Hublot Big Bang MECA 10 Street Art

Miami Art Week has established itself as a global epicenter where the boundaries between high culture, street style, and luxury commerce dissolve into a singular, neon-soaked experience. It is an environment that thrives on the spectacle of the new, making it the ideal backdrop for a brand that has spent the last two decades dismantling the traditional norms of Swiss watchmaking. Hublot returned to this frenetic cultural hub to cap off a significant milestone, the 20th Anniversary of the Big Bang, with an event that mirrored the loud, unapologetic ethos of the watch itself. The celebration took place at the Basement within The Miami Beach EDITION, a venue that perfectly encapsulates the duality of underground cool and high-end exclusivity. The atmosphere was designed to be immersive, moving away from the stiff cocktail hours of traditional horology and leaning heavily into the pulsating energy of the Magic City’s nightlife.



The event served as a bridge between the past and the future of the manufacture. While guests were treated to a retrospective of archival Big Bang timepieces, showcasing the evolution of the model since 2005, the energy was distinctly forward-looking. The sensory experience was dominated by festive music and a lighting scheme that played off the industrial aesthetics of the venue, setting the stage for a night that was less about observing artifacts and more about participating in a cultural moment. The crowd was a curated mix of cultural leaders, creatives, and friends of the brand, creating a dynamic fusion of art, design, and music. This was not merely a product launch; it was a statement of relevance in a city that demands constant novelty.



Headlining the evening’s entertainment was 50 Cent, a figure who bridges the worlds of music, business, and pop culture with the same disruptive energy that Hublot applies to materials science. His performance was a focal point of the night, but for the keen-eyed observers in the room, the wristwear was just as loud as the music. The award-winning rapper sported a bespoke, one-of-one Hublot timepiece commissioned specifically for this appearance. The watch was a nod to his character in an upcoming Street Fighter film, featuring a color palette unique to that role. Further personalizing the piece, the dial was topped with a gold chess piece, a direct reference to his Le Chemin du Roi champagne brand, while the caseback bore a "50 cent" engraving. This level of customization underscores the brand's ability to pivot from mass-market luxury to hyper-individualized creations that serve as extensions of the wearer’s persona.



The guest list read like a who’s who of the modern entertainment landscape, reinforcing the brand's deep ties to the music industry. Notable attendees included Tyriq Withers, Khalid, and Leon Bridges, each bringing their own distinct style to the proceedings. Diplo, Sofi Tukker, Swae Lee, and Ty Dolla $ign were also present, mingling throughout the multi-level space. This convergence of talent created a social atmosphere that felt organic rather than forced, a difficult feat in the world of sponsored luxury events. The night culminated in an electrifying set by Mattia Vitale of MEDUZA, a friend of the brand who took over the decks to close out the festivities. The blend of electronic music, high-profile guests, and horological craftsmanship solidified the event as a standout moment in the Art Week calendar.



Amidst this celebrity-filled backdrop, the true stars of the evening were unveiled: the new Big Bang MECA-10 Street Art Collection. This release represents a continuation of Hublot’s "Art of Fusion" philosophy, but it takes the concept in a grittier, more urban direction. The collection consists of four distinct watches, each treating the wrist as a canvas for graffiti-style expression. The choice of inspiration is fitting for Miami, a city known for its Wynwood Walls and vibrant street art scene. However, translating the raw, spray-painted aesthetic of a subway wall onto a high-precision mechanical object requires a complex mastery of materials. The brand opted for a matte-finished, cracked composite concrete for the cases, a material choice that immediately separates these watches from the standard gold or ceramic offerings usually found in this price segment.



The visual impact of the Big Bang MECA-10 Street Art is immediate and intentionally chaotic. The composite concrete case material is engineered to look weathered and urban, mimicking the texture of a city wall that has seen decades of exposure. This rough, industrial base is then "vandalized" with vivid painting and UV-reactive luminova accents. When viewing the watch, one notices that the color application isn't polite or contained; it splashes across the bezel and the case in a way that suggests rapid movement and spontaneity, much like the work of a graffiti artist tagging a wall before the authorities arrive. The cracks in the concrete composite are filled with glowing pigment, creating a spiderweb effect that comes alive under UV light, making these timepieces specifically engineered for the night-time environment of a club or a lounge.



The dial of the watch is an exercise in depth and transparency, showcasing the architecture of the movement without the obstruction of a traditional dial plate. The open-worked design allows the wearer to see right into the gut of the machine. The application of the street art aesthetic continues here, with the bridges and gears receiving the same splatter-paint treatment as the case. Looking closely at the hands and the indices, one can see how the neon colors contrast sharply against the matte black and grey components of the movement. It creates a visual tension between the precision of the mechanics and the anarchy of the paint application. The large hands are skeletonized and tipped with luminescent material, ensuring that despite the visual noise of the background, the primary function of telling time remains intact.



