Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
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Hublot x Kylian Mbappé Turns Unstoppable Ambition Into a Big Bang

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  • Hublot and Kylian Mbappé have created their first limited-edition watch together.
  • The Big Bang Reloaded combines white ceramic and 18K King Gold in a bold 44mm case.
  • Mbappé’s number 10 and “Trust Yourself” mantra give the watch a personal connection to his career.
  • Inside sits Hublot’s HUB1280 UNICO self-winding flyback chronograph calibre with a 72-hour power reserve.
  • Limited to just 200 pieces worldwide, the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé is priced at USD $30,000.

Kylian Mbappé and Hublot have been playing on the same team for quite some time, with the French football star joining the Swiss watchmaker as an ambassador back in 2018. Despite eight years together, however, the pair had never created a limited-edition watch of their own, and that finally changes in 2026 with the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé. Limited to just 200 pieces, the collaboration also arrives at a fitting moment in Mbappé’s career, marking ten years since he scored his first professional goal in 2016. Mbappé describes the watch as something much more personal than simply another collaboration bearing his name, with its design reflecting the confidence, ambition and mentality that have shaped his career.

“Working on this watch with Hublot gave me the chance to reflect on my journey, every match, every goal, every big moment. Building it with a partner who has believed in me since 2018 makes it even more special. This is more than a watch. It carries a message I live by: trust yourself, take your chance, create your own path. The number 10 is my lucky number, my identity on the pitch. The white and gold symbolize clarity and ambition. And with ‘Trust Yourself’ engraved at 6 o’clock, this piece is a reminder of how I’ve always played, with confidence, freedom and passion. It’s about chasing dreams, pushing limits and inspiring the next generation to believe in themselves and pursue success with heart. That’s the power of dreams. That’s what drives me.” as Kylian Mbappé puts it.

That personality carries throughout the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé, with his number 10, the white-and-gold colour combination and the “Trust Yourself” engraving all connecting the watch directly to the man behind it. Rather than feeling like an existing Big Bang with a famous footballer’s name attached, the collaboration has been designed around the identity and mentality Mbappé has built throughout his career, giving his first limited-edition Hublot a story that feels too good to be true.

Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé | Image: Hublot

The Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé

At 44mm, the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé is unapologetically large, which feels appropriate for both Hublot and the man whose name is attached to it. The case is crafted from polished and microblasted white ceramic, giving the watch a bright, almost pristine appearance while retaining the bold, angular architecture associated with the Big Bang. At 14.5mm thick, it certainly isn’t designed to disappear beneath a cuff, but that presence is very much part of the point.

The white ceramic is contrasted by a two-level bezel combining satin-finished and polished 18K King Gold with white ceramic, held in place by Hublot’s familiar six H-shaped titanium screws. That combination is what really gives this edition its personality, with the crisp white ceramic keeping things fresh while the warmer King Gold brings considerably more visual impact. It’s unmistakably a Hublot Big Bang, but the colour combination gives Mbappé’s version an identity of its own.

The dial continues that contrast with a matte anthracite ruthenium-plated skeletonized design, surrounded by white details and King Gold accents. Rather than covering everything beneath a conventional dial, Hublot leaves much of the watch’s mechanical architecture exposed, giving the front plenty of depth without losing the strong white-and-gold theme running through the rest of the design.

Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé | Image: Hublot
Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé | Image: Hublot

White Ceramic, King Gold and the Number 10

The white-and-gold combination is more than a colour choice for the Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé, with Hublot using the two materials to represent different sides of Mbappé’s personality. White ceramic stands for clarity, while King Gold represents ambition, creating a combination that feels appropriately confident without becoming overly complicated. Against the darker skeletonized dial, those two finishes also give the watch a strong visual identity that immediately separates it from a standard Big Bang.

Mbappé’s influence becomes even clearer when you reach the details, particularly the King Gold-toned number 10, which represents his squad number, his identity on the pitch and what he considers his lucky number. At 6 o’clock on the bezel, Hublot has also engraved “Trust Yourself,” the personal mantra that Mbappé says reflects the way he approaches football and life, turning what could have been simple branding into something that carries a genuine connection to the player behind the collaboration.

