watchmaking, prized for its exceptional hardness and resistance to scratches, second only to diamond.

The dial itself is a testament to Hublot's attention to detail and material mimicry. It features a stamped satin-finished surface designed with a "Carbon Effect" relief pattern. This isn't actual carbon fiber but a sophisticated engraving technique that creates a three-dimensional, woven appearance, recalling the patterned dials of the original models while offering enhanced depth and interplay of light and shadow. It provides a technically inspired backdrop for the timekeeping elements.

Legibility is enhanced by borrowing cues from the modern Big Bang Unico. The applied Arabic numerals and hour markers, featuring the riveted style associated with the Big Bang, are generously filled with Super-LumiNova. This luminescent material ensures readability in low-light conditions. The dial layout features two distinct subdials: a small seconds counter positioned at 9 o'clock and a 60-minute chronograph counter at 3 o'clock. Subtle red accents on the chronograph hands and minute track add a sporty touch and further improve the quick reading of elapsed time.



Driving the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic is the HUB1280 UNICO Manufacture movement. Developing its own movements allows Hublot complete creative and technical control. The UNICO was conceived to be unique, showcasing its mechanics dial-side. This self-winding chronograph caliber features a flyback function, allowing the chronograph to be reset and restarted with a single pusher press, and incorporates a column wheel and double coupling system visible through the dial's partial skeletonization – an "open heart" revealing the watch's soul.

Comprising 354 components, the UNICO movement's construction was intentionally simplified where possible to enhance its overall reliability and robustness, critical factors for a modern sports watch. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and provides a substantial power reserve of approximately 72 hours, meaning the watch can be taken off for a long weekend and still be running when picked up again.

Visible through the sapphire crystal case back, the movement features a specific enhancement for this anniversary series: a special oscillating weight crafted from gold. This rotor, responsible for automatically winding the watch through the wearer's motion, is specially engraved to commemorate the Big Bang's 20th anniversary, adding an exclusive touch to the limited edition. Furthermore, the crown, featuring a rubber insert for better grip, also bears a special Hublot 20th-anniversary logo engraving.

Completing the connection to the original Big Bang is the strap design. The watch comes fitted with a black structured rubber strap featuring a textured lozenge pattern. This distinct treaded design is directly reminiscent of the straps found on the very first Big Bang models launched in 2005. However, Hublot integrates modern convenience by incorporating the Big Bang Unico's "One Click" strap-change system directly into the case lugs. This patented mechanism allows the wearer to easily swap straps without tools, offering versatility.

The strap is secured by a robust deployant buckle clasp. Reflecting the watch's material theme, the clasp itself is a fusion of black ceramic and titanium components, ensuring durability, security, and a cohesive aesthetic with the watch head. This type of clasp offers a more secure and comfortable fit compared to a traditional tang buckle.



The choice of Grade 5 titanium for the case warrants further attention. Hublot extensively uses this material due to its remarkable properties. It offers the best strength-to-weight ratio of any metal, making large watches like the 43mm Big Bang surprisingly comfortable on the wrist. Its popularity in aerospace underscores its technical credibility. Additionally, titanium is highly resistant to corrosion from saltwater and perspiration, and it's hypoallergenic, making it inert and comfortable against the skin.

The use of high-tech ceramic, particularly for the bezel and clasp components, is another Hublot specialty. Ceramic is valued for its extreme hardness, making it highly resistant to scratches and maintaining its polished finish over time. Its color stability also ensures the deep black hue won't fade. Combining the lightness of titanium with the resilience of ceramic creates a watch built for both visual impact and everyday durability.

This anniversary model beautifully encapsulates the "Art of Fusion." It brings together polished and satin-finished titanium (representing lightweight strength), polished black ceramic (offering durability and scratch resistance), and textured black rubber (providing comfort and a connection to the brand's origins). These materials aren't just chosen for function; their contrasting textures and finishes create the dynamic, layered aesthetic that defines the Big Bang.

The rectangular chronograph pushers, tipped with rubber for enhanced grip, are another design element referencing the early Big Bang models. They flank the screw-down crown, contributing to the watch's purposeful and tool-like appearance, while the integration of the One Click system and the modern UNICO movement ensures it meets contemporary expectations for functionality and convenience.

The Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic is more than a reissue; it's a bridge between eras. It acknowledges the revolutionary impact of the original 2005 design while incorporating two decades of refinement, material innovation, and in-house movement development. It stands as a symbol of how the collection has matured without losing the audacious spirit that made it famous.



As part of the celebratory lineup, the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic is produced in a limited run of just 500 pieces worldwide. This scarcity enhances its appeal to collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the significance of this milestone for both Hublot and the Big Bang line.

The Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic (Ref. 431.NM.1337.RX) is priced at USD 20,800. As a new limited edition timepiece, it is available for purchase exclusively through Hublot's network of official boutiques, ensuring a direct connection between the brand and the collectors acquiring this commemorative piece.

Case: 43 mm diameter; Polished and Satin-finished Grade 5 Titanium; Polished Black Ceramic bezel with structured pattern on the side and knurled edge; Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment; Water resistant to 100m (10 ATM).

Movement: HUB1280 UNICO Manufacture Caliber; Self-winding chronograph flyback movement with column wheel; Approximately 72-hour power reserve; 354 components; Features special 20th anniversary commemorative gold oscillating weight.

Dial: Stamped Satin-finished «Carbon Effect »; Applied riveted Arabic numerals and indexes filled with Super-LumiNova; Small seconds counter at 9 o'clock, chronograph minute counter at 3 o'clock; Red accents on chronograph indicators.

Strap: Black Structured Rubber Strap with lozenge pattern; Features integrated One Click strap-change system; Black Ceramic and Titanium deployant buckle clasp.

Price: USD 20,800

Reference Number: 431.NM.1337.RX

Notes: Limited edition of 500 pieces celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang collection. Fuses design elements from the original 2005 Big Bang (knurled bezel, pinched lugs, strap pattern, rectangular pushers) with the modern Big Bang Unico (movement, lumed indices, One Click system). Features special anniversary logo on the crown.