Hublot joins forces with Lagos-born, London-based artist Leonard Iheagwam, known as Soldier, for the Big Bang Soldier All Black, a limited-edition ceramic watch merging contemporary art with fine watchmaking. Two years in development and limited to 50 pieces, the 42mm chronograph reinterprets the humble toy soldier as a symbol of power, identity and cultural memory. It is available at selected Hublot boutiques and online at hublot.com.
A toy soldier in a new formation
The collaboration marks Soldier’s first watch design. Born in Lagos, the multidisciplinary artist left home at sixteen, later co-founding the city’s Motherlan collective. His practice spans art, design and skateboarding, with international recognition including an exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery. His adopted name reflects an early act of defiance: claiming military camouflage as his visual signature despite Nigeria’s restrictions on civilians wearing it.
For Soldier, the toy soldier carries a darker symbolism. Once a mass-produced children’s plaything, it reduces the imagery of conflict to a miniature figure. Recast as a luxury timepiece, it questions how symbols of power shape visual culture, while reflecting Hublot’s passion for material experimentation.
The partnership continues Hublot’s artistic collaborations, launched in 2011. The brand’s experimental spirit dates back to 1980, when it paired gold with rubber in watchmaking. CEO Julien Tornare sees Soldier’s interpretation as a contemporary expression of Hublot’s Art of Fusion philosophy.
The architecture of black
First introduced in 2006, Hublot’s All Black concept informs every detail of the 42mm watch. Its case and bezel combine microblasted and polished black ceramic, with matte and glossy surfaces creating subtle contrasts. Black-plated titanium and a sapphire dial complete the monochromatic design. The case-back bears the coordinates of Hublot’s London boutique, where the collaboration originated.
Inside, the HUB1280 Unico self-winding chronograph calibre comprises 354 components and delivers a 72-hour power reserve. Developed and assembled at Hublot’s Manufacture in Nyon, the movement reflects the technical precision behind the watch’s sculptural exterior.
The timepiece comes with a black fabric strap and two additional rubber versions lined in red and green, referencing Soldier’s 2024 book: red symbolises the present, green the past.
Limited to 50 pieces, the Big Bang Soldier All Black is available at selected Hublot boutiques and online at hublot.com.
Discover Soldier’s perspective on art as a form of social commentary, the complexities of cultural identity and the challenge of imagining a future beyond inherited systems in our interview.
Photography courtesy of SOLDIER x HUBLOT
Special thanks to BURIED
