Hublot

Who are Hublot?

Hublot is a Swiss watchmaker based in Nyon, on Lake Geneva, founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco. It has been owned by the French luxury group LVMH since 2008. This page covers its history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying a pre-owned Hublot in the UK.

The company’s first watch put a gold case on a natural rubber strap, a mix it calls the “Art of Fusion” (LVMH). Its main watch is the Big Bang chronograph of 2005, and most of what it makes today is built on that design. Hublot designs and makes its own chronograph movement, the Unico, at its manufacture in Nyon (LVMH; Swisswatches Magazine).

The history of Hublot

Hublot’s history runs from a single rubber-strapped watch in 1980 to a brand within LVMH. The key dates are the founding (1980), Jean-Claude Biver’s arrival (2004), the Big Bang (2005), the sale to LVMH (2008) and the Unico movement (2010).

The founding. Carlo Crocco, an Italian, set up a company called MDM Genève and launched the Hublot watch at the Basel fair in 1980 (Wikipedia). Hublot is the French word for a ship’s porthole, which the case design recalls (Rox). Swisswatches Magazine calls it the first watch to mix precious metal with rubber; LVMH describes it as Hublot’s first watch combining natural rubber and gold. Wikipedia reports that it sold more than US$2 million in its first year.

Biver and the Big Bang. Late in 2003 Crocco met Jean-Claude Biver, then running Omega within the Swatch Group, and in May 2004 Biver became chief executive (Wikipedia). LVMH says that in 2004 the brand made fusion “the cornerstone” of its approach. The Big Bang chronograph was unveiled in Basel in April 2005 (Wikipedia; LVMH).

LVMH. In April 2008 LVMH announced it had agreed to buy Hublot from Crocco and a company controlled by Biver. The terms were not disclosed. At the time, Hublot had begun building a factory in Nyon (Europa Star). The Classic Fusion was launched at Baselworld the same year (Hublot).

Making its own movements. Hublot’s first manufacture in Nyon opened in 2009 (Wikipedia). Its first movement of its own, the Unico chronograph, calibre HUB1240, arrived in 2010. That year Hublot also took over the remains of BNB Concept, a Nyon movement maker that had collapsed, including about 30 of its craftspeople (Swisswatches Magazine).

Sport and complications. In 2010 Hublot became official watchmaker of Formula 1 and official timekeeper of the FIFA World Cup (Wikipedia). The Masterpiece series of complicated watches began in 2011 (Swisswatches Magazine). The Spirit of Big Bang followed in 2014 and the square Square Bang Unico in 2022 (Hublot; Haute Time).

Recent years. Ricardo Guadalupe, who had been chief executive, became honorary president on 1 September 2024 and was succeeded by Julien Tornare, previously chief executive of TAG Heuer (Time+Tide). Since April 2025 Tornare has reported to Jean-Christophe Babin, head of LVMH’s watch division (Option Finance).

What is Hublot known for?

Hublot is known for combining materials that watchmakers had not used together: gold and rubber in 1980, then ceramics, carbon, sapphire and its own Magic Gold. It is also known for the Big Bang, its Unico chronograph movement, and its sports sponsorship. The details below are each sourced.

Rubber and gold. In 1980 a gold watch on a rubber strap was new. Swisswatches Magazine describes it as the first watch to mix precious metal with rubber. LVMH dates Hublot’s “art of fusion” from this watch.

Materials. Hublot makes Magic Gold, an 18-carat gold alloy made by fusing pure gold with boron carbide ceramic, in the foundry at its manufacture (LVMH). It developed bright red ceramic in 2018 (LVMH). Swisswatches Magazine reports that Hublot was the first to produce sapphire cases in series, and does so in-house. Because Hublot uses so many materials, the same model name can describe watches in titanium, ceramic, gold, carbon or sapphire, each with a different reference.

The Unico movement. The Unico is a chronograph movement designed, made and assembled at the Nyon manufacture; LVMH says it has 330 components (LVMH). Its first version, the HUB1240, arrived in 2010 (Swisswatches Magazine). Not every Hublot uses it; some models use movements bought from outside suppliers. Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains why buyers care about the difference.

Complications. The Masterpiece series includes the MP-05 LaFerrari of 2013, with 11 barrels in a line giving a 50-day power reserve and 637 components (SJX Watches). Hublot had made 17 Masterpieces by 2025 (Swisswatches Magazine).

Sport. Hublot was named official watchmaker of Formula 1 in March 2010 and official timekeeper of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups (Wikipedia). Its partnership with Ferrari began on 1 January 2012 and lasted about ten years (Wikipedia).

Digital warranty. Since 2009 Hublot has used electronic warranty cards, first with WISeKey technology, then NFC from 2015. In 2020 it moved to a fully digital e-warranty stored on the AURA blockchain, which LVMH started with Microsoft and ConsenSys (Hublot e-warranty release). This matters when you buy second-hand.

Which Hublot collections are there?

Hublot’s main collections are the Big Bang, Classic Fusion, Spirit of Big Bang, Square Bang Unico and the Masterpiece (MP) series. The Big Bang is the largest, and most of the others are variations on it or on the 1980 original.

