Hublot Big Bang Original Chronograph 301.PX.1180.RX.1704: Reference Guide

The Hublot Big Bang Original Chronograph 301.PX.1180.RX.1704 is a 44mm King Gold chronograph with a pavé diamond-set case and bezel over a black dial, on a black rubber strap. It sits at the top of a wide family of Big Bang Original Chronograph references that share the same case and movement across steel, King Gold and varying diamond settings. This guide covers the specifications, how the diamond setting and case metal change the price across the family, how it wears, and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 301.PX.1180.RX.1704 to order; the Big Bang collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 28, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Big Bang Original Chronograph 301.PX.1180.RX.1704 specifications

Source: The Watch Source, exact-reference specification record, and the Fédération de l'industrie horlogère suisse for background on Swiss manufacturing standards that apply across the industry.

What is King Gold, and how does it differ from standard rose gold?

King Gold is Hublot's own alloy, an 18 ct rose gold recipe with a higher copper and lower silver content than the industry-standard rose gold used by most other houses, developed to give a warmer, redder tone and, Hublot says, better scratch resistance than a conventional rose gold alloy. It is used across the Big Bang and Classic Fusion collections wherever a gold case is offered, including on this reference. The practical effect for a buyer is a case colour that reads slightly warmer and redder than a typical rose gold watch from another manufacturer, which is worth comparing in person if colour matching against other jewellery or watches matters.

The Big Bang name and the Original Chronograph case

Hublot introduced the first Big Bang in 2005, pairing a case built from contrasting materials, most famously a metal bezel over a rubber-lined case, with a visible six-screw bezel design that became the house's signature. The "Original" designation within the current catalogue distinguishes this founding chronograph case shape and proportions from later Big Bang sub-families such as the Unico, which uses Hublot's in-house integrated chronograph movement, and the smaller 3 Hands models built around simple time-and-date dials. The 301.PX.1180.RX.1704 uses the Original case with the HUB4100, a chronograph movement built around a modified base calibre rather than Hublot's own in-house chronograph architecture, which is one of the practical distinctions buyers should understand before comparing it against Unico references at a similar price. That distinction matters more to a buyer weighing this reference against a Unico-based Big Bang than it does to the day-to-day experience of wearing the watch, since both movement architectures deliver the same chronograph functions reliably; the difference is mainly one of manufacturing pedigree and, on some references, serviceability through Hublot's own network.

Steel vs King Gold vs diamond settings: the Big Bang Original Chronograph family

Two things stand out. First, the plain King Gold case alone asks roughly two and a half times the plain steel case, which is a larger gap than gold-versus-steel premiums on some other brands' equivalent chronographs. Second, within the same King Gold case, moving from no setting to a diamond bezel to full pavé roughly doubles the price at each step, which reflects the escalating stone count and labour involved in pavé-setting a case and bezel rather than a single row of stones on the bezel alone. The same pattern holds on the steel version of the case: the plain 301.SX.1170.RX and the pavé 301.SX.1170.RX.1704 sit at very different price points despite sharing the same steel case and HUB4100 movement, confirming that the setting, not the metal, drives most of the added cost once diamonds are involved.

Is the 301.PX.1180.RX.1704 a good entry point into Hublot?

Not usually, and that is by design rather than a flaw in the watch. A pavé-set King Gold reference sits near the top of what the Big Bang Original Chronograph family offers, well above the plain steel or plain King Gold versions that better suit a first Hublot purchase. Buyers drawn to this specific reference are typically already familiar with the plainer versions and are choosing the diamond setting deliberately, either for its presence on the wrist or because they specifically want the maximum expression of the Original case within this collection. Anyone undecided between settings should view the plain King Gold, diamond-bezel and pavé versions in person, since photographs compress how different the visual weight of pavé diamonds is compared with a single row of stones on the bezel. Lighting also changes how a pavé case reads dramatically compared with a plain polished or satin case, so a decision made from a single set of studio photographs is riskier here than on a plain-metal reference.

