Hublot is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1980. The French name means “porthole.” Given the brand’s distinctive design language, the name is apt. Hublot has been part of the luxury group LVMH since 2008. A few years after luxury conglomerate LVMH acquired Hublot in 2008, industry-veteran Jean-Claude Biver took charge of watchmaking for LVMH, overseeing Hublot, TAG Heuer, and Zenith.
Most Popular Hublot Models
Hublot continues to experiment with exotic case materials like titanium, synthetic sapphire, and its own gold alloys. The manufacturer also offers a range of chronographs and watches with skeletonized dials, under the motto of “more is more.” The most popular models (as per requests on Chrono24) are
How much does a Hublot cost?
Hublot makes luxury watches, which means models are typically priced between 5,000 and 20,000 USD. Select limited editions with mechanical complications, precious metal cases, or celebrity endorsements can easily change hands for between 25,000 and 50,000 USD. However, chances are that you get even one of those special editions for less that 20,000 USD on Chrono24.
Who wears Hublot watches?
Through clever marketing strategies and partnerships, including with UEFA, Hublot has achieved considerable prominence. The manufacturer has become the first port of call for rappers, athletes, and anyone interested in status symbols with a high recognition value.
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- Kylian Mbappé: The footballer has been a Hublot brand ambassador since 2018 and owns one or two models. Among them is a Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium White Pavé. The tonneau-shaped watch is powered by a skeletonized, automatic chronograph caliber. The titanium case is completely set with diamonds.
- Jay-Z: His collection includes a Hublot Big Bang, which his wife Beyoncé Knowles gave him as a birthday present. With a case and bracelet made of white gold and set with 1,282 baguette-cut diamonds, this watch is said to have cost about 5 million dollars.
- 50 Cent: He not only mentions the luxury watch manufacturer in his raps, he also wears their watches. Like the 45-mm, 18-karat gold Hublot Big Bang “Evolution” ref. PX.1180.PX.3704, for example, which has a case and bracelet completely set with baguette-cut diamonds.
- Novak Djokovic: The Serbian tennis player wore a Hublot Spirit of Big Bang All Black Pavé 42 mm to the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award 2024 in Madrid.
Why is Hublot so unpopular in the watch community?
OK. There’s a lot to unpack here in terms of brand perception. The general sentiment towards Hublot is not too kind, at least from a watch nerd perspective. Many people find them to be all flash and no substance. It’s a “look at me” watch that features in a lot of rap songs, but not many serious watch collections. In the early 2000s, when large timepieces were all the rage, Hublot watches were very trendy. But unlike other oversized watch models by Panerai and Richard Mille, or the Royal Oak Offshore, Hublot was unable to consolidate this success. However, if you’re the kind of fan who wants a fun watch for a night on the town, Hublot has you covered.
