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Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire review: worth it or skip?

Skip6.8/10 research score

Quick answer

Skip it, unless you want spectacle. Why: spectacle. The catch: extreme.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire

Our verdict on the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire

Buy it if
you want spectacle.
Skip it if
you want value.
Best for
Sapphire case
Key feature
Transparent sapphire
Typical price
$90,000–$110,000
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Case45 mm sapphire
MovementHUB1242
Water resistance50 m
Power reserve72 hours

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want spectacle
  • value spectacular
  • can spend around $90,000–$110,000

Skip it if you

  • you want value
  • mind this: extreme

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Spectacular

Cons

  • Extreme

The verdict in one breath

We would skip the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire for most people. Spectacle.

Reasons to buy

  • Spectacular

Reasons to skip

  • Extreme

The details that matter

  • Case: 45 mm sapphire
  • Movement: HUB1242
  • Water resistance: 50 m
  • Power reserve: 72 hours

Worth knowing

Spectacle.

Buy it or skip it?

Only buy it if you want spectacle. Skip it if you want value; the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best luxury dive watches.

Alternatives worth considering

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback

Blancpain · Luxury dive watches

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback

Buy it if you want a refined diver chronograph.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Diver chronograph
Typical price
$18,000–$21,000

Pros

  • Flyback
  • Superb

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Tudor Black Bay 58 18K

Tudor · Luxury dive watches

Tudor Black Bay 58 18K

Buy it if you want gold for less.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Gold Tudor
Typical price
$18,000–$20,000

Pros

  • Gold for less

Cons

  • Strap only
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire?

Skip it, unless you want spectacle. Why: spectacle. The catch: extreme.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want value. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback is the better buy then.

What does the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire cost?

Usually $90,000–$110,000 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire worth the money? Short answer: skip it, if you want value. This review explains what this Hublot piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which luxury dive watch to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire does well

The headline: transparent sapphire. The details: Case: 45 mm sapphire; Movement: HUB1242; Water resistance: 50 m; Power reserve: 72 hours. In our list it is the pick for: sapphire case. It usually sells for $90,000–$110,000 in the US.

Spectacle.

The trade-offs

Good: spectacular. Not so good: extreme. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want value.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback ($18,000–$21,000): ceramic flyback chronograph diver. Better if you want a refined diver chronograph.

Instead, consider the Tudor Black Bay 58 18K ($18,000–$20,000): solid gold BB58. Better if you want gold for less.

Instead, consider the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique ($16,500–$18,500): diver created in 1953 with sapphire bezel. Better if you want the original modern dive watch.

Before you buy

Size: 39 to 42 mm wears well on most wrists; check lug-to-lug length, which matters more than diameter. Movement: in-house and chronometer-certified movements (COSC, METAS) are more accurate and often have longer service intervals. Bracelet: a quick micro-adjust clasp makes a huge difference in summer; check it before you buy.

Buyer tip

Buy luxury watches from authorized dealers or the brand for the full warranty; grey-market and pre-owned sellers can save 10–30% but check their warranty.

Buying in Europe: authorized-dealer prices for Swiss watches are set per country and include VAT; a watch bought in Switzerland or the EU carries the same international warranty as one bought in the US. Grey-market and pre-owned prices are often quoted in euros or Swiss francs.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.