Hublot, founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco, pioneered the concept of combining precious metals with rubber — revolutionary in an era when gold watches came exclusively on leather or metal bracelets. Jean-Claude Biver transformed the brand from 2004, creating the Big Bang and positioning Hublot as the "Art of Fusion" through innovative materials including ceramic, sapphire crystal cases, and carbon fiber.
Available below retail on the secondary market at 21% discount, this model offers exceptional value for buyers willing to purchase pre-owned. This pricing makes it one of the better value propositions in the sport watch category.
The WVS Value Score of 65/100 reflects the balance between this watch's specifications, brand positioning, and market dynamics. While not the highest-scoring watch in its category, it may offer advantages in other areas such as design, availability, or raw specification value.
The estimated annual cost of ownership is $793 per year, accounting for depreciation, servicing, and insurance. While this is higher than some alternatives, it should be weighed against the wearing pleasure and prestige the watch provides daily.
Understanding the true cost of owning a luxury watch requires looking beyond the purchase price. Our cost-of-ownership model calculates the annual net expense of keeping the Hublot Big Bang 301.SX.1170.RX on your wrist, factoring in three key components.
First, depreciation: based on historical pricing data for this reference and similar Hublot models, we estimate annual value change at 6%. This depreciation rate is typical for this price segment and brand positioning. Second, servicing: Hublot recommends periodic maintenance to ensure accuracy and water resistance. We amortize the estimated service cost across the recommended interval, arriving at $80 per year. Third, insurance: at approximately 1.5% of market value, annual insurance costs $143 to protect against theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Combining these factors yields a net annual cost of $793. That's roughly $2.17 per day — comparable to a daily coffee habit.
Estimated market price trend based on aggregated public listing data. Prices reflect average asking prices for complete sets in excellent condition. Updated monthly.
Our proprietary score rates every luxury watch on a 0-100 scale across five dimensions. Scores above 85 indicate exceptional value retention and market positioning. The formula is transparent and weight-based.
When considering the Hublot Big Bang 301.SX.1170.RX, it helps to understand how it compares to alternatives in the sport watch category. The highest-scoring alternative is the Rolex GMT-Master II with a Value Score of 90/100, slightly above the 301.SX.1170.RX's 65/100. The comparison table below provides a detailed side-by-side analysis of all key metrics.
| Watch | Market Price | Size | WR | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hublot Big Bang 301.SX.1170.RX | $8,000–$11,000 | 44mm | 100m | $793/yr | 65 |
| Rolex Explorer 124270 | $8,500–$11,000 | 36mm | 100m | $100/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Air-King 126900 | $8,000–$11,000 | 40mm | 100m | $99/yr | 88 |
| Rolex Explorer 226570 | $10,500–$14,000 | 36mm | 100m | $105/yr | 87 |
| Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLNR | $14,000–$18,000 | 40mm | 100m | $112/yr | 90 |
| Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO | $16,000–$22,000 | 40mm | 100m | $118/yr | 89 |
Luxury sport watches bridge the gap between tool watches and haute horlogerie. Models like the Nautilus and Royal Oak created the luxury sports watch category in the 1970s, proving that a steel watch could command gold-level prices through superior design and finishing.
Sport watch buyers should consider the integrated bracelet design (a hallmark of the category), water resistance adequate for daily wear (100m+), movement robustness including anti-magnetic properties, and overall case/bracelet finishing. The best examples feature hand-finished movements despite their sporty exterior.
The luxury sport watch is arguably the most versatile category in modern watchmaking. An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or Patek Philippe Nautilus is appropriate with everything from shorts to a suit. This versatility drives both demand and resale values.
Hublot polarizes the watch community — you either love the bold aesthetic or you don't. Availability is generally good at authorized dealers. Grey market discounts of 20-35% are common. If the design appeals to you, the secondary market offers excellent value since depreciation is significant.
Hublot manufactures in-house movements at their Nyon facility, including the UNICO chronograph (column-wheel, flyback, 72hr power reserve). The UNICO is a genuine manufacture calibre with visible mechanics. Entry-level Classic Fusion models may use modified Sellita movements, which offer reliable but less exclusive specifications.
Service intervals are every 4-5 years with costs of $800-$1,500 depending on movement complexity. Hublot's service network is extensive through the LVMH group infrastructure, and turnaround times are generally reasonable.
Hublot has the steepest depreciation among luxury watch brands, typically 40-60% from retail within 2-3 years. This makes new purchases a poor value proposition but creates genuine opportunities on the secondary market. A pre-owned Big Bang UNICO at 50% off retail is a lot of watch for the money.
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Every current reference ranked by Value Score. Click any model for full analysis.
| Ref | Variant | Retail | Score | Own/Yr | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301.SX.1170.RX | Steel/Black 44mm ◂ | $12,100 | 65 | $793/yr | $8,000–$11,000 |
Value Score 65/100 · $793/year to own · 94% retention