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“In one strike, Kylian can change the course of a game. He embodies explosive acceleration, precision in decision-making and the courage to take responsibility when it matters most. World Champion at 19. Scoring in two World Cup Finals. Delivering a hat-trick on football’s biggest stage. His goals are statements of belief under ultimate pressure. Through our partnership since 2018 and with this first watch developed alongside him, we capture his mindset: ‘Trust Yourself’. Words that speak to a generation, to challengers who dare to step forward and take the shot,” as Hublot CEO Julien Tornare describes it.

That is ultimately what makes these details work for us, because the number 10 and “Trust Yourself” engraving actually mean something to Mbappé rather than feeling like logos added simply to sell a limited edition. Hublot could easily have relied on his name alone, but tying the design to his identity, career and personal philosophy makes the collaboration feel considerably more thoughtful — and much more like Mbappé’s watch.

Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé | Image: Hublot

The UNICO Engine Inside

Behind all that white ceramic and King Gold sits Hublot’s HUB1280 UNICO, a manufacture self-winding flyback chronograph movement with a dial-side column wheel and approximately 72 hours of power reserve. Rather than hiding the mechanics away, the Big Bang Reloaded puts them firmly on display, with four of the UNICO’s five patented innovations visible through the architecture of the watch, while the column wheel, oscillating clutch and flyback mechanism have been made more prominent than before. The watch also offers 100 metres of water resistance, making it considerably more capable for everyday wear than its bold, highly finished appearance might suggest.

Turn it over, and the sapphire caseback gives you another look at the HUB1280, while yellow and King Gold-toned details continue the Mbappé theme through the movement itself. Hublot also includes two interchangeable One Click straps: a King Gold-coloured fabric strap with a Velcro fastening and a more sporting black-and-white structured rubber strap, with Mbappé’s KM logo discreetly worked into the inside. It gives the owner two quite different ways to wear the watch, which we think makes sense for something this bold — gold fabric when you want the full Mbappé treatment, or rubber when you want to tone things down slightly.

Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26 | Image: Hublot
  • Brand: Hublot
  • Model: Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé
  • Reference: 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
  • Diameter: 44 mm
  • Thickness: 14.5 mm
  • Material: Polished & Micro-Blasted White Ceramic
  • Dial: Matte Grey-Plated & White Skeleton Dial
  • Straps: King Gold-Coloured Fabric Velcro & Black-and-White Rubber
  • Calibre: HUB1280 UNICO Manufacture Self-Winding Flyback Chronograph
  • Power Reserve: 72 Hours
  • Water Resistance: 10 Bar (100 metres, 330 feet)
  • Price: USD $30,000 (Limited Edition – 200 Pieces)

The Big Bang Reloaded Kylian Mbappé will be limited to just 200 pieces worldwide, giving Hublot and Mbappé’s first collaborative watch some genuine exclusivity. Priced at USD $30,000, it is available through selected Hublot boutiques and the brand’s official online store, with each example also eligible for Hublot’s 5+5 warranty, extending international warranty coverage to a total of ten years.

Two hundred pieces also feels appropriate for a collaboration this personal, particularly when Hublot could easily have produced the watch in much larger numbers given Mbappé’s global following. Between the limited production, unmistakable white-and-King-Gold design and all those details tied directly to his career, this feels aimed as much at Mbappé collectors and football fans as dedicated Hublot enthusiasts — and we wouldn’t be surprised if finding one becomes considerably harder than deciding whether you want one.

Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé Ref. 421.HX.2019.NR.MBP26
Hublot Big Bang Reloader Kylian Mbappé | Image: Hublot

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1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Sells for $52 Million Becoming the Second Most Expensive Car Ever

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Collectors have long been attracted to rarity, but the discovery of a vintage automotive piece after decades of concealment elevates the thrill. This was evident at RM Sotheby’s recent auction, where a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R Stromlinienwagen sold for an incredible $52 million USD, ranking as the second most expensive car ever auctioned.