Powering this urban experiment is the in-house Meca-10 movement, known technically as the HUB1201. This is a manual-winding mechanism that has become a favorite among collectors who appreciate a more interactive relationship with their timepiece. Unlike an automatic movement that winds itself with the motion of the wrist, the Meca-10 invites the owner to physically wind the watch, a ritual that connects the user to the machine. The movement is built with a specific architectural look that mimics the construction sets many played with as children, utilizing perforated bridges and a distinct industrial layout. It is a robust engine that fits perfectly with the rugged, street-inspired exterior of the new collection.



One of the most impressive technical feats of the HUB1201 movement is its massive power reserve. The watch can run for 10 days on a single wind, a specification that far exceeds the industry standard of 40 to 70 hours. This is achieved through a dual-barrel system that stores a significant amount of energy. The power reserve is not just a hidden spec; it is displayed prominently on the dial side. At the 6 o'clock position, there is a distinct indicator that shows the remaining days. Furthermore, the movement features a rack-driven system visible at the 12 o'clock position, which slides back and forth as the watch is wound and unwound. This rack system adds a kinetic element to the dial, giving the wearer a visual representation of the energy transfer happening inside the case.



The collection is divided into four colorways, each evoking a different mood or element of the street art spectrum. The first is the "Sunshine" model, which utilizes a vibrant yellow and orange palette. The glowing cracks in the concrete composite radiate a warm, intense yellow, contrasting against the dark grey of the case. The splatter paint effect on this model includes hits of green and black, creating a look that feels energetic and aggressive. It recalls the sun-bleached walls of a tropical city covered in layers of old posters and fresh tag work. The yellow accents on the movement bridges pop against the satin-finished black PVD titanium components, making the mechanical complexity highly visible.



The second variation is the "Magic City" model, a direct homage to the neon-drenched aesthetic of Miami. This version features a dominant pink theme, with the cracks in the concrete glowing in a hot magenta hue. The street art painting on the bezel and case incorporates swirls of green and black, creating a clash of colors that feels very 1980s retro-futurism. The pink luminescence on the dial and the hands ensures that this watch is unmissable in low-light conditions. It captures the vibe of Ocean Drive at midnight, where neon signs reflect off wet pavement. The integration of the pink into the mechanical parts of the HUB1201 movement softens the industrial edge slightly, adding a layer of playfulness to the severe mechanics.



The third iteration is the "Vice" model, which leans into a turquoise blue color scheme. This shade is arguably the most synonymous with Miami, referencing the clear waters and the Art Deco architecture of the region. The turquoise glowing cracks in the case give the watch an aquatic, almost radioactive appearance. The paint splatter here mixes the blue with white and black, creating a frothy, oceanic look that is frozen in the hard composite material. The consistency of the blue theme extends to the movement, where specific elements of the power reserve rack and the gear train are highlighted in the same turquoise tone. It is a cooler, perhaps more laid-back expression of the street art theme compared to the aggression of the Sunshine or Magic City models.



Finally, the collection is rounded out by the "Big Water" edition. This model utilizes a deep purple-blue colorway that feels mysterious and moody. The glowing cracks are a rich violet, and the street art painting incorporates splashes of lighter blue and green. This combination gives the watch a galactic or deep-sea feel. It is the darkest of the four options, with the matte black of the movement absorbing much of the light, allowing the purple accents to smear across the dial like ink in water. The "Big Water" name suggests a connection to the expansive ocean, but the execution remains firmly rooted in the urban environment, looking like a dark alley wall illuminated by a blacklight.



The straps on these watches are not merely afterthoughts; they are integral to the overall design cohesion. Hublot has utilized a black rubber base, which is standard for the Big Bang line, but has inserted a textured rubber inlay that mimics the cracked concrete of the case. This insert features the same street art painting and glowing cracks as the watch head, creating a seamless visual transition from the case to the wrist. The production of these straps likely involves a complex multi-step process to achieve the cracked effect on a flexible material while ensuring the paint does not flake off during daily wear. The straps are secured with a black ceramic and black titanium deployant buckle, ensuring the watch stays planted on the wrist.



