Throwback Thursday: Hublot Big Bang

It was 1980 when Hublot first shocked the watch industry by combining rubber with 18k gold. In 2005, Hublot employed this great combination again. That is when the Big Bang exploded onto the market, and it has been blowing us away every since. The combination of rubber and gold launched a trend that has now, more than 30 years later, become established as a standard in the industry. Rubber straps are now more prevalent than gold bracelets. The construction of the Big Bang was also unique. Kevlar inserts in the case and lugs, combined with the seamless attachment of the strap and case made it seem as if the rubber strap passed directly through the body of the watch. Hublot defines this layered construction as “Fusion.” It has since added six screws to the bezel, which has become a part of the iconography of the Big Bang. The collection has been the venue for some of Hublot’s most impressive feats of watchmaking and finishing, including the $5-million Diamond Big Bang with over 100 carats of diamonds, which was scooped up last year by Beyoncé as a 43rd birthday present for her husband, Jay-Z. More recently, the brand introduced the Big Bang Classic Fusion, with a more classic, streamlined silhouette.