Rapper 50 Cent spotted wearing a Hublot

Few watches in Hublot's catalog demand attention quite like the Big Bang Evolution ref. 301.PX.1180.PX.3704 — a 45mm statement in 18kt gold whose entire case and bracelet surface has been surrendered to hand-set baguette diamonds. 50 Cent was recently spotted wearing exactly this reference, a choice that aligns precisely with his long-established taste for high-visibility Swiss complications.

The Big Bang Evolution line traces its roots to 2005, when Hublot's then-newly appointed CEO Jean-Claude Biver relaunched the brand with a watch that fused a polished gold case to a natural rubber strap — the 'Art of Fusion' philosophy made physical. The 45mm case of the ref. 301.PX.1180.PX.3704 houses Hublot's in-house HUB4100 automatic movement, beating at 28,800 vph with a 42-hour power reserve, visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback. Water resistance is rated to 100 meters — technically respectable for a diamond-set piece, though few owners will test it. The integrated bracelet in 18kt gold, fully paved in baguette diamonds, represents the most labor-intensive element of the build: baguette setting on curved, multi-faceted surfaces requires individual hand-fitting of each stone, driving the price well above comparable round-brilliant configurations.

Among collectors, heavily diamond-set Hublots occupy a specific and occasionally controversial niche. Purists focus on the brand's movement development and skeletonization work; the paved references are unambiguously targeted at a clientele for whom a watch is as much personal branding as horology. That is not a criticism — it is simply an accurate description of the market segment, and within that segment the Big Bang Evolution executes at the highest level of finishing consistency.

Curtis Jackson — known universally as 50 Cent — was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, and built one of hip-hop's most commercially successful careers following a 2000 shooting that left him with nine bullet wounds. His subsequent rise through G-Unit Records, Vitamin Water, and a sprawling entertainment portfolio has made him one of the wealthiest figures in the music industry. A watch at this price point is consistent with his documented collection, which has previously included multiple Audemars Piguet and Rolex references.

At a retail price of $110,300, the ref. 301.PX.1180.PX.3704 sits firmly in Hublot's prestige tier. Grey-market values for heavily set Hublot Big Bang references have historically traded at modest discounts to retail given the diamond certification complexity involved in secondary-market transactions, though condition and stone integrity are critical variables for any prospective buyer.