Hublot have been on a nostalgia trip since reaching the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang collection last year. In celebration of that milestone they released the Big Bang Original Unico, a modernised take on the original 2005 closed dial chronograph. However, one of the most iconic expressions of the Big Bang is the open-dial Unico that reveals the inner workings of the movement.
So the logical next step is for them the modernise that collection, which is precisely what they’ve done with the launch of the Big Bang Reloaded at Watches & Wonders 2026, available in a new core collection and two special editions.
Hublot Big Bang Reloaded
The Big Bang Reloaded is primarily an aesthetic update to the Big Bang Unico designed to improve legibility along with an updated style. That means the majority of changes are found across the dial and case because inside it houses the current Unico 1280 movement so the specs are the same as the existing models. Meaning a 72-hour power reserve and 4 Hz frequency that powers a flyback chronograph display with date.
Jumping to the visual updates of the dial, there has been a marked improvement in legibility. A large component in that is that the dial is actually less openworked than the previous version. Previously where the centre of the display was entirely exposed to reveal the bare plates of the movement, there’s now a central disk with a grained texture covering the uninteresting plate – though still with apertures to reveal important mechanical components.
This creates a solid backdrop behind the central hour, minute and chronograph seconds hands making them easier to read. At the same time, it directs your eyes towards those important components which are actually labelled along the edge of each aperture so you know what you’re looking at – specifically the column wheel and oscillating clutch.
Other changes include moving the date window from 3 o’clock where it used to intersect with one of the subdials to a new position between 4 and 5. This is actually a very easy change to make because mechanically nothing about the date function has to change, the date wheel is just being exposed at a different point on the dial – you can see through the openworked subdial at 3 o’clock where the old date window would have been because the date disk still passes exactly through that spot.
The style of the subdials has also changed as they now both use complete 60-second or 60-minute scales in intervals of ten. Additionally it’s no longer a big-eye display as both subdials are the same size, creating a better sense of symmetry across the dial. This also boosts legibility because the small seconds subdial is bigger and therefore more readable than before.
For the case, it has the same 44mm diameter as before and the structure is broadly the same. The bezel has an updated two part construction that makes it easier to have more dynamic material options but the overall look is largely the same. Speaking of materials, the Big Bang Reloaded is available in the following editions: Titanium Ceramic, All Black Ceramic, Blue Ceramic, Dark Green Ceramic, and Magic Gold. They are priced at £18,800 for the titanium, £19,700 for the three ceramics and lastly £34,900 for the gold.
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Hublot Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé
One of the most surprising things about the new Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé special edition is that it’s the brand’s first collaboration with the footballer despite the fact that he has been an ambassador for the brand for eight years. But the timing works out well because 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Mbappé’s first professional goal in 2016. It’s also his shirt number at Real Madrid. That’s why, when you look at the dial of the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé, the 10 o’clock numeral is golden while the rest are silver.
That colour scheme of gold and silver/white is maintained across the rest of the watch too. The 44mm case is made from a combination of white ceramic and king gold – the bezel in particular has a ceramic core with a king gold band around the outside edge, engraved with Mbappé’s motto ‘Trust Yourself’. The other tribute to the man comes on the central chronograph seconds hand, which has a KM counterweight.
Inside is the same Unico 1280 automatic movement as the core collection with 72-hour power reserve. It’s visible through the exhibition caseback and the openworked portions of the dial. It’s priced at £23,500 in a limited edition of 200 pieces. People like to describe Hublot as a footballer brand and with this watch they’re living up to that reputation in the most direct way possible.
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Hublot Big Bang Reloaded Usain Bolt
In addition to the Mbappé special edition, Hublot is also releasing a Usain Bolt version of the Big Bang Reloaded. It has a black ceramic case with a carbon and yellow gold bezel. Like the footballer version, the edge of the bezel bears the athlete’s motto ‘Anything Is Possible, Don’t Think Limits’. There are a selection of other Bolt references to be discovered across the watch.
The green and yellow accents are a tribute to Jamaica, the nation he represented at the Olympics. The chronograph seconds hand is also lightning bolt shaped like his signature pose – the same pattern is found on the caseback made from soil (taken from Bolt’s original training ground in Jamaica) sandwiched between sapphire plates. There’s also a reference that you might not recognise at first if you look at the hour numerals: Instead of the alternating numeral and index pattern, the sequence includes 6, 5, 8 in the lower quadrant of the display, with the 5 upside down. If you invert the display so that the 5 is the correct way up, it suddenly reads 958, aka 9.58, his world record 100m sprint time.
Just like the Mbappé, it houses the Unico 1280 with 72-hour power reserve. It also shares the same price of £23,500 in a 200-piece limited edition. A fitting tribute to one of the word’s greatest athletes of all time.
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More details at Hublot.
