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Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Steel Diamonds 32mm Ladies Watch
Ref. 682.SX.1170.RX.1204
The Spirit of Big Bang line takes the tonneau shape that Hublot first pressed into its larger sport watches and scales it down without softening it — the geometry stays angular, the lines stay hard, and the 44 diamonds set into the fixed bezel read as ornament layered onto something that began as architecture rather than jewellery. At 32mm the case is compact without being dainty, and the tonneau proportion means it sits across the wrist rather than sitting on it, which changes how the piece reads against the arm. The matte black dial keeps the structure legible — baton markers and a clean date layout rather than anything that competes with the case — while the mix of satin and polished finishing on the steel gives the eye something to follow across the different planes. The rubber strap, which Hublot introduced to fine Swiss watchmaking and has used as a house signature ever since, is structured enough to hold its shape through daily wear.
- Reference
- 682.SX.1170.RX.1204
- Brand
- Hublot
- Collection
- Spirit of Big Bang
- Case size
- 32mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Tonneau
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- HUB1120
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 40 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Hublot
Carlo Crocco, who had worked in his family's Binda watch business, founded Hublot in 1980 with an idea that sounds trivial and was not: he paired a gold case with a natural rubber strap. Nobody had done it. The material cost almost nothing and the case cost a great deal, and the combination broke a rule the industry took seriously.
The name is French for porthole, describing the case shape with its exposed bezel screws.
The brand was moderately successful for two decades and then transformed under Jean-Claude Biver, who arrived as CEO in 2004 having already revived Blancpain. Biver launched the Big Bang in 2005 and articulated the art of fusion — combining materials that do not conventionally belong together: gold with ceramic, carbon fibre with rubber, titanium with tantalum.
The material development that followed was genuine. Hublot produced Magic Gold, an 18-carat gold alloy infused with ceramic and hard enough to resist scratching, and coloured ceramics previously thought impossible to sinter at high temperature, particularly a vivid red.
Hublot has been aggressive in sponsorship — FIFA World Cups, football leagues, Ferrari — which has made it divisive among traditionalists. It is also, commercially, one of the most successful watch launches of the modern era. LVMH acquired the company in 2008.
- 1980
- Carlo Crocco pairs a gold case with a rubber strap.
- 2004
- Jean-Claude Biver becomes CEO.
- 2005
- The Big Bang launches the art of fusion.
- 2008
- Acquired by LVMH.
- 2011
- Magic Gold, a scratch-resistant gold alloy, is developed.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,847), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Watches Under 37mm (1,704), Women's Watches (1,622) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 32mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 40-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 682.SX.1170.RX.1204 | 278274 | 102711 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £10,575 | £10,450 | £10,200 |
| Case size | 32mm | 31mm | 33mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 40 hours | 55 hours | 60 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 40 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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