The quintessential Hublot wristwatch, the Big Bang was revamped in a big way last year – in time for its 15th anniversary – gaining a brand-new bracelet that seamlessly integrates into a redesigned case. And now Hublot has upgraded the original with the Big Bang Integral Ceramic, an all-ceramic chronograph offered in surprising colours.

Initial thoughts

Being the same watch as last year’s model, save for the material, the new ceramic chronograph has all the same qualities as the original. It’s a large, but not enormous, watch that wears well, especially in its lighter iterations. Also noteworthy is stepped-up finishing compared with earlier generations of the Big Bang. And the design is also well done; the integrated bracelet, in particular, is commendable for how it, well, integrates into the case, especially since the Big Bang is most often found on a strap.

That said, the new Big Bang Integral Ceramic is a lot more attractive than the original version in titanium or gold. Besides being scratch-resistant, ceramic is lightweight, colourful, and glossy, giving it a look and feel ideal for a fashionable sports watch. If you like this look – an oversized, technical-looking sports chronograph – the Big Bang Integral is a strong performer.

The ceramic bracelet links have alternating brushed and polished surfaces

The integrated-bracelet sports watch segment is crowded and competitive. Positioned at the mid to upper-end of its class, the Big Bang Integral Ceramic has a price tag of US$23,100, which isn’t quite affordable but not exorbitant. In fact, it might even be reasonable priced, considering most of the competition have cases and bracelets in traditional metals, except for Audemars Piguet, which is at a far higher price range.

The classic “sandwich” construction of the Big Bang is replicated on the Integral, except entirely in ceramic

Sports chronograph

Though it’s no exceedingly obvious at a glance due to the dial design, the Big Bang Integral Ceramic is a chronograph powered by the HUB1280 Unico movement. Notably, the chronograph is a flyback, meaning it can be reset while in operation, “flying back” to zero and immediately restarting.

Developed in-house, the movement is modular, made up of the Unico automatic base movement with a chronograph module on top. It’s not the integrated construction widely considered to be the more sophisticated, but the modular approach has an upside: a view of chronograph mechanism under the dial.

Indeed, Hublot utilises a see-through sapphire dial to show off the chronograph works. Visible at six o’clock is the column wheel, the hub that coordinates the chronograph levers to control start, stop, and reset.

Key facts and price

Hublot Big Bang Integral Ceramic
Ref. 451.HX.1123.HX (White)
Ref. 451.EX.5123.EX (Blue)
Ref. 451.FX.6923.FX (Grey)

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 13.45 mm
Material: Ceramic
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: HUB1280 Unico
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, and flyback chronograph
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Ceramic bracelet with titanium folding buckle

Availability: From Hublot boutiques and retailers
Price: US$23,100

For more, visit hublot.com.