The Big Bang is the flagship model from Swiss watchmaker Hublot. This eye-catching timepiece took the watch world by storm when it was first introduced in 2005. Jay-Z famously received a Big Bang worth $5 million from his wife, Beyoncé. Hublot revolutionized the watch industry with this model. The Nyon-based manufacturer utilized aggressive marketing strategies, high-end materials like carbon and ceramic, and an iconic design. Are you interested in buying a Big Bang? Read on to find out everything you need to know!
Hublot’s Success Story
Along with the Classic Fusion, the Big Bang is the most popular Hublot on Chrono24. The refs. 301.SB.131.RX and 301.SX.130.RX are particularly sought after. The most important feature of both chronographs is their porthole design, a trademark of the brand. In fact, the word hublot means “porthole” in French. Hublot’s very first watches, launched in the 1980s under the leadership of company founder Carlo Crocco had the same iconic look. The Big Bang carried the familiar design language forward to the 21st century upon its release at Baselworld 2005.
The six H-shaped titanium bezel screws are another characteristic feature of the Hublot Big Bang. Unlike the Royal Oak Offshore, the screws are not perfectly aligned. If you were to connect the screws of the Royal Oak, they would form a perfect circle. While this isn’t the case with the Big Bang, it doesn’t detract from the porthole design in the least. There are more H-shaped screws at the lug joint where the structured black rubber strap attaches. This strap is another trademark of the brand. In the 1980s, Hublot was one of the first watchmakers to use rubber straps, especially for gold watches.
The refs. 301.SB.131.RX and 301.SX.130.RX both measure 44 mm in diameter. Their round cases have more angular flanks, giving them a slightly bulkier feel. The Big Bang is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), making it suitable for a dip in the pool. The ref. 301.SB.131.RX boasts a black, polished ceramic bezel, while the ref. 301.SX.130.RX has a vertically brushed stainless steel bezel. The stainless steel case is brushed and polished on both references. The push-pieces and crown are both made with rubber, which makes them more user-friendly.
Hublot Big Bang Dial Design
If you look at the front of the Hublot Big Bang, you’ll see three subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. This is the first clue that this watch is a chronograph. You can read the elapsed minutes at 3 o’clock and the hours at 6 – even in the dark thanks to the luminous material on the hands. The subdial at 9 o’clock functions as a running seconds. As is the case with every chronograph, the central red pointer serves as a stop-seconds hand. The first third of the hour and minute hands are skeletonized and filled with luminous material. There is also a date display at 4:30.
The ref. 301.SB.131.RX features a dial with a unique stamped carbon-effect finish, while the ref. 301.SX.130.RX has a matte black dial. Both watches feature alternate indices and Arabic numerals, with the numerals at 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 o’clock. There is a minute scale around the dial edge with Arabic numerals in 5-minute increments. Narrow red line indices mark the minutes between, and anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the whole dial.
The HUB4100 Chronograph Caliber
You can view the automatic HUB4100 chronograph caliber through the watch’s display case back. The movement offers a 42-hour power reserve, which is about average for this type of timepiece. The watch runs at a frequency of 28,000 vph or 4 Hz. The movement’s highlight is undoubtedly its skeletonized winding rotor. The HUB4100 is based on a well-established ETA chronograph caliber, meaning spare parts are readily available and maintenance is much more straightforward. If you’d prefer an in-house caliber, take a look at the Big Bang Unico. Its caliber offers a 72-hour power reserve and also has a chronograph with a flyback function.
Performance of the Hublot Big Bang
The Hublot Big Bang ref. 301.SB.131.RX has an official list price of $13,600. The ref. 301.SX.130.RX with a stainless steel bezel is priced at $12,500. You can find both watches in mint condition on Chrono24 for around 30% less. The former with a ceramic bezel costs around $11,700, and the latter around $10,600. Used watches are slightly more affordable at $8,750 and $8,500 for the refs. 301.SB.131.RX and 301.SX.130.RX, respectively. This makes both Big Bangs more budget-friendly alternatives to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and Patek Philippe Nautilus.
In terms of financial performance, both models have remained steady over the past ten years. Fluctuations in price haven’t exceeded a few hundred dollars in either direction. This applies to both new and used models. So, even if you wear your Hublot every day, your watch won’t decrease massively in value. On the flip side, you can’t expect any significant profits either. That said, reselling is always a good option if you have your eye on a newer model. Alternatively, you could keep your Big Bang as an everyday watch that is perfect for sporting and other leisure activities.
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