Watch Paparazzi

Actor Dulquer Salmaan spotted wearing Hublot

During what appears to be a television chat-show appearance, Dulquer Salmaan was caught on camera with a Hublot Big Bang Steel strapped to his left wrist. The sighting is notable not just for the celebrity involved but because it confirms the Big Bang's enduring appeal among younger, style-conscious entertainers who want horological substance without venturing into bespoke territory.

The watch on Salmaan's wrist is the Hublot Big Bang Steel reference 301.SB.131.RX — the 44mm flagship that launched the entire Big Bang lineage back in 2005. Its case is crafted from satin-brushed 316L stainless steel, anchored by a black ceramic bezel with six H-shaped titanium screws, a signature design cue that became instantly recognizable worldwide. The dial presents a carbon-fiber motif in deep black, populated by Arabic numerals in white Super-LumiNova and three chronograph subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. Power comes from the in-house HUB4100 automatic movement — a column-wheel, vertical-clutch chronograph with a 42-hour power reserve, beating at 28,800 vph. The black vulcanized rubber strap with its distinctive square-pattern texture completes the industrial-sport aesthetic.

Collector opinion on the Big Bang Steel has matured considerably since its divisive launch. Early critics dismissed it as over-engineered noise; today it is recognized as the watch that legitimized fusion construction in haute horlogerie and forced competitors to rethink material boundaries. The reference 301.SB.131.RX specifically is among the most sought entry points into the Big Bang family — offering the full ceramic-bezel experience without the premium commanded by the all-ceramic or King Gold variants.

Dulquer Salmaan occupies a unique cultural position in Indian cinema — a Kerala-born actor who commands devoted followings in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi markets simultaneously. His fashion sensibility tends toward refined minimalism punctuated by confident accessories, making the Big Bang Steel a logical fit: assertive on the wrist but grounded enough not to overwhelm his typically understated wardrobe choices.

At official retail the Big Bang Steel 44mm lists at $12,300. On the grey market, well-maintained examples regularly trade between $9,500 and $11,000, reflecting healthy but not speculative demand — a collector-friendly position for an icon of early 21st-century watchmaking.