Hublot Unveils the Big Bang Reloaded, Re-Engineering a Signature

Among the highlights of Hublot’s introductions at Watches and Wonders 2026, the Big Bang Reloaded marks a decisive new chapter for the luxury brand’s most recognizable collection. Rather than offering a retrospective update, Hublot has fundamentally reworked the openworked Big Bang Unico, refining both its mechanical architecture and visual identity. The result is a chronograph that remains anchored in its origins while projecting a more technical, movement-driven character.

The Big Bang’s significance within contemporary watchmaking is well established. Introduced in 2005, it translated Hublot’s disruptive approach— first seen in 1980 with the unconventional pairing of gold and rubber— into a bold, architectural timepiece. The launch of the Unico manufacture chronograph in 2010 further strengthened the brand’s position, marking its transition to full mechanical independence. With the Big Bang Reloaded, these milestones converge in a watch that is explicitly conceived from the inside out.

At the core of the collection is the HUB 1280 Unico caliber, an integrated, self-winding flyback chronograph developed and produced entirely in-house. Since its debut, the high-end movement has evolved continuously, with significant refinements to its construction, efficiency, and proportions. In the Reloaded iteration, Hublot places unprecedented emphasis on the caliber’s visibility. Key components, including the dial-side column wheel at 6 o’clock and the dual oscillating clutch at 8 o’clock, are deliberately exposed, transforming the movement into the visual focal point of the watch.

Technically, the Unico remains one of the most advanced chronograph calibers in its segment. It operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), delivers a power reserve of approximately 72 hours, and incorporates five patented innovations. Among them are a backlash-compensating oscillating clutch, a constant-pressure friction system for the minute counter, a “zero friction” ratchet wheel blocker, and a fine adjustment system for the regulating organ. The integrated flyback function allows for instantaneous reset and restart, reinforcing its functional, performance-oriented character.

The redesign extends beyond the movement to the watch’s overall architecture. Water-resistant to 100 meters and measuring 14.5mm in height, the 44mm case retains the Big Bang’s signature presence but introduces a more pronounced, multi-layered construction. A newly developed two-part bezel enhances contrast between materials, while the dial has been reworked for greater depth and clarity. Subtle updates, such as the repositioned date between 4 and 5 o’clock and a redesigned chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock, improve legibility while maintaining the collection’s distinctive aesthetic. On the reverse, an openworked rotor with a cut-out “Hublot. Design & Manufacture. Nyon” inscription further reinforces the emphasis on mechanical transparency.

The Big Bang Reloaded is conceived as a comprehensive material platform that underscores Hublot’s long-standing expertise in material innovation while marking key anniversaries, including 20 years of the All Black concept (2006) and 15 years of Magic Gold (2011). Across the permanent collection, decades of research, innovation, and craftsmanship converge in a single, coherent vision of the Big Bang. 

At the pinnacle stands the Magic Gold model, showcasing the world’s first scratch-resistant 18K gold—developed over four years in collaboration with EPFL’s Metallurgy Laboratory and produced entirely in-house in Nyon—distinguished by its characteristic bronze hue and exceptional durability. Alongside it, ceramic plays a central role in three executions: the All Black edition revisits Hublot’s radical “visibility through invisibility” concept in a monochromatic composition, while blue and dark green versions highlight the brand’s prowess of colored high-tech ceramics, engineered to be significantly harder than conventional counterparts. Completing the lineup, the Titanium Ceramic model combines lightweight, satin-finished titanium with robust black ceramic, echoing the construction principles of earlier Big Bang Unico models. 

Pricing reflects the diversity of materials and technical complexity, with the Titanium Ceramic version at $24,000, the All Black, Blue Ceramic, and Dark Green Ceramic models each at $25,200, and the Magic Gold edition positioned at $44,500. All models are delivered with two interchangeable straps: a rubber and a rubber/fabric strap.

Big Bang Reloaded Usain Bolt 

Within this broader framework, the Big Bang Reloaded Usain Bolt limited edition translates the identity of Usain Bolt into a highly expressive design. The 44mm case combines black ceramic with frosted carbon and is framed by a polished 18K yellow gold bezel engraved with Bolt’s mantra, “Anything is Possible, Don’t Think Limits.” On the dial side, a skeletonized black display incorporates a lightning bolt-shaped chronograph seconds hand, echoing the sprinter’s signature pose. Between 6 and 8 o’clock, the numerals read 6-5-8. Flip the perspective and they reveal 9.58, his 100m world record set in 2009. The contrasting use of gold, black, and flashes of green and yellow further reinforces the connection to Bolt’s Jamaican heritage, while the layered construction and H-shaped screws maintain the defining codes of the Big Bang architecture.

Turning the watch over reveals one of its most distinctive features: a fragment of soil from Bolt’s childhood training ground in Jamaica, encapsulated within sapphire in a lightning bolt-shaped structure on the case back. Beneath and around this symbolic element, the HUB1280 Unico manufacture flyback chronograph remains fully visible, with its column wheel, oscillating clutch, and flyback architecture prominently displayed.

Like the rest of the collection, the model is equipped with Hublot’s One Click strap system, offering a choice between a yellow gold-toned Velcro fabric strap and a black, yellow, and green camouflage rubber strap. Limited to 200 pieces, the Big Bang Reloaded Usain Bolt is priced at $30,000.

Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé

In addition, Hublot honors another sports giant and long-standing brand ambassador with a special iteration, the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé. The 200-piece limited edition expresses the identity of Kylian Mbappé through a striking combination of polished white ceramic and 18K King Gold. The bezel is engraved at 6 o’clock with the inscription “Trust Yourself,” reflecting the player’s personal philosophy, while a King Gold-toned “10” on the skeletonized dial underscores his iconic squad and lucky number. The dial itself, executed in matte anthracite ruthenium with white accents, reveals the Unico chronograph beneath. The case’s layered construction and twin-level bezel, secured by H-shaped screws, reinforce the architectural identity of the Big Bang. The watch is supplied with two interchangeable straps, a King Gold-toned Velcro fabric one and a black-and-white rubber strap with KM detailing.

On the reverse, the sapphire case back reveals the HUB1280 Unico manufacture flyback chronograph, once again placed at the center of the watch’s design. The dial-side column wheel, oscillating clutch, and flyback mechanism are clearly visible, underscoring the movement’s integrated construction and technical sophistication. Limited to 200 pieces, the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé is priced at $30,000.

To learn more, visit Hublot, here.