Watches & Wonders 2026: Hublot Big Bang Reloaded
Watches & Wonders 2026: Hublot Big Bang Reloaded
Five new versions of the Big Bang Reloaded will be launched in 2026, all based on the same technical platform but with distinct design elements. The upgrade focuses on a redesigned Unico movement, new material combinations, and a revamped case.
Hublot is known for its unassuming anniversary celebrations. Whenever the brand innovates on a timepiece, it usually presents it in a striking manner. The new Hublot Big Bang Reloaded is no exception, featuring significant improvements to the skeletonized Unico movement. The result is a new evolution in both technology and aesthetics for one of Hublot’s most iconic timepieces in recent years. Hublot has infused its limited-edition Big Bang Reloaded watches, a collaboration with Usain Bolt and Kylian Mbappé, with a strong personal touch, biographical significance, and symbolism, while the regular Big Bang Reloaded focuses on the core elements of the Big Bang collection: materials, structure, and the clear visibility of the Unico movement. The collection is available in five color options: titanium ceramic, all black, blue ceramic, dark green ceramic, and magic gold. All five watches are 44mm in size and powered by Hublot’s HUB1280 Unico movement, an integrated flyback chronograph movement with a column wheel on the dial side and a 72-hour power reserve.
The key to this redesigned movement lies not in its completely new appearance, but in the way Hublot now presents the Unico movement. The Big Bang Reloaded watch aims not only to showcase the movement but also to create the impression that its design revolves entirely around the Unico movement. Therefore, the design elements are more prominent: the colored column wheel at 6 o’clock, the double-clutch mechanism at 8 o’clock, the redesigned minute counter at 3 o’clock, and the date window between 4 and 5 o’clock all give the dial a clearer structure than before. The flyback function of the chronograph is also more strongly emphasized through subtle colored accents. On the case back, the newly designed skeletonized rotor is engraved with the letter “H” and the words “Hublot. Design. Manufacture. Nyon”. These elements together give the watch a more open, technological, and confident visual effect.
The most striking aspect of this watch is that Hublot does not merely showcase its mechanical structure, but deliberately highlights its intricacy. The skeletonized case design cleverly draws the eye to the chronograph’s architecture. The use of color, contrast, and layering ensures that the Unico watch’s structure is clear and legible. This is precisely what sets the Big Bang Reloaded watch apart from many other skeletonized sports chronographs: it not only pursues aesthetic complexity but also clearly presents that complexity. https://www.whereguidewatch.com
Five Materials, Five Exclamation Marks
However, in this new product launch, the material philosophy is at least as important as the movement itself. The five watches differ not only in color but also in their overall presentation. The titanium ceramic version cleverly blends satin-polished titanium with black ceramic, paying homage to the early Big Bang Unico design. It is perhaps the most understated and technologically advanced model in the series. The all-black version perfectly embodies Hublot’s “visibility in concealment” philosophy from twenty years ago: achieving ultimate presence through ultimate concealment.
The addition of blue and dark green ceramics makes the series even bolder and more avant-garde. Hublot demonstrates its confidence in the field of colored high-tech ceramics. According to the manufacturer, this ceramic is approximately 300 Vickers harder than traditional ceramics, making it not only visually striking but also technologically superior. The green version exudes a more composed and sophisticated air, while the blue version is more refreshing and dynamic. However, the Magic Gold version holds a special place in the entire collection. Developed in collaboration with the Metallurgical Laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), this material is hailed as the world’s first scratch-resistant 18K gold and is manufactured in-house at Hublot’s factory in Nyon. Furthermore, this Big Bang Reloaded watch coincides with the 15th anniversary of Hublot’s Magic Gold alloy, making it the most historically significant timepiece in the collection.
The surrounding details have also been refined.
Hublot did not treat the Big Bang Reloaded collection merely as a color update; this is evident in its case and wearing philosophy. The 44mm case features a two-piece bezel, resulting in sharper lines and a more harmonious visual interaction between different materials and finishes. Overall, the case is angular and the design is more distinctive. In addition, all five watches come with two interchangeable straps: one is a fabric-like rubber strap with an H-shaped texture, and the other is a classic black rubber strap. Thanks to Hublot’s “one-click” strap changing system, the watch’s style can be quickly changed—from sporty to a more understated look. Of course, for Hublot, “understated” is always a relative concept.
The Unico Remains Unchanged From a technical perspective, the series remains based on the same core architecture. The HUB1280 Unico movement consists of 354 components, has 43 jewels, a frequency of 4 Hz, and a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. Hublot also highlighted five patented innovations of this movement, including a dual-clutch system, a “zero-friction” locking mechanism, and a fine-tuning device on the balance wheel. In short, the built-in dual-clutch system ensures smooth start and disengagement of the chronograph function, meaning that starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph function will not produce unnecessary friction, vibration, or loss of accuracy.