Spirit of Big Bang 45 Titanium Skeleton Dial

Hublot was founded in Nyon, Switzerland, in 1980 by Carl Crocco. A keen sailor, Crocco yearned for a durable luxury watch that could be worn during his nautical endeavors. He introduced the world’s first gold watch on a rubber strap, with a bezel embellished with exposed screws. The inaugural design was based on a ship’s porthole – and so, the name Hublot, which means “porthole” in French.

In 2004, Jean Claude Biver joined Hublot and revamped its product strategy with material innovation and aggressive marketing. Some of the first releases under Biver’s direction were the Big Bang Chronographs, which earned many prizes and awards in 2005, including the Design Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. These recognitions boosted Hublot’s sales massively, and in 2007, the brand opened their first boutique in Paris.