From the moment of the opening of the last Basel Salon, the show was alive with the buzz going round among the stands and in conversation. “Have you seen the latest Hublot collection?” “Big Bang,” Jean-Claude Biver’s latest “enfant terrible” was the name on the lips of every retailer and journalist from around the world.

For Hublot’s 25^th birthday, Jean-Claude Biver, who now presides over the destiny of the brand of kings side by side with its founder Carlo Crocco, has breathed new life into the Hublot concept, while preserving the essential DNA and going back to its guiding principles. He has introduced new combinations of materials, combining gold, steel, and even titanium, ceramics, kevlar and rubber to create Big Bang.

“Big Bang is the first watch with lateral recognition,” announced Jean-Claude Biver. In profile, the watch owes its highly distinctive design to a kevlar insert, giving the impression that the legendary Hublot bracelet, symbol of the brand since its creation and now redesigned for the occasion, passes right through the body of the watch.

Visionary proportions and entirely new design give this new bestseller its elegant and sportive appearance, representative of the brand since its beginnings.

On the technical side, "Big Bang" contains a new mechanical chronograph movement with automatic rewind, the HUB44, specially developed with La Joux-Perret for Hublot. Among the components are the pearl-finish plate, satin finish angled bridges, black PVD screws, as well as the openwork oscillating weight in the Hublot colours, made entirely of Tungsten with a black PVD-coated dimpled surface. To complete the fusion of these unusual materials, Hublot has added a dial with carbon-powder coating and a new extra-wide ceramic bezel with six polished “H” shaped blocked and sunken screws.

The truly superb Big Bang is a total success in terms of balance and style. People look at it with envy, even jealousy, and it’s not hard to become accustomed to the pleasure of wearing it as soon as it’s on your wrist. To add to your pleasure, other points in its favour include the new clasp in adjustable rubber that instantly and perfectly adjusts to seasonal changes.

• Case: Diameter 44.5 mm, in red 18K gold
  
• Lateral inserts: Kevlar
  
• Movement: Mechanical chronograph movement with automatic winding
  
• Caliber: Hublot HUB44, 252 components
  
• Escapement: Glucydur spiral
  
• Power Reserve: 42 hours
  
• Day-date indicator: Trapezoid window at 4.30
  
• Oscillating weight: Tungsten with black PVD-coated dimpled surface
  
• Dial: Struck Carbon Sapphire with appliquéd indices in vertical satin-finish steel
  
• Hands: Faceted, sand-blasted, rhodium-finish with photo-luminous coating
  
• Bezel: Ceramic secured with 6 titanium “H”-shaped screws
  
• Butterfly Disks: Kevlar
  
• Crystal: Double-face anti-reflection sapphire
  
• Winding crown: With natural black rubber insert
  
• Push Buttons: Rectangular with natural black rubber inserts
  
• Water resistance: 100 meters
  
• Bracelet: adjustable in natural rubber with folding clasp
  
  
• Retail price tax included: 12 500 euros (red gold), 6 600 euros (steel and rubber)
  
  
• On sale: July 2005
  
  
• Versions available: "Big Bang" has been launched in steel and rubber, red gold and white gold with black, white, steel or tantalum on a black or white rubber bracelet, ceramic lunette or a superb steel bracelet with ceramic inserts. A special “Yacht Club de Monaco” edition will also be on sale in a limited edition of 250 watches as from the autumn.

“Big Bang” was not named by chance. Representing the brand’s revival, it has made its mark since it came out in the sector of elegant and sportive watches. With faultless technical specifications, a meticulously studied marketing and pricing position, a long and successful career is already shaping up for this latest “enfant terrible” from that magician of watch making, Monsieur Jean-Claude Biver.

Strong Points

• Appearance
  
• Personality, character
  
• Perfect finishes
  
• Materials used
  
• Unbeatable prices in its category

Weak points

• Limited number available

A friend’s advice: if you appreciate sportive watches, go for the ultimate in happiness by getting yourself a “Big Bang” as soon as you can!

Our rating: *****

We would like to thank Monsieur Jean-Claude Biver and the Hublot teams for their invaluable assistance, which has enabled us to share our passion with you.

Thierry Castagna / La Cote des Montres™ - Photos Luc Virginius