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Entrepreneur Dmitry Portnyagin spotted wearing Hublot

Russian entrepreneur and content powerhouse Dmitry 'Dima' Portnyagin was recently photographed wearing the Hublot Big Bang 44mm stainless steel chronograph, reference 301.SX.1170.RX — a watch that has become shorthand for a particular kind of self-made success culture, particularly across Eastern European business circles.

The Big Bang 301.SX.1170.RX is built around Hublot's signature 44mm polished and brushed stainless steel case, featuring the brand's ten-screw bezel design that references a ship's porthole — a detail conceived by then-CEO Jean-Claude Biver when he relaunched the collection in 2005. The matte black dial carries three chronograph subdials, applied indices, and bold luminous hands, all protected beneath a domed sapphire crystal. The case is fitted to a structured black rubber strap, and the movement inside is the calibre HUB4100, a column-wheel flyback chronograph with 42 hours of power reserve, beating at 28,800 vph. Crucially, on this reference, the movement is visible through a sapphire caseback.

From a collector standpoint, the stainless steel Big Bang occupies an interesting tier. It is the entry point into the full-size Big Bang family — more restrained than the ceramic or King Gold variants — but no less mechanically serious. The 301.SX.1170.RX has maintained consistent demand since its introduction, appreciated for its legibility, wearability, and the brand's continued investment in in-house movement development. It is not a watch that appreciates dramatically on the secondary market, but it holds its position with quiet reliability.

Portnyagin, whose Transformer YouTube channel and associated business ecosystem have made him arguably the most influential entrepreneurial voice in Russian-language media, is a natural fit for the Big Bang's brand proposition. Hublot has long cultivated relationships with entrepreneurs, athletes, and self-starters who project forward momentum rather than old-money restraint.

At a retail price of $12,500 USD, the Hublot Big Bang ref. 301.SX.1170.RX sits in a competitive segment, trading on brand recognition, genuine in-house manufacture, and a design language that remains instantly identifiable nearly two decades after its introduction.