Hublot's Evolution: A Retrospective on Design, Materials, and Horology

This article details the historical development, design philosophy, material innovations, and movement technologies that characterize the Hublot brand, from its inception to its current position in contemporary watchmaking.

Origins and Early Concepts

Hublot was founded in 1980 by Italian watch designer Carlo Crocco. The brand's initial concept focused on creating a watch suitable for a modern, active lifestyle, prioritizing lightness, water resistance, and comfort. Crocco introduced a design that paired a gold case with a rubber strap, a combination unconventional in traditional luxury watchmaking at the time. The design drew inspiration from a ship's porthole, featuring a round bezel secured by visible screws and an integrated rubber strap.

This early aesthetic was characterized by its nautical, modern, and industrial visual language. The combination of precious metal with a practical strap, alongside an emphasis on comfort and water resistance, contributed to its adoption by European royalty and celebrities. This period, from 1980 to 2004, established the foundational principles of material fusion, a distinct case shape, and comfort-centric design for the brand.

The "Art of Fusion" and the Big Bang Era

Hublot's contemporary identity began to solidify in 2005 with the arrival of Jean-Claude Biver as CEO. Biver introduced "The Art of Fusion" as the brand's core philosophy, which encompassed combining traditional horology with avant-garde materials, blending historical and future elements, and integrating diverse cultural references.

In the same year, the Big Bang model was launched as a physical embodiment of this philosophy. The Big Bang case was designed with a layered,