Hublot’s Big Bang Reloaded is not another chapter in the Big Bang story; it is a new adventure told with characteristic fearlessness
Just to be clear, the Big Bang arrives only once. Whether as the scientific theory that explains how the universe came into being 13.8 billion years ago or as the iconic watch collection that Hublot debuted in 2005, which has since entered the modern watchmaking lexicon, neither will be repeated. And it would be foolish to argue otherwise.
“The Big Bang blew our minds when it was launched over 20 years ago. Even so, we started from ground zero with the Big Bang Reloaded. For sure, we imbued the new watches with a disruptive and expressive spirit that is core to Hublot, but it is not about making a watch that has been done before,” says Sadry Keiser, Hublot’s chief product officer.
Keiser joined Hublot last May, and among his immediate tasks was to develop the Big Bang Reloaded. The feeling of change in the air was palpable at that time. Hublot’s current CEO, Julien Tornare, had taken over the helm seven months earlier, and the team was “raring to rev up the engine”, says Keiser. With a galvanised team sharing a vision for Hublot to raise its game at the top of contemporary watchmaking, the Big Bang Reloaded would be a manifestation of that renewed vigour.
“That is the beauty of the collection,” says Keiser. “Sure, it is about the watches, but also the way we started the project from scratch, from the technical characteristics and design to reconnecting and communicating with our communities, that makes the Big Bang Reloaded live up to its name.”
Legacy of Disruption
It is certainly tempting to view the Big Bang Reloaded as a greatest-hits Hublot watch. Every element expands and amplifies what fans of the brand love about its creations, and there is a great deal to love.
A dominant presence on the wrist, the watch makes no apologies for its heft or its athletic character. The Big Bang Reloaded flaunts the iconic porthole-inspired bezel, but bulked up to 44mm in diameter. Hublot’s Art of Fusion ethos— expressed through the combination of different materials, as well as ground-breaking experimentations with high-tech ceramics and alloys—is well-represented across cases crafted in titanium, proprietary Magic Gold alloy, and coloured high-tech ceramic.
All that muscular energy is fortified by genuine substance: the Unico automatic flyback chronograph movement. Emblematic of Hublot’s in-house manufacturing prowess, the Unico debuted in 2010 and has since been a technical cornerstone of the brand, driving the entire Big Bang Reloaded line-up.
“There is a level of expertise and means of expression that we have within Hublot that we are ‘reloading’ with this collection. We are also ‘reloading’ a new way to attract clients. The challenge is to create a watch that has the right balance of technical qualities, innovation, and aesthetic virtues that would appeal to a broader audience,” says Keiser.
Icons Load Up
Keiser’s ambition to broaden the Big Bang Reloaded’s appeal beyond Hublot’s existing faithful finds its most vivid expression in two limited editions that anchor the collection and in the two sports superstars who inspired them.
The Big Bang Reloaded Usain Bolt and the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé are not celebrity watches in the conventional sense. Far from simply having famous names stamped on the dials, these timepieces are built around personal sporting legacies.
Bolt’s edition is the more visceral of the two. The 44mm black ceramic and carbon case carries numerals between 6 and 8 o’clock that read ‘6-5-8’. Look at it from another angle, and the numbers show ‘9.58’, the runner’s 100m world record set in Berlin in 2009.
The chronograph seconds hand is shaped like a lightning bolt, echoing Bolt’s celebrated victory pose. Most arresting of all, the caseback encapsulates authentic soil from his childhood training ground in Jamaica, compressed and sealed beneath sapphire crystal. His mantra, ‘Anything is possible, don’t think limits’, is engraved on the polished 18k yellow gold bezel. One could readily apply it to Hublot’s horological pursuits as well.
Mbappé’s edition projects a different but equally unambiguous spirit. Crafted in polished white ceramic and 18k King Gold, the watch appears quieter in disposition. The number 10 appears in King Gold on the dial, an acknowledgement of his squad number, his identity, his mythology.
‘Trust yourself’ is engraved at 6 o’clock on the bezel—Mbappé’s playbook distilled to two words. The skeletonised dial in matt anthracite, threaded with white accents, gives the watch a sharp appearance that mirrors his purposeful style of play.
Calculated Reload
Reflecting on the Big Bang Reloaded’s conception, Keiser recalls that every decision, whether big or small, was made “to tell a new story” while remaining mindful of what came before. “We had to make sure to protect the DNA of Hublot, respect the impact of the Big Bang and its journey—all while showing evolution,” he says.
The watch’s Reloaded suffix suggests a sense of continuity, as do its features like the upsized Big Bang case, the Unico movement as its main engine, and its signature use of cutting-edge materials. There are subtle adjustments, too, from revealing sections of the movement on the dial side that best express the calibre’s qualities to utilising multi-layered construction to allow more room to combine materials and finishing techniques.
“The Big Bang is an icon of our time,” Keiser continues. “And it has slowly solidified its position for the past 20 years. At Hublot, we now understand the features, design, and technical attributes that make the Big Bang a success. Now, how do we improve on the formula and make something just as amazing for the next 20 years? This sort of question is what keeps the conversation on modern watchmaking alive and that’s what makes my job exciting.”
This story first appeared in the July 2026 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here