This wasn’t just any old Mercedes. It was chassis number 00009/54, a machine that epitomizes the golden age of Formula 1 engineering. Developed under the meticulous supervision of Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the W196 R was a technological marvel that combined performance with futuristic design. With its Stromlinienwagen (“streamliner”) bodywork, it looked like it had been from the future—a car designed to cut through the air at top speed.

Only four of these streamliner-bodied W196 R models are known to exist, and they were specifically designed for high-speed circuits. The body, constructed from Elektron magnesium alloy, weighed just 88 pounds (40 kilograms), making it lighter than aluminium while still strong enough to meet the demands of Formula 1 racing. The result was an aerodynamic masterpiece that could easily reach speeds over 186 mph (300 km/h)—staggering for the 1950s.

Key Highlights:

  • Sold at RM Sotheby’s, becoming the second most expensive car ever sold at auction.
  • 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R Stromlinienwagen (Chassis 00009/54)
  • Only four streamliner-bodied W196 R cars are known to still exist.
  • Released after 59 years at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, with appearances at Pebble Beach and Petersen Automotive Museum.
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s

Beneath the sleek skin sat an inline eight-cylinder engine, essentially two four-cylinder units bolted together, producing between 257 and 290 horsepower depending on its race setup. Pair that with innovations like front double wishbone suspension, torsion-bar springs, Alfin drum brakes, and Uhlenhaut’s patented low-pivot swing axle rear suspension, and you had one of the most advanced racing cars of its era. This wasn’t just a car—it was a rocket ship in disguise.

The W196 R made an immediate impact on the track. When it debuted in 1954, Mercedes entered three cars into the French Grand Prix at Reims. The result? A dominant 1st, 2nd, and 7th place finish, with factory driver Juan Manuel Fangio leading the way. Fangio went on to win the 1954 Formula 1 World Championship in the W196 R, ending Ferrari’s winning streak and showing that Mercedes-Benz had built the ultimate racing machine.

The car’s legend only grew in 1955 when the streamlined W196 returned for the newly redesigned Monza circuit, which featured a dramatic high-banked section. Fangio and teammate Piero Taruffi surged to a 1-2 finish, while Stirling Moss—driving this very chassis, 00009/54—set the fastest lap with an average speed of 215.7 km/h on lap 21. These victories cemented the Stromlinienwagen’s place in motorsport history.

Italian Grand Prix in Monza, 11 September 1955 | Image: Sotheby’s

However, Mercedes’ Formula 1 dominance was brief. After the tragic 1955 Le Mans disaster, which fundamentally changed motorsport safety, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing completely. In October that year, the brand held a formal ceremony to retire the W196 R, relocating most examples to the Daimler-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Four were eventually donated to other institutions worldwide—including this one.

Chassis 00009/54 was transferred to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965 and stayed there for almost 59 years. Throughout this period, it became a key exhibit, appreciated by fans but not altered by collectors. Its time in the museum provided it with a pristine provenance, free from restorations or ownership changes that can lessen the value of classic race cars.

1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s

For collectors, the W196 R is the ultimate combination: rarity, an impeccable history, technological innovation, and a direct link to motorsport legends like Fangio and Moss. It’s the kind of car that even billionaires couldn’t previously afford, kept away in museums for decades. Now, one fortunate collector has managed to acquire it, adding a priceless piece of Formula 1 history to their collection.

The sale also sends a clear message: the desire for historically significant race cars is stronger than ever. In a world where Ferrari 250 GTOs and Aston Martins often dominate headlines, this Mercedes-Benz proves that Formula 1 machines—with their stories of speed, innovation, and championship glory—hold just as much, if not more, value in the eyes of collectors.

With only four of these streamliner-bodied W196 Rs known to exist, opportunities like this come around only once in a lifetime. And with its combination of race-winning pedigree, unbroken provenance, and stunning beauty, it’s no wonder this car commands a price tag that firmly cements its place in history.

1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen chassis number 00009/54 | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen chassis number 00009/54 | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen | Image: Sotheby’s

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