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My favourite guilty-pleasure model is, and not using a shadow of a doubt, Hublot. The colourful ceramic fashions, specifically, have the X issue. Guess what: the quintet of Hublot Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary watches is made in several supplies, one in all which is brilliant purple ceramic. The opposite 4 are titanium, King Gold, Magic Gold, and black ceramic. I went hands-on with the outspoken watches. On paper, the Crimson Magic firecracker was my favourite of the lot. Learn on to seek out out if it nonetheless was after my hands-on expertise with all 5 restricted editions.
You possibly can’t let twenty years of Massive Bang watches go unnoticed. Doing so wouldn’t be within the spirit of the watch or the model. That’s why the five-watch-strong lineup of Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary watches took middle stage at Hublot’s Watches and Wonders 2025 sales space. The Massive Bang is undoubtedly the model’s most emblematic assortment. Prior to now 20 years, many issues concerning the watch have modified. As an example, the standard, particularly the extent of ending, improved tremendously over time. You may bear in mind these first-generation Massive Bangs that have been just a little edgy, not simply in form but in addition by nature. Over time, Hublot launched many high-tech supplies within the Massive Bang assortment, and the in-house Unico automated chronograph motion was a big evolutionary step ahead.
New (left) and previous Massive Bang facet by facet
Fingers-on with a quintet of Hublot Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary watches
The widespread denominator among the many 5 Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary watches is the Unico motion. All 5 limited-edition Bang Bang creations use the MHUB1280.20YEARS: UNICO, the self-winding chronograph caliber with a column wheel and flyback operate. Within the case of this limited-edition quintet, the mainspring will get wound by a celebratory gold rotor.
The 5 references characteristic a redesigned 43mm case with the attribute layered development that turned just a few eyes out 20 years in the past. The watch, with its pinched lugs, knurled bezel edge, and rubber strap, had a semi-industrial vibe. It took an open thoughts to attach with it, similar to the very first gold and rubber Hublot within the ’80s. Not-so-open-minded people in contrast the Massive Bang to the Royal Oak Offshore, primarily as a result of each watches are outspoken and in a league of their very own. Twenty years in the past, we didn’t have the range we’ve got in 2025.
Did the purple ceramic work its magic?
Why did Hublot create the Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary Crimson Magic (ref. 431.CF.1313.RX / €33,000) in purple ceramic and never in, let’s say, brilliant yellow or cheerful orange? That’s as a result of purple is a historic hue for Hublot. The Nyon-based model has been on the forefront of making ceramics in brilliant colours, making them stand out. The primary coloured ceramic Hublot developed and made in-house was purple, and it debuted in 2018. With this in thoughts, it is sensible that Hublot has produced 100 Crimson Magic chronographs to rejoice the Massive Bang and 7 years of in-house coloured ceramics.
Is it nonetheless my favourite of the 5 LEs? Nope. In actual life, I used to be barely dissatisfied by the cruel distinction between vivid purple and deep black. The shiny purple ceramic feels good and easy, and the hue is deep and wealthy, however the black particulars cheapen the watch’s look. Essential in that’s the black dial with purple numerals and indexes.
After I first noticed the five-watch lineup, I believed the dial was fabricated from carbon fiber. Properly, the checkered look steered it, and with Hublot’s experience in utilizing the fabric, a carbon fiber dial would make nice historic sense. As an alternative, Hublot determined to make use of brass, stamp a carbon-like sample into it, and coloration it black. After I requested why it was brass and never carbon, the Hublot consultant answered that the depth of the stamped sample displays gentle higher and extra vividly, enriching the watch in a approach no carbon dial might ever do.
Supplies that are available in fourth, third, and second place
I used to be all around the Crimson Magic iteration on paper, however after experiencing it throughout “WAW,” it was my least favourite Massive Bang of the 5. Let’s see in what order the opposite 4 ended up. The Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary Titanium Ceramic (ref. 431.NM.1337.RX / €21,600) got here in fourth place. It is a restricted version of 500 chronographs, additionally exhibiting sturdy contrasts between colours. The watch seems prefer it ought to at all times be within the assortment, and with its purple particulars, it doesn’t look that particular or festive.
The third spot on the rostrum goes to the 250-piece-strong King Gold Ceramic version (ref. 431.OM.1338.RX / €39,900). Hublot’s proprietary treasured steel has a hotter shade than the standard 5N 18K gold. Truthfully, it’s too heat for my style and fairly wealthy, eye-catching, and express.
That is, after all, a really private tackle the watch. I like my shades of gold softer and extra yellow. Good old style yellow gold is my number-one kind of gold. Alternatively, a heat, reddish kind of gold matched with black ceramic and a black rubber strap may be very Hublot.
Second place goes to a reimagined 2006 Hublot cult basic. The Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary All Black (ref. 431.CI.1340.RX / €26,200), a restricted version of 500 watches, continues to be a robust model assertion regardless of taking a look that many opponents have copied. Jean-Claude Biver as soon as stated that studying the time in your Massive Bang All Black is likely to be unattainable, however folks use their telephones to examine the time anyway. It didn’t cease the watch from probably turning into a very powerful and sought-after watch in Hublot’s historical past.
The 2025 watch reveals matte-finished surfaces on the black ceramic 43mm case and is a worthy homage to the OG. The factor is, I’d fairly have the rebellious watch that broke the mildew than the grown-up model of it.
New (prime) and previous Massive Bang case profiles
After some ado, right here’s my number-one Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary watch
Earlier than telling you which ones Massive Bang took first place and why, let’s have a look at the watches extra intently. Hublot did a great job of updating numerous design particulars. As an example, the case diameter shrank from 44.5mm to a extra wearable 43mm, and the polished bezel has a knurled edge, a distinguished characteristic of the early Massive Bang fashions, now extra refined than ever.
The rubber-tipped rectangular pushers discovered within the first Massive Bang references additionally made a comeback, together with the textured lozenge-patterned rubber strap that includes a One-Click on system built-in into the case.
My favourite watch of the 5 is the Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary Magic Gold (ref. 431.MX.1330.RX / €42,200), which is available in a restricted run of 100 items. Magic Gold, an in-house treasured steel that debuted in 2011, has a mysterious greenish glow that softens the watch’s look. Magic Gold was the world’s first scratch-resistant 18K gold alloy, combining ceramic’s resilience with gold’s shine and luster. The fabric’s golden glow will keep impeccable for a really very long time resulting from its hardness and resistance to oxidation.
During which order would you place the quintet of Hublot Massive Bang twentieth Anniversary watches? Please share within the feedback.