How does the Big Bang Original Chronograph wear?

At 44mm and 14.5mm thick, the Big Bang Original Chronograph is a substantial watch on the wrist regardless of metal or setting; this is a case designed to look and feel imposing rather than to disappear under a cuff. The King Gold pavé version adds meaningful weight over the steel equivalent, and the diamond-set case and bezel are more delicate in daily wear than a plain polished or satin-finished surface, since a stone setting is more vulnerable to knocks than solid metal. Buyers who want the Big Bang's scale but expect to wear the watch actively should weigh the practicality of a heavily set case against a plainer version in the same family. The rubber strap, common across the Big Bang range regardless of case metal or setting, is more casual than a leather or bracelet option and is comfortable in everyday wear, though it is worth checking whether Hublot's deployant clasp is fitted on the specific example offered, since older examples in this family sometimes used a simpler folding buckle.

How much is the Big Bang Original Chronograph 301.PX.1180.RX.1704?

Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 301.PX.1180.RX.1704 brand new at US$50,400 on 28 September 2026, sourced to order. Within the same catalogue check, the plain King Gold 301.PX.1180.RX asked US$25,199 and the diamond-bezel-only 301.PX.1180.RX.1104 asked US$39,900, which together show how much of the price on this specific reference comes from the pavé setting rather than the case metal or movement. Treat all of these as dated observations rather than standing quotes; retail and dealer figures move with configuration and market. Condition, completeness of box and papers, and the state of the diamond setting and rubber strap all move a pre-owned quote away from these brand-new figures, and a pavé-set case in particular should be inspected closely before any pre-owned purchase given how much of its value sits in the setting itself.

Buying checks for the 301.PX.1180.RX.1704

• Diamond setting. Request close photographs of the pavé setting across the case and bezel; check for any missing, loose or replaced stones, which are harder to spot in a small photograph than in person.
• Case and reference markings. Confirm the exact reference on the case back matches the papers offered; the RX, RX.1104 and RX.1704 suffixes denote different settings at very different prices.
• Rubber strap and clasp. Inspect the rubber strap for cracking or perishing, particularly on an older or heavily worn example, and confirm the folding clasp closes securely.
• Chronograph function. Have the chronograph start, stop and reset functions demonstrated, along with the running seconds and date.
• Service history. Ask for the last service date and receipt for the automatic HUB4100 movement.
• Total cost. Confirm the watch price and any applicable taxes or import charges before proceeding.
• Case screws and gaskets. Check that the visible six-screw bezel design shows even, undamaged screw heads and that the case gaskets have been maintained, since the Original case's water resistance depends on them.

Quick answers

How much is the Hublot Big Bang Original Chronograph 301.PX.1180.RX.1704?

Bizak's sourced catalogue listed it at US$50,400 brand new on 28 September 2026, sourced to order.

What is King Gold?

King Gold is Hublot's proprietary 18 ct rose gold alloy, formulated with more copper and less silver than a standard rose gold recipe for a warmer tone and, Hublot says, improved scratch resistance.

Does the Big Bang Original Chronograph come without diamonds?

Yes. The same King Gold case and movement are sold as the 301.PX.1180.RX with no setting, at roughly half the price of the pavé version.

Is the 301.PX.1180.RX.1704 automatic?

Yes. It uses the automatic HUB4100 calibre with a roughly 42-hour power reserve.

Does the Big Bang Original Chronograph come in steel?

Yes. The 301.SX.1170.RX is the same case and movement in steel, priced well below any of the King Gold versions.

Reserve the Big Bang Original Chronograph 301.PX.1180.RX.1704

View the current price and reserve with $200. The deposit applies to your purchase and is refundable if Bizak cannot fulfill the order. Compare it with the plain King Gold 301.PX.1180.RX and the diamond-bezel 301.PX.1180.RX.1104, or browse the Big Bang collection and the wider Hublot collection. To part-exchange a current watch, see sell or trade your watch.

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