The collections table on this page gives the year each began and a one-line description. A few points help when you are reading listings:

• Big Bang variants. Within the Big Bang there are many sub-lines, such as the Big Bang Unico, which uses the in-house Unico movement (Hublot). Two “Big Bang” listings may have different movements, sizes and case materials, so check the reference.
• Case materials. Hublot sells the same model in several case materials, such as titanium, black ceramic and King Gold, and each version has its own reference (Haute Time). Make sure the listing’s description matches the reference.
• Classic Fusion. Hublot describes the Classic Fusion as a modern version of its 1980s designs, the ones that led to the Big Bang (Hublot). It includes three-hand models, chronographs and complicated pieces; a Classic Fusion Cathedral Tourbillon Minute Repeater won a prize at the 2014 GPHG (Swisswatches Magazine).
• Limited editions. Hublot makes many limited editions, often for sports teams, artists or events, such as the 250-piece Square Bang Unico All Black (Haute Time). The edition number on the case should match the papers.

Who owns Hublot?

Hublot is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a French luxury group based in Paris and listed on Euronext Paris. LVMH agreed to buy Hublot in April 2008 from its founder, Carlo Crocco, and a company controlled by Jean-Claude Biver.

LVMH said Hublot complemented its other watch brands, which then included TAG Heuer and Zenith (Moodie Davitt Report). LVMH did not disclose the terms of the deal (Europa Star). Hublot is part of LVMH’s watches and jewellery business, alongside TAG Heuer, Zenith, Bulgari, Chaumet, Fred and Tiffany & Co. (Wikipedia, LVMH). Bernard Arnault has been chairman and chief executive of LVMH since January 1989 (Wikipedia, LVMH).

Inside LVMH, Hublot has its own chief executive, Julien Tornare since 1 September 2024 (Time+Tide; LVMH). From 1 April 2025, Jean-Christophe Babin, also chief executive of Bulgari, has led LVMH’s watch division, and the heads of Hublot, TAG Heuer and Zenith report to him (Option Finance). LVMH’s own Hublot page describes the brand’s manufacture in Nyon as a 14,000 m² site on Lake Geneva (LVMH).

Buying a pre-owned Hublot in the UK: what to check

Check that the reference and serial number on the watch match its papers and digital warranty record, that the papers and any service records are genuine, and that the watch is not recorded as stolen. Then ask whether the e-warranty can be checked and how much of it, if any, is left.

1. Papers, e-warranty and the full set. Ask exactly what comes with the watch: box, warranty card or e-warranty, booklet, receipt, spare straps, and whether each is the original. Hublot’s customer app lets owners check a watch’s authenticity and warranty status, and its release says the buyer or seller in a second-hand sale can check the watch’s status (Hublot e-warranty release). Ask the seller to show this before you pay. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves and what it does not.

2. Reference and serial number. The reference and serial number on the case should match the papers. Each version of a Hublot model has its own reference, so look up the reference to confirm the case material, for example that a “King Gold” listing is not titanium.

3. Authenticity. Fake Hublots are common, and fakes can come with forged papers and boxes. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker you choose. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at.

4. Stolen-watch check. Before you pay, check the serial number against a stolen-watch register and ask the seller to confirm the watch is not reported lost or stolen. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers and how to use them.

5. Condition, straps and materials. Hublot uses rubber straps and many case materials, including ceramic, carbon and sapphire (LVMH; Swisswatches Magazine). Ask about any chips, cracks, scratches or replaced parts on the case, bezel and strap, and whether the strap is original. Our guide to watch condition grades explains what “excellent” or “very good” should mean.

6. Servicing and warranty. Ask when the watch was last serviced, by whom, and for the paperwork. Hublot’s release says older watches keep their electronic warranty card until they next go through Hublot’s after-sales service (Hublot e-warranty release). The length of the Hublot warranty, and whether it passes to a later owner, depends on Hublot’s terms. A dealer’s own warranty is a promise from the dealer, not from Hublot. See watch warranties explained.

7. Who you buy from. There are three main routes in the UK:

Sources: Hublot, e-warranty release (20 November 2020) (checked 29 October 2026).

We could not find a Hublot certified pre-owned programme in the UK. For how independent dealers compare with appointed retailers, read grey market versus authorised dealer.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Hublot?

Carlo Crocco, who set up the company MDM Genève and launched the Hublot watch in 1980 (Wikipedia).

What does Hublot mean?

Hublot is French for a ship’s porthole, which the case design recalls (Rox).

Who owns Hublot?

LVMH, the French luxury group, which agreed to buy Hublot in April 2008 (Europa Star).

Where are Hublot watches made?

At Hublot’s manufacture in Nyon, on Lake Geneva in Switzerland (LVMH).

When was the Hublot Big Bang launched?

In April 2005, at the Basel fair (Wikipedia; LVMH).

Does Hublot make its own movements?

It makes the Unico chronograph movement, first shown in 2010, in Nyon (Swisswatches Magazine). Not every model uses it, so check the calibre of the watch you are looking at.

What is Magic Gold?

Hublot’s own 18-carat gold, made by fusing pure gold with boron carbide ceramic, in its own foundry (LVMH).

What is the Hublot e-warranty?

A digital warranty record, stored on the AURA blockchain since 2020, that replaced Hublot’s electronic warranty cards. Owners can check a watch’s authenticity and warranty status in Hublot’s app (Hublot e-warranty release).

Can I buy a pre-owned Hublot without papers?

You can, but without papers you rely more heavily on the seller’s written guarantee, an independent watchmaker’s check and a stolen-watch check. Agree in writing that you get a full refund if the watch is later found not to be genuine.

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Hublot or LVMH.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.