Hublot
- Founded
- 1980
- Based in
- Nyon, Switzerland
- In our catalog
- 5 watches from $7,300 to $190,000
Hublot is a love-it-or-hate-it brand, and it seems to like it that way. Its watches are big, loud and made from unusual materials, and they're everywhere in football, motor sport and celebrity culture. But behind the image is a real manufacture that makes its own movements and develops new materials.
History
Carlo Crocco founded Hublot (French for "porthole") in 1980. His first watch put a gold case on a natural rubber strap, which was unheard of in luxury watches at the time. In 2004 Jean-Claude Biver, who had already revived Blancpain and helped build Omega, took over. In 2005 he launched the Big Bang, a chunky chronograph mixing gold, ceramic and rubber, with the slogan "the art of fusion".
LVMH bought Hublot in 2008. The brand developed its own chronograph movement, the Unico, and materials like Magic Gold, a scratch-resistant gold alloy. It's known for colorful sapphire cases and for sponsorships, including the FIFA World Cup referee boards.
Signature models
- Big Bang Unico 42: The flagship chronograph with an in-house movement and a skeletonized dial.
- Big Bang Integrated: A Big Bang with an integrated bracelet, made in one material.
- Classic Fusion Titanium 42: A simpler, more classic watch with the porthole bezel.
- Spirit of Big Bang: A tonneau-shaped version of the Big Bang.
- MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis: A showpiece with a double-axis tourbillon.
What it's known for
Hublot uses ceramic, carbon, sapphire and Magic Gold, and releases many limited editions in bright colors. It's popular with athletes, musicians and celebrities.
Price and positioning
A Classic Fusion starts around $7,000, and a Big Bang costs $20,000 to $25,000, with sapphire and complicated models much higher. Richard Mille is the aspirational rival on style. Hublots lose a lot of value on the secondary market, so a lightly used Big Bang can cost a fraction of new.
Hublot watches in our library
- Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium 42 ($7,300 to $8,000)
- Hublot Big Bang Unico 42 ($20,000 to $22,000)
- Hublot Big Bang Integrated ($23,000 to $25,000)
- Hublot Spirit of Big Bang ($23,000 to $25,000)
- Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis ($170,000 to $190,000)