In terms of physical dimensions, the Big Bang MECA-10 Street Art commands a significant amount of space. The case measures 44mm in diameter with a thickness of 15.3mm. This is a large watch, designed to be seen and to make a statement. The thickness is necessary to house the architectural depth of the Meca-10 movement and to provide the structural integrity for the composite concrete material. Despite the size, Hublot’s use of composite materials and titanium usually results in a watch that is lighter than it looks, though the concrete component adds a unique tactile quality that differs from standard carbon or titanium. The case is assembled with the brand’s signature 6 H-shaped black PVD titanium screws on the bezel, a design hallmark that dates back to the very first Hublot in 1980.



The release of this collection during the 20th Anniversary year of the Big Bang is symbolically important. When the Big Bang launched in 2005, it was a disruptor. It took the concept of the "sandwich" case construction and allowed for the mixing of materials in a way that hadn't been done before. It won the Best Design award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève that same year and set the brand on a trajectory of rapid growth. Over the last two decades, the Big Bang has been the vehicle for Hublot to experiment with sapphire, ceramic, embroidery, leather, and now, concrete and street art. This collection proves that the platform is still versatile enough to absorb contemporary trends without losing its identity.



Hublot’s history is rooted in this kind of rule-breaking. Founded in 1980, the brand was the first to dare to pair a precious gold case with a utilitarian rubber strap. At the time, this was considered heresy in the traditional Swiss watch industry. That initial act of rebellion birthed the "Art of Fusion," a guiding principle that dictates every collection the brand releases. Whether it is fusing metal and rubber, or in this case, high mechanics and street art, the goal is always to create something that creates a reaction. The alchemy that happens at the manufacture in Nyon is about reshaping expectations of what a luxury object can be.



This philosophy extends beyond the watches themselves and into the brand's partnerships. The "Hublot Loves Art" initiative has seen collaborations with tattoo artists like Maxime Plescia-Büchi, sculptors like Richard Orlinski, and street artists like Shepard Fairey. The Street Art collection feels like a culmination of these artistic dialogues, internalized into a series that doesn't rely on a single artist's name but rather celebrates the medium of street art as a whole. It captures the energy of creation and destruction, the cycle of painting over old walls to make something new, which parallels the constant reinvention of the Big Bang line.



The technical specifications regarding durability remain impressive despite the artistic flourish. The case is water-resistant to 5 atmospheres, or 50 meters. While this does not make it a diving watch, it is more than sufficient for the lifestyle of the typical owner. The crystal is sapphire with anti-reflective treatment, crucial for reading the skeletonized dial without glare. The "One-Click" system is also present, allowing the user to swap straps effortlessly. This feature has become a staple of the Big Bang line, acknowledging that modern collectors like to change the look of their watches frequently. However, given the specific matching design of the strap to the case in this limited edition, it is likely that owners will keep the original strap attached to maintain the full aesthetic effect.



To acquire one of these pieces is to buy into a very specific slice of horological culture. The Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 Street Art watches are produced in highly limited quantities, with each colorway restricted to just 10 pieces. This extreme scarcity ensures exclusivity and heightens the desirability among collectors who prioritize rarity. The price for admission into this exclusive club is set at $57,500 USD. For that sum, the buyer receives not just a timekeeper with a 10-day power reserve, but a piece of wearable art that encapsulates the vibrant, chaotic, and creative energy of Miami Art Week. These pieces are currently available through Hublot boutiques and authorized retailers, though given the low production numbers, their availability is likely to be fleeting.



Case: 44mm diameter, 15.3mm thickness; matte-finished cracked composite concrete with glowing cracks and street art painting; satin-finished black PVD titanium bezel with 6 H-shaped titanium screws; water resistant to 5 ATM (50 meters).

Movement: HUB1201 Manufacture manual winding caliber; skeletonized power reserve rack with street art painting; 240-hour (10-day) power reserve; frequency 3 Hz (21,600 A/h); 223 components; thickness 6.8mm.

Dial: Matte black with white decals; skeletonized architecture; luminescent accents matching case colorway (Yellow, Pink, Turquoise Blue, or Purple Blue).

Strap: Black rubber with textured rubber insert featuring cracked concrete effect and glowing cracks; street art painting motif; black ceramic and black titanium deployant buckle; Hublot "One-Click" system.

Price: $57,500 USD

Reference Number: 424.XCY.1120.RX.STR25 (Sunshine); 424.XCP.1120.RX.STR25 (Magic City); 424.XCU.1120.RX.STR25 (Vice); 424.XCV.1120.RX.STR25 (Big Water)

Notes: Limited edition of 10 pieces per colorway; released for Miami Art Week and the 20th Anniversary of the Big Bang; case material features UV reactive luminova accents within the concrete cracks.