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Watches & Wonders 2026: Hublot doubles down on the Big Bang with a new 44 mm collection that emphasises the Unico movement and celebrates its use of material science.

The Hublot Big Bang just got a bold new look with a new collection being released at Watches & Wonders this year. The Nyon brand has effectively doubled down on the iconic Big Bang, and in this collection, Hublot is celebrating its Unico movement, while introducing a range of colours. Well, sort of.

We all know that Hublot’s Big Bang shook up the industry when it was officially released in 2005. The bold design cues and larger size (as was the trend at the time) made waves. Then, five years later, Hublot released the Unico movement in 2010, which was a major step forward for the brand. I’ve banged on about this movement now for years, as Hublot gets nowhere near enough credit for it. It is one of the best flyback chronographs on the market, which is why it is now being brought to the fore.

WATCH EDUCATION: The Movements Of Hublot

The Big Bang Evolved

For this new collection, Hublot has taken the 44 mm collection and given it some subtle tweaks to make each watch pop more on the wrist, and to showcase key elements of the movement even more. And in a similar fashion to the 30th Anniversary models from last year, Hublot has used a range of materials across all five models to highlight these, some of which are having anniversaries themselves.

The Big Bang Reloaded collection comprises a titanium model, a black ceramic, a dark green ceramic, a polished blue ceramic and a model in the scratch-proof Magic Gold. This year, the All Black turns 20, and Magic Gold turns 15, having been created back in 2011 alongside EPFL’s Metallurgy Lab after 4 years of research and development, subsequently brought in-house at Nyon.

Hublot has played with these materials to create the new references and made some design tweaks, some of which you may miss at first. Rather than a single material bezel, as is standard in the Big Bang collection, the Big Bang Reloaded now has a two-part bezel, with the top and sides differing via the use of a polished titanium bezel ring, which is black-plated to contrast with the upper bezel, made from ceramic, except in the case of Magic Gold model, which is made form 18k Magic gold.

Each watch is also equipped with two different straps, both as standard. A black rubber and fabric strap, each is designed to complement the watch’s colour – black fabric outer on the All Black, Magic Gold, and Titanium models, with the blue ceramic and green ceramic models having colour-matched outer fabric. Each also includes a full black rubber strap, which can be swapped out via Hublot’s One-Click system.

Dials With More Depth And Colour

Hublot has played with the dials as well, giving them a mix of textures and finishes that add depth while displaying more of the technical side of the Unico movement. The chronograph is given more presence, highlighted by the coloured ring on the 4 o’clock pusher, a reworked minutes counter at 3 o’clock, which has a bright coloured hand in four of the five models, and a flyback inscription on the outer track in bright colours, except in the all black.

The date window, tucked between 4 and 5 o’clock, has also been given more prominence via the use of a small triangular indicator pointing to the date. Unlike the current Big Bang collection, the date window isn’t lost thanks to the new design of the dial, and the window having a highlight colour, so the date now stands out against the rest of the openworked dial.

Hublot has also paid more attention to the Unico movement from the dial side as well. And for good reason. The Unico movement is one of the best in the industry, a statement I will stand by and argue happily with anyone. The design of the calibre was, and is, still groundbreaking in the way it was designed from the ground up.

Celebrating 20 Years Of The Hublot Big Bang With Julien Tornare

The Unico Front And Centre

Hublot’s Unico HUB1280 calibre is one of the best there is, developed by Christophe Lyner and the team at Hublot, back in 2009 (launched the next year) as the first generation HUB1242. The Unico 2, or HUB1280, improved on this with the introduction of the flyback chronograph, and now it is arguably one of the best on the market today.

What most people don’t know is that the Unico has 5 patented innovations: a backlash-compensating oscillating clutch, an anti-shaking chronograph hand system, a “zero friction” ratchet wheel blocker, a watch rate fine-adjustment system and a highly shock-resistant time-setting. It is also one of the only flyback chronographs to run the power for the minute hand directly off the barrel, making the calibre more energy efficient by bypassing the standard mechanisms of a chronograph gear train.

Hubot has set about showing more of this with the Big Bang Reloaded by highlighting the cutaways on the dial, now with the front-facing column wheel in full view, and highlighted by a coloured screw which can be seen at the 6 o’clock position. At 8 o’clock, the dual-oscillating clutch can be seen now more prominently – each is also labelled so as not to confuse what each mechanism is.

The HUB1280 Precision

A couple of years ago, we spoke with Samuel Morel, who is Hublot’s Chief Production and Quality Officer, and he mentioned to us that Hublot wanted to have the Unico either COSC certified, or at the very least, running to COSC specifications. Well, it is now closer to this with an accuracy of -2/+4 seconds per day, tested and fully adjusted in 5 positions with a 72-hour power reserve.

Via the sapphire caseback of the new Big Bang Reloaded collection, the Calibre HUB1280 is on show as is tradition, but now, Hublot has added the words in a bit of an overt advertising for its in-house movements: “Hublot. Design. Manufacture. Nyon”.

“The Big Bang Reloaded is a masterful statement. It embodies Hublot’s growth as a Manufacture and the evolution of the Big Bang collection and the Unico caliber over time… our inhouse caliber now drives the entire Big Bang collection. The next step for us was clear: to re-engineer the openworked Big Bang Unico itself, now more expressive and rebuilt from the inside out”

Julien Tornare, CEO, Hublot.

Initial Thoughts

Hublot has, for the past few years, been setting out to prove the naysayers wrong. We’ve been on this journey also, having been to Nyon several times to visit the manufacture and see the watches being made, movements being designed and spoken to many people who play a role in creating the watches, not to mention exploring how Hublot makes its many unique materials, like vibrant coloured ceramics, coloured sapphire, and Magic Gold.

The Big Bang Reloaded collection is another step on this journey, and another step to put the Unico HUB1280 front and centre. Hublot is essentially shining a spotlight on the Unico, and with big arrows saying, “Look at me!” And it is about time the watch world noticed.

Yes, at 44 mm it is a larger watch, but it is fun. This is the main point people miss when they think about Hublot and the Big Bang. It is a serious watch with all the technical mastery in its movement and materials, but like a Lamborghini, it isn’t your daily driver – it is what you take out on the weekends for pure joy. And after all, when you look at your collection, shouldn’t you have a few pieces that are just for fun and the joy of it? Maybe a Big Bang Reloaded can fix that!

References & Specifications

Big Bang Reloaded Titanium

Australian Retail Price: A$35,500

Big Bang Reloaded All Black

Australian Retail Price: A$37,300

Big Bang Reloaded Dark Green

Australian Retail Price: A$37,300

Big Bang Reloaded Blue

Australian Retail Price: A$37,300

Big Bang Reloaded Magic Gold

Australian Retail Price: A$65,800

Availability: Available through Hublot Boutiques, retailers and online at Hublot.com